PRESENTED TO THE LIBRARY
OP
PRINCETON THEOLOGICSL SEMINSRY
BY
|V[fs. Alc3^andeF Pfoudfit.
THE
FAMILY EXPOSITOR;
A PARAPHRASE
VERSION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT;
WITH
CRITICAL NOTES,
ANI>
A PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENT OF EACH SECTION.
IN SIX VOLUMES.
VOLUME SEC<>ND, CONTAINING THE LATTER PART OF
THE HISTORY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,
AS RECORDED BY THE FOUR EVANGELISTS.
DISPOSED IN THE ORDER OF AN HARMONY.
BY P. bODDRIDGE, D. D.
TO WHICH IS PREFIXED,
A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR,
BY ANDREW KIPPIS, D.D. F.R.S. AND S. A.
.1)V?2^ Scripture tuce delici<s nie<£ .' Nee decipiar in eis, nee decipiam ex eis /
Atjo.
FROM THE EIGHTH LONDON EDITION.
>OLD BV HIM AT WASHINGTON HEAD BOOKSTORE. SOLD ALSO BY SAXB
ETHERIDGE AND COMPANY, IN BOSTON-
S. Etlieridge, printer, Charlestown, Massachusetts.
1807.
LIBRARY OF PRINCETON
AUG I I 20M
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
PREFACE.
i HE publication of this second volume of the family
EXPOSITOR hath been delayed so long, beyond my own ex-
pectation, and that of my friends, that it may perhaps seem
necessary to introduce it with an apology for that delav. But it
would be tedious to enumerate a variety of circumstances which
have concurred to occasion it. It is generally known, that the
unusual severity of the last winter laid a kind of embargo on the
press J and they that are at all acquainted with the business of
printings will easily apprehend, that under the most faithful and
careful direction, a work of considerable bulk is liable to many
other interruptions, even where the manuscript is entirely finish-
ed before the impression is begun. But after all, the chief reason
why this hath been published no sooner, is (what I bore my suh'
scrihers will easily excuse) the large addition I haf e made of
more than ffty sheets to the hundred which I was by the prQm
posals obliged to deliver.
On the mention of this, I think myself obliged to renew my
thanks to those, who, by honouring me with their names and
encouragement on this occasion, have put it into my power to
publish the work with such improvements ; and shall think my-
self happy, if those improvements, however laborious and expen-
sive to the author^ may render it more acceptable and useful to
them.
The tables prefixed to xhc first volume are Included in this^ and
represent the disposition of the harmony in so clear a view, that
by comparing them together it would not be difficult to find any
particular text. But a deference to the request of some of the
subscribers^ engaged me to add another table at the end of this
volume (of the same kind with that in Mr, BoniieVs Harmony^ J
which will at once direct both to the section sind page where any
I'erse may presently be found.
I cannot pretend so much as to conjecture when the remainder
of my undertaking will be completed. I shall however proceed
in it as fast as my health and other affairs will permit. In the
mean time, I think it necessary to observe, that I have, by the
advice of some considerate and judicious friends, deferred tl^e
1^ PREFACE.
hicte.y:, and some other things which I intended to have thrown
into an appendix here, till I have finished what I am preparing
on the Acts ; that so they -may stand, as they very properly will,
at the end of the historical books of the Nexv Testament.
How far the subscribers to these txvo volwnes may think it proper
to encourage the rest, must be referred to themselves. In the
mean time, as that must be exceeding precarious which depends
on the continuance of one man's life and health, I would desire
permission here to take leave of my friends, at least for the pres-
ent, with such a serious address as may be the most substantial
expression of my sincere gratitude and respect.
I should have thought, my honoured friends, that I had made
you a very unworthy return for this public token of your regard
to me, if I had offered you merely an amitsement^ though ever so
critical 2cadi polite. It had been much better, on both sides, that
the work should never have been undertaken or perused, than
that these Divine authors should be treated like a set o^ profane
classics ; or that the sacred, and momentous transactions they
relate should be handled and read like an invented tale, or a com-
mon history. I have often reminded myself oi'it^ and permit me
now. Sirs, solemnly to remind yoii^ that these are the memoirs of
the holv Jesus, the Saviour of sinful men, zvhom to know is life
eternal^ and whom to neglect is everlasting destruction. We
have here the authentic records of that gospel which was intend-
ed as the great medicine for our souls ; of that character which is
our pattern ; of that death which is our ransom ; of Him^ in short,
whose name we bear as we are professed Christicms, and before
whose tribwCal we are all shortly to appear, that our eternal exist-
ence may be determined, blissful, or miserable, according to our
regard to what he has taught, and done, and endured. Let not
the greatest therefore think it beneath their notice ; nor the
meanest imagine, that, amidst all the most necessary cares and
labours, they can find any excuse for neglecting, or even for
post'.^oning it.
Had I not been fully convinced of the certainty and import'
ance of Christianity^ I should not have determined to devote
my whole life to its service (for on the principles of natural
religion^ I know the soul to be immortal^ and should expect
nothing but its ruin in the ways of the most sanctified fraud :)
but as I am thus convinced, I must make it my humble request
to every one thai enters on the perusal of these volumes^ that thev
PREFACE. V
may, for a little while at least, be the employment of his retired
hours ; and that as he proceeds from one sectio?i to another, he
would pause and reflect, " Whose words do I hear? Whose act'ioii.^
do I survey ? Whose sufferings do I contemplate V And as all
must know they are the words^ the actions^ and the sufferings
of Jesus the Son of God, our supreme Lord^ and our final Jiidge^
let it be farther and very seriously inquired in what degree the
obvious and confessed design of the glorious gospel has been prac-
tically regarded and complied with : " Can I, in my heart, think
that I am a disciple w^hom such a blaster will approve, and
w^hom he will choose for his attendant in that world of glory to
which he is now gone?" Let the plainness of this advice be'
forgiven ; for such is the temper and conduct of most who call
themselves Christians^ that, if this religion be true, their cold
and unaffecting knowledge of the history of Christy and oiiht pur-
poses of his appearance^ will only serve to' furnish out matter for
eternal selfaccusation and remorse : and he is, at best, but a
learned and polite injidel who would not rather be the instrument
of conducting the lowest creature, capable of reading or hearing
these lines, to the saving knowledge of a crucified Redeemer^ than
fill the most refined nation w^ith his ovvu applause, while the
grace of the Saviour is forgotten, or his service neglected.
I have yet one farther request to add to those of my readers
who are heads of families ; w^hich is, that they would please to
remember the title of the zvork^ and consider it as chiefly intended,
in its most essential parts, for a Fajnihj Expositor, I heartily
rejoice in the reason which I have to hope, that, low as our relig-
ious character is fallen in these degenerate days, acts of domestic
worship are yet performed by multitudes oi Christians of various
denominations : yet I cannot but fear, that the scriptures are not
so constantly read at such seasons as they formerly were; an
omission which must be to the great detriment both of children
and servants. One w^ould think, that those who believe the
Divine authority of Scripture^ and its infinite importance^ should
be easily prevailed upon to restore this useful exercise, at least
for one part of the day ; and I w^ould hope, that what I here
off'er them may render it more agreeable and useful. It would
give me inexpressible delight to find that this is the case in those
families with which I am most intimately acquainted ; and would
be an encouragement to hope this v/ork may be proportion ably
useful in places and times to which neither my observation nor
intelligence can extend.
Ti PREFACE.
1 shall conclude this preface^ with my hearty prayers, that,
weak and imperfect as these labours are, the Divine blessing m^y
every zvhcre and always attend them ; and that it may rest on all
who have patronized them, and on all who shall peruse them \
May every prejudice against the truth of Christianity, or against
its poxver^ be vanquished ! May the most insensible minds be
awakened to attend to religion^ and may the weak and languish-
ing be animated to press on to greater attainments in it ! May
those that are preparing for the service of the sanctuary (as every
part of this performance is their concern,) be by every part of it
more abundantly furnished for the various duties of their import-
ant office ! And may those who are as yet but babes in knoxvledge^
through the Divine blessing ^/-row by that sincere inilk of the word^
which is here presented, as I trust, in its genuine simplicity ! In
a word, may rciKny persons^ families^ and larger societies^ receive
devout pleasure and solid lasting improvement from it ; that the
Great God, of -whom and through xvhom are all things, may in all
be glorified, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who in all the sacred
volumes, and especially here, is the Alpha and the Omega, the
Beginning and the Eyid, the First and the Last, to whom be ever-
lasting honour, love and obedience ! Amen,
Northampton', ">
A'lgust 9, 1740. 5
A TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS
IN THIS VOLUME, DIRECTING TO THE SECTIONS WHERE THEY ARE PLACEP^
Matthew.
XXIV
XXV
Section.
S 90. 91,
I 92.
S 93, 94,
I 95.
C135, 136,
tl37.
5138, 142,
1 143.
Chap.
XVII
XVIII
XIX
XX
XXI
XXIII 157, 158.
Chap.
IX V.2,
adjin.
M.
{
Section.
90, 91,
92, 93,
96, 93. -
Luke.
Chap. Section.
C160, 161
tl62, 163
C164. 165
il66.
ri67, 145,
I 167, 168,
..AVI ^ jgj^ jg2^
183, 184,
Ll85, 184.
XXVII
XXVIII ^jgg^ 202
XI
XII
XIII
XIV
XV
XVI
ri35, 136,
^137, 142;
(.143.
146, 147,
148, 149,
150, 151
151, 152.
154, 155
156, 157
159.
IX ver
28 to 56
XII
, C 90, 91,
56^ 92, 93,
'°C 96, 127
5 97,
il07.
127.
106.
_ - , 108.
XI u 1, ^
fo 13,37,5-109, 110.
adji7i
'" 112
114
XIII
XV
C160, 161.
^162, 163.
ri67, 145,
i 167, 168,
J 170, 172,
I 181, 18^
183, 184,
Ll85, 184
\
186, 187
188, 189
190, 191.
192.
194, 195,
196, 198,
.202, 203,
XV
XVI
XVII
x.x
XX
XXI
XXII
oil,
S113,
CI 15.
J 116
ill8
pl9, 120,
13
L16, 117,
John,
Chap.
vn
vin
i^
X
XI
121
122, 123
124, 125.
C126, 127,
il28.
C129, 136,
XVIII <137. 14:;,
C143.
J 143, 144,
^146, 147.
C151, 152,
^154, 155,
156, 157
160,
162
- , 167
ri67, 168,
I 172, 170,
J 169, 171,
I 173, 181,
I 182, 183,
L184, 185
ri86, 187.
XXIII
XXIV
188, 189,
1190, 191,
.192.
'194, 195,
;i97, 198
202. 203
XII
XIII
XIV
XV
XVI
XVII
XVIII
XiX
XX
XXI
Sectlor
C 98,
1100,
\
99.
101.
102, 10j,|
104, lOi.
C130, 131
tl32.
C132, 133
tl34.
C139, 140,
tl41.
ri45, 146,
^148, 149,1
C.150.
C168, 169,
1170, 171
173, 174.
175, 176.
177, 178.
179, 180.
C181, 183,
•<184, 185,
C186, 187.
ri88, 189,
'<190, 191,
C192.
C194, 195,
ji98, 199,
C200, 201
t203.
Acts.
to 1?
^ 202, 203
A TABLE OF THE SECTIONS
IS THEIR ORDER, SHEWIXG THE DISPOSITION OF THE HARMONV.
i -
Section.
XC
XCI.
XCII
XCIII
Ixciv
: :XCV
ixcvf
XCVII
XCVIII
ixcix
c
CI
CII
cm
CIV
cv
CVI
CVII
CVIII
CIX
ex
CXI
cxir
cxm
CXIV
cxv
Icxvi
CXVFI
cxvm
CXIX
cxx
CXXI
CXXII
,cxxm
cxxiv
i'cxxv
jCXxvi !
CXXVII
CXXVIII
cxx IX
CXXX
CXXXI
CXXXII
lcXXX!fI
lcxx<iv
icxxxv:
, cxxx VI
CXXXVII ,
iCXXXVlII
icxxxix
iCXL
CXLI
CXLII
Matthew.
xvii. 1—13
.xvli. 14—21
xvii. 22, adjin.
xviii. 1—9
xviii. 10—20
KYu\.2l,adJin.
Mark.
ix. 2—13
ix. 14—29
ix. —30—33
Cix— 33— 37
i 42, adfn.
Luke.
ix. 28—36
ix. 37 43
ix. —43—45
ix. 46—48
John.
ix. 38—41
ix. 49, 50
X. 1—16
vii: 1—13
vii. 14—24
vii. 25—36
\ii. 37, adfn.
viii. 1-11
viii. 12—29
viii. 30—47
X 17—24
X. 25-37
X. 38, ad Jin.
xi. 1—13
xi. 37, ad Jin.
xii. 1—12
xii. 13—21
xii. 22—34
xii. 35 — 48
xii. 49, adfn.
xiii. 1—9
xiii 10—22
xxiii. 23, adfn.
xiv. 1—14
xiv. 15—24
xiv. 25,, adfn.
XV. 1—10
XV. 11, adfn.
xvi. 1—18
xvi. 19, adfn.
xvii. 1—11
^ix. 51—56
J. xvii. 12—10
;:vii. 20, adfn
x> iii. 1— 14
j
,
1
.X. 1-23
. X. 24—38
■ X. 39, adfn.
Ix 1— 10
X ii— 21
X 22, adfn.
xix. 1—12
xix. 13—15
xix. 16, odf-.
XX. 1—16
X. 1—12
X. 13—16
X. 17—31
X jii. 15—17
xvi;;. 18—30
1 ■
1. i-...^
:. 17—46
xi. 47, adf7i.
■' . 32-46
XX. 17—26
K .-1.31-34 ,
A TABLE OF THE SECTIONS, &c.
Section.
CXLIII
CXLIV
CXLV
CXLVI
CXT.VII
CXLVIII
CXLIX
CL
CLI
CLII
CLIII
CLIV
CLV
CLV[
CLVH
CLVIII
CLIX
CLX
CLXI
CLXII
CLXIII
CLXIV
CLXV
CLXVI
CLXVII
CLXVIII
CLXIX
CLXX
CLXXI
CLxxir
■ CLXXIII
j CLXXIV
' CLXXV
CLXXVI
' CLXXVII
.CLXXVIII
I CLXXIX
CLXXX
CLXXXI
CLXXXII
CLXXXIII
CLXXXIV
CLXXXV
CLXXXVI
CLXXXVII
CLXXXVIII
CLXXXIX
CXC
Matthew.
IX. 29, ad Jin.
Mark.
X — iS, ad Jill.
xxvi. 6 — 13
xxi. 1—9
xxi. 10—16
xxi. 17
xxi. 18, 19
xxi. 20—32
xxi. 33, ad Jin.
xxii. 1 — 14
xxii. 15— 22
xxii. 23—33
xxii. 34, ad Jin.
xxiii. 1—22
xxiii.23,ai/?«.
xxiv. 1 — 14
xxiv. 15—28
xxiv. 29—36
xxiv. o7, ad Jin
XXV. 1 — 13
XXV. 14—30
XXV. 31, ad fin.
Cxxvi. 1 — 5
I 14—16
xxvi. 17—20
xxvi. 21—25
xxvi. 26—30
xiv. 3 — 9
xi. 1—10
XV. 11 —
xi. —11
xi. 12—14
xi. 15—19
Cxi.20,fic//«.
i.xii. 1 —
xii. —1—12
xii. 13—17
xii 18—27
xii. 28 — 'o7
xii. 38—40
xii. 41, ad Ji.n.
xiii. 1 — 13
xiii. 14—23
xiii. 24—32
xiii. oo, ad fin.
xiv. 1,2, 10, 11
xiv. 12—17
xiv. 18—21
xiv. 22—26
xxvi. 31 — 35
\xvi. 36 — 46
xxvi. 47 — 5^
Cxxvi. 57, 58
\ 69, ad fin.
xxvi. 59—68
Cxxvii. 1, 2
\ 11-14
Cxxvii. 15-18
\ 20-23
Cxxvii. 19
I 24-31
Cxxvii. 32-34
X 38
Cxxvii. 35-37
I 39-44
Luke.
Vxviii.35, rt./
ixix. 1—10.
xix 11—28
xix. 29— 40
XX. 41, ad fin.
XX. 1—9
XX. —9—19
xiv. 27—31
xiv. 32—42
xiv. 43—52
Cxiv. S'iy 54
\ 66, ad fin.
xiv. 55 — ^5
XV. 1—5
XV. 6—14
XV. 15—20
Cxv. 21—23
\ 25, 27, 28
Cxv. 24, 26
1 29—32
XX. 20—26
XX. 27-40
XX. 41—44
XX. 45, ad fin.
x»l. 1—4
XX!. 5—19
xxi. 20—24
xxi. 25 — 33
xxi. 34 — o^
^xx\.37,adfin.
Cxxii 1 — 6
xxii 7—18
xxii. 24—27
Cxxii. 21—23
I 28—30
xxii, 31 — 34
xxii. 19, 20
xxii. 35 — 38
xxii. 39
xxii. 40 — 46
xxii. 47—53
xxii. 54—62
xxii. 63, ad fin.
XX ii. 1 — 4
xxiii. 5 — 23
xxiii. 24, 25
xxiii. 26 — 34 —
xxiii. — 34 — 43
John.
xii. 1—11
xii. 12—19
xii. 20—36
xii. 37—43
xii, 44, ad fin.
xiii. 1
xi . 2—3—17
5 xiii.— 2
I ^ 18—30
xiii. 31, ad fin.
xiv. 1—14
xiv. 15, ad fin.
w 1—11
XV. 12, ad fin.
xvi.1-15
xvi. 16, ad fin.
xvii. 1—12
xvii. 13, ad fin.
xviii. 1
xviii. 2—12
Cxviii.l3— 18
1 24—27
C xviii. 19—
I 23, 28—
xviii.— 28— 38
xviii. 39, ad fin.
xix. 1—16—
xix. —16—18
xix 19—24
"^OL.
A TABLE OF THE SECTIONS, &c^
Section. Matthew.
CXCI
CXCII
CXCIII
cxcrv
cxcv
CXCVI
ex evil
CXGVIII
CXCIX
cc
CCI
ecu
CCIII
xxvli. 45 — 54
xxvii . 55 — 61
Cxxvii.3— 10
C 62, adjin.
xxviii. 1 — 4
iiviii. 5 — 10
xxviii. 11 — 15
xxviii. 16
ad Jin.
Mark.
XV. 33—39
XV. 40, ad Jin.
xvi. 1, 2-, 3, 4
xvi.— 2,5—11
xvi. 12, 13
xvi. 14
xvi. 15—18
xvi. 19, adfn.
Luke.
xxili. 44 — 48
xxVn. 49, adfn.
xxiv. 1, 2, 12
xxiv. 3—11
xxiv. 13—33—
xxiv — 33—43
xxiv. 44 — 49
xxiv. 50, ad Jin.
John.
xix. 25—30
xix. 31, ad Jin.
XX. 1—17
XX. 18
XX. 19—23
XX. 24—29
xxi. 1—14
xxl. 15—24
xx.SO,adJin.
xxi. lilt.
Acts.
;.— 2, 3.
i. 4—12.
THE
FAMILY EXPOSITOR.
The latter Part of the History of CHRIST, as recorded by
the Evangelists.
SECT. XC.
Christ goes up to a mountain^ where he is transfigured^ and dis:-
courses tvith his disciples concerning the expectation the Jetus
had of Elijah, Mat. XVII. 1—13. Mark IX. 2— 13. Luke
IX. 28—36.
Mark IX. 2. ^ MarK IX. 2. _
A ND [Luke, It /^iVZ) it Came to pass after six days, [or] if sect,
£^r """"S ^"^ dav's' ^'^^^ include the first and last, about eight ^^
[iL.uKE,"^or ab^out f"*^!/^^ ^/^^^' *^^^^^ discourses, which were related J^
eight days after in the two last sections, jfesus took rvith him ix.2--
these sayings,] Je- those three disciples whom he honoured with
pTtef al7'jameT, something of a peculiar intimacy (compare
and John [his broth- Mark V. 37, and Mat. xxvi. 37,) namely, Peter
er,] and leadeth and James, and his brother John, and brought
them up into an ^^^^^^ ^^p pfi^atehj, to an hi^h mountain apart
high mountain ~ i^ I'^i-i i -i ^
apart by themselves Irom the people,^ whither he retired to pray ;
[Luke, to pray.] intending, as he often did, to spend the night
[Mat. XVII. 1. \^ ^h^t holv exercise.^
Luke IX. 28.] i j i . • •. ^ .i. .
Luke IX. 29. A:nd as he xvas praying, it came to pass that Luke
And as he prayed, he was suddenly, in a most glorious manner, ix. 29
* Jn high mountain apart from the peo- Christ was just before near Cesarea Phll-
ple.] yerom tells us ( Epist. 17, 18,) that ippi, this must be the mountain in that
there was in his days an ancient tradition neighbourhood on which one of Jero-
that this was Mount Tabor, which lay in boam's calves had been worshipped ; over
the tribe of Zehulon. Its standing ^/jflrf which he thinks it a kind of triumph that
(as Mr. Maimdreli observes that it does, the Shekinah was thus gloriously mani-
y/at-e/i-, p. 112) is to be sure no argu- fested, where it had been so long affronted
rncnt to prove it ; for that expression only by idolatry. See Fleming^s Christology^
signifies that it was a private retirement. Vol. I. p. 40.
which it might have been, had it made
part of a ridge of mountains. However, •' To spend the night in that holy exer-
as this happened at the distance o^ six cise.] This appears from Luke ix. 37,
daysy there seems to be but little prdiabil- where we read of their coming dovin/roiri
ity in Mr. Fleming's eonjeetuTCr tkat sinc£ the mwntmn the n€f(t day. See p. 8.
Ghrist is tramfgured on a mountain.
transfigured in their presence ; and the form of [Mark, he was
his cLfntemnce was chansedf \so that] Ins face ^^^^^^^,^1^.
shone with a brightness /z>fe^ that oj the sun; i^^ ^f ^jg counte-
and his whole body was clothed with such a nance was altered,
histre, as shone through /»,? raiment, insomuch [j?^/'«^ his face did
, ' °P . 11 / •* ^ shine as the sun ;1
that the appearance of it was all xvhite and ^^^ j^.^ raiment ^as
dazzling-,*^ shinifig' so exceeding-ly, ih^x.itst&inQd white and glister-
as 7vhite as sno7i\ [yea] as resplendent as the jug-, [Mark, shin-
liffht itself, to .. great a degree «, no fuller on ::^^f^::Z
earth could whiten it. Such a* glory did Lxod light,] [Mark, so as
confer on his Son, as an earnest of that in no fuller on earth
which he was finally to appear; and he per- f^\.;;^^^^'|v\^j^^^2-!
mitted these his servants to see it, that they mark IX. — 2, 3.]*
might not be offended at those scenes of deep
abasement in which they were shortly to attend
him. (Compare Mat. xxvi. 37, sect, clxxxii.)
Mark And behold, there appeared to them, Tit th^ MaekIX.4. And
^^ ^ same time that they saw their Lord in this [behold] there ap-
solendid form, tivo men, that were talking with peared unto them
Jesus in a language and accent which the three [.V^' J"" ™»:i
apostles heard and understood, xvno were [Luke, which were
known to be Moses the great giver, and EDjah Moses and Eli as :]
Luke the zealous restorer of the law. These were P^'^'^W'^o^V' ^"
IX. 31 the persons whom they saw with Christ, in l^ke IX 31.
whose honour their respective ministrations who appeared in
terminated ; who appearing to their view in g"lory» and spake of
forms of slory. somewhat resembling that j;- ^^^ ^_
which he now wore himself, spake oj his exit, pi^sh ^t Jerusalem.
or departure out of the present life and state,
which he rvas shortlij after, even at the ensuing
passover, to accomplish at Jerusalem;^ sug-
gesting and enlarging on such thoughts as
were proper to animate him to so painful and
glorious a conflict. 32 But Peter, anl
32 But Peter, and they that were with hhn, even they that were witk
« The form, ofhiscoimtenance<was changed.'] be observei^; which might otherwise have
This was so striking a circumstance, that been destroyed.
Eunaplus (Vit. Jambl. p. 22,) reUites a
story «f Jamblicus, wliich seems evidently <= Spake of his exit, which uca'as shortly t»
to be b;)rro\vcd from this ; as many tilings accomplish at yenisalevi.~\ Dr. Hammond
which Pliilostratus tells us of ApoUonius and Le Clerc seem greatly mistaken in
Tyaneus seem also to have been bor- referring this to Chrisis victory over the
rowed from other histories recorded of impenitent Jews in the r/c*?rz/c?/on c/* ^erM-
Christ by the evangelists. salem by the Romans ; for though the
^ JVhite and dazzling.'] The words xewx-o? word i^oSo; does sometimes signify a niili-
t'^it^ pa-rim may literally be rendered, nvhite tary expedition (see Eisner. Obser<v- Vol. I.
as lightning; but as this clause stands p. 219,) yet it is plainly used for death, or
here connected with parallel passages in depcmture out of the luorld, 2 Pet. i. 15, and
t\iG other eT.^a?igelists, I chose to render it Wisd. iii. 2 ; which suits much better here
dhizlingy that some proper ^'rai/afion might with the construction, ev i£/!s3-itx«,w.
The disciples arc astonished and afraid. S
him, were heavy the two other disciples, did not see the begin- sect.
when fhey '' were "l"? ^^ this glorious vision, nor hear the whole ^°-
awake, they saw his ^^ ^^^s wonderful and edifying discourse ; for,
glory, and the two wearied with the labours of the preceding day, ^^ ^c,
men that stood witli ^hey xvere quite overburdened and sunk down " """^
ivith sleep ; but being aivakened with the splen-
dour of those rays which pierced through the
darkness of the night that had before favoured
their slumbers, they sazv^ to their inexpressible
astonishment, his unusual glory, and the txvo
wen ivho xvere standing zvith him, and heard the
conclusion of their conference, from whence
33— And it came they collected who they were.^ And it came to Zo
to pass, as they cle- pass that, just as they xvere departing from him^
parted fromhim,Pe- Peter answered and said unto Jesus, Master, itis
ter I answered and ] , y> . 7 . • i •
saiduntoJesusjMas- g^odjor US to be here m such a circumstance as
ter, it is good for us this : let this glorious appearance and converse
to be here ; and [if be prolonged ; for we could delight to spend all
make [here] "three the remainder of our days thus; f/TZ^ therefore,
tabernacles, one for if thou pleas est, let US make three tents here f for
Thee, and one for Thee One, and for Moses one, and one for Elijah,
EHas^'b^'^AT.xVn' ^^""^ ^^""^ ^^^^^ ^^^"^ mayest lodge here in a
4. Mark IX. 5.] Hiore convenient manner. This was indeed a Mark
Mark IX. 6. For wild kind of proposal, ill suiting the state of these ix. 6
he wist not [Luke, glorified persons, or the subject of their late
what to say, for the V discourse : but it is the less to be wondered at,
were sore afraid.] considering the great surprise in which Peter
^LuKE IX.— 33.] was, for he knexv not xjohat he said, [or] should
say ; for such was the effect it had on him and
the two other disciples who were then present,
that they xvere vastly terrified at the majesty of
this unparalleled sight, which broke out upon
them at once in so unexpected a manner.
* Heard the conclusion of their confer- this seems too great a refinement, ami too
ence, Jifc] It miglitnotperliaps have been deep a scheme. I rather choose to inter-
proper they should have heard tlie wAo/e of pret tliem as words of rt7/j^Hroi/* surprise,
it : God might intend to reveal some of intended merely to express the pleasure
those things to them by the Spirit, and the they had in what they saw and heard,
knowledge of others might be reserved to The proposal was, as St. Mark observes,
the discoveries of the heavenly state. very imi)roper , but perhaps few, in such
P Let us viake three tents here.'] Mr. an astonisliing circumstance, could have
Fleming thinks it is as if he had said, been perfectly masters of themselves.
*' Lord, let this mountahi be to Israeh^ow The tents they proposed to l)uild must be
what Sinai was to our Fatliers : hold, as only slight huts or bovoers / and there is no
it were, thy court here ; and let the peo- reason at all to suppose they meant any
pie resort hither to learn tliy will, and sumptuous tabernacles like that of Moses
pay their homage to thee, attended by in the wilderness ; and, that no sucli idea
these thy glorified servants." (See might accidentally be raided, I chtse tw
■Fleming^ Christdogy, V«l. I. p. 46.) But Use tVc wori tciits.
A voice from heaven declares him to be the Son oj God,
SECT. J^ji(i (IS he was speakiiig thus, behold, there Luke IX. 34.
_^ came a bright cloud, which in a most surprising While he thus spake^
j^^j.^ manner spread itself over the top of the moun- ^^^^ \ [brig>ht]
IX. 34 tain, and overshadowed them all : a?2^the disci- cloud, and over-
pies were seized with such a kind of religious ^Jj^'^^^'J^'^fg^^.g^^^'J
horror, that they feared, when they entered into they^entered into the
35 thecloud^ and saw it diffused on every side of cloud. [Mat.XVII.
them. And behold, an ever memorable cir- 5.— Mark IX 7.— ]
cumstance then happened ; for there came « .f.^.tme^ f vt^l
\Tiost awful voice out of the cloud, as the sacred ^^^ ^f the cloud,
symbol of God's immediate presence, which [which said] This
lend. This is my beloved Son, in whom I an. we II -^^1,^:^^^^ ^J,;
pleased;' hear ye lum therefore with the hum- J^ieased,] hear [ye]
blest submission and obedience, as the object of him. [Mat.XVII.—
my dearest complacency, and your surest guide 5. Mark IX.— 7.]
to duty and happiness, in all respects superior
to the greatest of your prophets.
Mat. And zuhen the. disciples heard [this voice,] they ^^^ ^^^^ ^
:^vn.6f li prostrate on their faces to the ground with Andthen the disci*-
the humblest reverence, and zvere exceedingly pies heard it, they
terrified by this tremendous manifestation of fell on their faces,
, the -present Deity. And Jesus, knowing their ^"'^ i::^]:':!^!-
cow'L\is\on,came and touched them, and said, Rise ^a^O. touched them,
up, and be not afraid ; infusing into them, at and said, Arise, and
the sam.e moment, a secret strength and forti- ^^ "°^^^j7v '« a.^
,, ., ,1 TA -,^ ^r^\ MarkIA. 8. And
tude ot mnid. (Compare Dan. x. 10, 19.) suddenly [Luke,
Mark -^^^d 071 a sudden, while the heavenly voice was when the voice was
i:i' 8 uttered, Jesus was found alone, Moses cindWiu^h past, Jesus was found
, . -^ . . ^ ^ r /n .l1_ T • 1 alone : a?id] when
disappearmg m a moment ; land] the disciples, -^
■' T/iere came a bright cloud, and over- it and tliem. And thus we know that the
s/indovjed them, &c.] I cannot think it Shekinah had appeared in former ag-es ;
proI)ablc (Uiouj^h a late eminent critic has particularly when it took possession of the
so explained it) that this only means that tabernacle of Moses, Exod. xl. 34, 35, and
the cloud cast a shadovi which fell upon the temple of Solomon, 1 King's viii. 10,
them, but rather that it spread over the 11.
tnoiintaln ; and this not like a canopy or ' In ivhovi I aniivell pleased."] Though
umbrella, but that it covered it in such a neither Mark nor Luke have g-iven us
maimer as a cloud does ; yet with this dif- these words, we may be sure that they
fereiice, tliat it was more like a thick s-inoke were really spoken, as we have the con-
than a sliower ; and that wliercas the cun-ent testimony both of Matthew, and
.?/?7Vaj o/*c/rW.s are generally rarer than the of Peter, who has thus quoted them, 2
central parts, this was darker towards the Pet. i. 17- Some have thought their being
edges, a gloryhc'm^ in theviidst : andprob- omitted by Mark an intimation that Peter
ably it was the darker part with which did not review that gospel with any great
the apostles were enveloped, while the accuracy, sup]iosing it was (as Clemens
excellent glory (as St. Peter calls it, 2 Alexandrinus reports) put into his hands.
Pet. i. 17) soomed much higher, and the Perhaps the command that is added to
rays of it were nuich attempered, by tliat hear him may refer to that solemn charge
part of tlio cloinly veil which was between to hear the ^TQnt prophet ^ Deut. xviii. 15.
He diarges his disciples to conceal it till he was risen.
they had [lift up liftiiig 7tp their eyes^ upon the kind encourage-
their eyes, dnd'\ nient that he had given them, [andl looking
lrev'ir"an round about them for the persons they had seen ,~
anymore, save Jesus but just before, sazu no man any viore^ but ix. ,^
only with them- Jesiis only 7vith themselves^ who now ag?<in
8^ L^u KE^IX^ ^6^— i appearing m his usual form, graciously enter-
ed into conversation with them in the same
condescending manner he was used to do.
9 And as they came And as they came doxvn from the inoimtain on 9
down from the ^^.j^jch this wonderful transaction had passed,
X^rgeTt'hem^Tat Jesus Strictly charged them, that they should tell
they should tell no no one luhat they had see?!, unless it were zuhen
maiiwhatthings they f/^^ ^^^^ of man was risen from the dead ; lest, ^
ormr'wire^rfs:;; till that glorious evidence was given of his
from the dead.] Divine mission, this storv should appear as an
[Mat. XVII. 9.] idle dream, or an incredible tale, t^;?^^ when 10
10 And they kept ^ . of rising from the dead, they laid hold
that savniff with \ ,. ,P • , / / *
themselves, quest- on that word,^ disputing among thejnselves wfiat
ioning- one with ano- this rising fro7n the dead could mean ; for as
ther ^yhat the rising ^i^^ ^^^ ^^ plainly, as Christ had declared it
from the dead should ' , ^ , / , ^i _ -i^^
mean ;] [And they to them, they could not persuade themselves
kept zfclose,and told to understand it in a literal sense. However,
no man in those days \^ obedience to the charge he gave them, they
which "^the'y '^ hfd -^^^re silent as to what had passed, and told no
seen.] [Luke \yi.one in those days any of the things which they
— S6.] had now seen and h- ard.
Ai^"" his ^Xdple^s ^'^^ ^'^ disciples as they could not doubt but ^^^I^q
asked him, saying-, be was the Messiah, took that opportunity of
Why then say the informing themselves as to a scruple which
scribes, that Elias j^^^^ j^^^ j^j^^ ^^ ^l^^-j, n^jnds, and asked him,
must first come ? . °,jr; » r r • ; ^i. ^ i. r
[Mark IX. 11.] saying', IV hy then do the scribes, the teachers oi
our nation, and professed students of the law,
say, that Elijah must first coine before the Mes-
siah appear ? Is this vision that we have now
seen, all the coming of that prophet which was
to be expected \
11 And Jesus an- And Jesus replying said unto them, It does H
swered and said unto 2-„^^^^ appear from the scripture, that Elijah
them, Elias truly . i» /- , r /i tx/t • t.
shall first come, and shall first co7ne to make way tor the Messiah,
restore all things, and regulate all things,^ by preaching repent-
^ They laid hold on that ivord.'] So I think I think the words -ar^®^ gstt/Tx? should be
Tov -Koyov iK^Alna-oLy may most literally be joined with cryf»'78v7s?, as they are with
rendered ; the verb often signifying to lay the same word Mark i. 27 ; ix. 16 ; Luke
hold on, and, in consequence of that, reso- xxii. 23 ; and Acts ix. 29.
lutely to retain ; but never, that I can recol- i Shall first come, and regulate all things.']
lect, to keep a secret. Compare Mat. ix. It is plain that ATrcKctiug-iKrit here, (as
2.5 ; xiv. 3 ; Mai'k xii. 12 ; and Rev. xx. 2. ct7ro/,at7*r*<r/?, Acts iii. 21) cannot, as i'.
6 He discourses xvith them of the eoniing of Elijah,
SECT, ance and reformation : and yet^ how little is [and howitls wvir
^^- the influence that his comincr will have upon a ^^" of the Son o
■ ■I -ij I ri • iAi/ mail, that he inxist
Mat V^^^ ^"^ ungrateful generation ? And how ^^^^^^^, ^^^y ^1^-^,^^,^^
xvii. ii ^'^ ^^ ^^so 7uritten of the So7i of man himself,'" and be set at
that illustrious Person whom Elijah is to nought.] [Mark
introduce ? It is plainly foretold, that he must ^^' ^'^'^
suffer many things^ and be contemptuouskf reject-
ed; which evidently implies, that his forerun-
ner also shall be disregarded, and his preach-
12 ing slighted. And the event, you know, has ^^ But 1 say unto
« 11*1 1 p y^^^? tlKlL HiilUS IS
been answerable to it : do not therefore expect ^indeed] come al-
aaother to appear, but observe what / now say re ady, and they knew
to you^ while I assure you that Elijah is indeed ^^'"^ "«t, but have
' , J -x • ' -x^ ri-n' • (lone unto him what-
come already^ as it is written oj him^ m various g^^^^.^j, ^i^^y listed,
passages of scripture (see Isa. xl. 3, and Mai. fas it is written of
iii. 1 ;) and they who pretended so eagerly to h'm:] likewise shall
expect him, did not knoxvxix^ acknowledge Aim, ^[f^^J.^^ '^^^ ""{^^
but have treated him in the most arbitrary and [Mark IX. 13,]
cruel manner, evtnjust as they pleased^ without
any regard to piety, justice, or humanity : and
thus Ukexvise shall the Son of man quickly suff^er
by them^ and with the utmost enmity and malice
shall be persecuted by a hardened people, v/ho
will shew no more regard to him than to
Elijah his herald.
13 Theit the disciples understood that he spake to 13 Then the disci-
them concerning John the Baptist^ who was P^es understood that
foretold under the name of Elijah, as the l'%^lf''^,;"'^2 ^'l^?
_ _ . , - , r T-k • 1 //- of John the Baptist.
Messiah was under that ot David. (Compare
Mai. iv. 5, and Ezek. xxxiv. 23, 24.)
g'cncrally docs, signify re^fftr/w^thing-s to well as o{\.\\e. Son of man, that he should
their former state, but t)nly, in the gen- have much to sufler, and be rejected witit
evul, reducing tiitm to order. It is strange contempt." But this is not strictly agree-
TtrtuUlan fdc Etsnr. cap. 3.5) should infer able to the original, nor can I find the mar-
fn)m hence tliut Elijah the prophet is to fj/n/o^n. of John the Baptist any wliere yore-
come before Cinisl's second appearance, told'in the Old Testament : I choose therc-
Grotiui has well confuted that wild notion fore to render tliis clause as a question.
in liis annotations, in loc. That ;t£i/ sometimes signifies \_a7idjet'] evi-
"> Andhoxv is it aXso written of the Son of dently appears from John v. 40 ; Luke ix.
"inan himself?] The construction oi' this 45; Mat. xxiii. 37 ; and other places.
verse in the original is as perplexed as " Elijah is indeed come already, as it is
almost any in the iWxu Tcstam.ent. The ivritten of him,.'] For the reason assigned
Prussian Testament, wliich is followed by in the preceding note I choose to connect
the late English version, renders it roundly these two clauses, and conclude that the
and elegantly enougli : '* It is true," said words which lie between, both in the
he, " that Ellas must first come to restore original and in our translation, are to be
at] things, and that it is foretold of him, as included in ^parenthesis.
- Refections on the transfigicration of Christ, *
IMPROVEMENT.
How glorious and delightful was this view of our blessed sect
Redeemer^ which the apostles had, when he was transfigured ^^•
before them^ clothed, as it were, with the Divine Shekinah^ and
shining with a lustre like that of the sun ! How pleasing and
how edifying must it be to them to see with him Moses and Eli'
jah^ those two eminent saints who had so many ages ago quitted
our world, but whose names they had often read in the sacred
records with wonder and reverence !
Well might Peter say, It is good for us to be here. Well 4
might ho be contented to resign his entertainments and his
hopes elsewhere, that they might prolong these delightful mo-
ments, feasting their eyes with these Divine visions, and their
minds with these more than human discourses. Nor can we
wonder that the scene, transitory as it was, left so abiding a
savour on his spirits, that in an epistle which he wrote many
years after, and but a little before his death, he should single
this story from a thousand others to attest it as he does, and to
argue from it. (Compare 2 Pet. i. 16 — 18.) But, oh! how
much more desirable is it to stand upon mount Zion^ and to
behold those brighter glories which our Jesus wears in the
heavenly regions ! To behold, not merely Moses and Elijah^
but all the prophets^ the apostles^ and martyrs ; and, in a word,
all the saints of God in every age, whether to us personally
known or unknown, surrounding him in a radiant circle ; and
not only to behold them, but to converse with them. Lord, it
is good for us to be there, in our desires at least, and in our
meditations, till thou pleasest to call us to that happy- world,
and to take us thither, where no drowsiness will cloud our eves, Luke
where no hurry will discompose our thoughts ; but where the i^' i~
perfection of holiness, and of love, shall cast out every degree of ix. 6
terror, as well as of sorrow.
In the mean time let us reverently attend to that Saviour who
appeared in this majestic form, and who comes recommended
to us with so many testimonials of his Divine authority. He was Mat.
again declared by a voice from heaven to be the beloved Son o^xvii. 5
God ; as such let us hear him, receiving all his revelations with
the assurance of faith, and all his commands with the obedience
of love. If these sentiments govern our hearts and our lives,
the thoughts of that departure from this world, which we are
shortly to accomplish, will be no grief or terror to our souls. Luke
Like our blessed blaster, we may connect the views of it, and ix.31
intermix discourse upon it, with the most delightful enjo\ ments
and converse ; nay, it will serve to render them yet more
pleasing. For who v/ould not long to be made conformable to
Christ, even in his sufferings and death, if it may be a means
of transforming us into the resemblance of his glories /
VOL. 2. 3
^ On the next day, the people seeing him, are amao^e'd.
SECT. XCI.
Christy descending from the mountain on which he was transfg"
ured, drives out an evil spirit xvhich had obstinately withstood
the attempts of his apostles. Mat. XVII. 14 — 21, Mark
IX. 14—29. Luke IX. 37— 43—.
Luke IX. S7. Luke IX. 3r.
SECT. 'T^HL^S did our Lord discourse with his A ND it came te
''"• X three disciples after he had been trans- ^ topass,thatoR
— r 1 • 1 • • .V • the next dav, when
Luke figured m SO glorious a manner in their pres- ^i^^^ ^^ere come
ix. 2>7 e^ce : and it came to pass, that on the next day, down from the hill,
xuhen they came down from the mountain on "luch people met
which the night had been so delightfully spent, ^^"^^'
Mark ^ g^'eat crowd of people met him. And, being Mark IX. 14;
ix» 14 come to the disciples, and particularly to the And when he came
rest of the apostles, who, knowine; their Mas- ^"^ ^''^ disciples, he
u u-n -^ 1 r °i- . 1 saw a great multi-
ter was on the hill, waited lor him in the tude about them,
adj acent valley, he saw a great multitude around and the scribes
them, and, among the rest, some of the scribes cFestioning with
and Pharisees, who were disputing xvith them, ^^^™'
and endeavoured to take the opportunity
of their Master's absence to expose and dis-
tress them.
15 And immediately, as soon as he came near 15 And straig-ht-
them, all the multitude seeing him, was struck way all the people,
into as tonislu7ient at thosG unusual rays of majes- ?^^'^^'^ ^^^^J ^^^^^^
ty and glvory which yet remained on his counte- arTaWd T' anirmn^
nance y"- a?id, rwming to him, they saluted him ning to him, saluted
with the greatest marks of respect and af- ^^i^^*
fection : yet the scribes and Pharisees, without
• Was struck into astonish'rnent. Sec] It is paraphrase^ which is agreeable to wi»at
strange that so few critics sliould have we read of Moses, that Me .$/■/« o/'/!«y«ce
said any thing- concerning the reason of shone uhen he came doivn frotn the mount-
the multitude^- ht'mir thus astontsheJ. It (Compare Exod.xxxiv. 29, 30, and 2 Cor.
could not be, as Dr. Clarke supposes, iii, 7) One would indeed have expected
his coming down from tlie mountain the that Luke, who has mentioned the lustrt
day after lie went up ; for tliey were on Stephen's countenance, when pleading-
gathered round it in expectation of his his cause before the sanhedrim (Acts vi-
descent ; and I do not remember that he 15,) should have taken some notice of the
ever continued more than one night in fact here supposed : but it is observable
sucha retirement. Nor is it easy to Mark tells the story before us far more
imagine the ?nu/tiiude were under any circumstantially than either of tlie other
apprehension, iifter he had been no evangelists ; which, by the way, is another
long-er absent, that they never sliould be most convincini^ proof that hi's ^oj-/;f/ was-
able to find him again. I therefore follow not (as Mr. Whiston supposes) vd\ abrid^--
Dr. Whitby's natural conjecture in his ment of Matthew.
A lunatic possessed With a dumb spirit is brought to him, 9
regarding his return, continued their illnatured sect.
attack on his disciples. ^^^*
16 And he asked Ajid^ taking notice of the warm dispute they ^mItIc
tiie scribes, Wliat ^ygre engaged in, he asked the scribes^ What is i,' i6
?hem'r ^^ ^^^ P^^^^ y^^ ^^'^ debating, and what do you
contend rvith them about ?
17 And [Luke, be- ^"'^ presently, upon his making this inquiry, 15^
hold,][acerfai«man] ^^/^o/^, a [certain"] ma7i of the multitude C2ime,
of the multitude, and kueeli7ig down to him^ ansxveredihe quest-
[kneeling down to -^^^ - ^^^^^ ^^^ • ^ ^^j^j^ ^ j^^^ ^^^
him,] answered and . ' . ' ^ . ^ r^^ ^ i
[Luke, cried out, eager voice, satd^ U thou great 1 eacher and
saying:,] Master, I Master in our Israel, / have brought thee my
Lave broug-ht unto p^Qj. afflicted SOU. xvho has for a loner time been
tliee mv son, which ^ ^ '^^ i j .• -^ j^i i-
hath a'dumb spirit .P^^^^^^^^ With a dumb Spirit ; and the maii-
[Mat. XVIL 14. cious demon has deprived him of the use of his
Luke IX.^ 38—] ^ hearing and speech : And in this moving case,
Lolxlt^*[I^ beseech ^ J-ord^ I beseech thee look upon my son, for he Mat.
thee,'look upon my is 77iine only child, [and'\ yet, instead of being xvii.15
son, for he is mine any comfort to me, is a most melancholy spec-
onlychild;a«^]have ^^^^j^ ^f hoYvoY ; let me entreat thee therefore
mercy on A/?;!, for he , ; rt- t ^ / • / • k
is lunatic, and sore ^o have compassio7i on [/izm,J Jor lie is lunatic,^
vexed : for oft times and grievously tor7nented with terrible fits,which
he falleth into the fj-equentlv seize him, and sometimes endanger
lire, and ort into i-it ' r i r^ r n ^u ' ^ ^i ^ »
the water. [Luke ^^^^ lite ; for he often falleth into the f re, and
IX.— 38.] often i7ito the water, A7id behold, wherever
Luke IX. 39. And \ihis'\ spirit seizes him, he has no strength or Luke
L spirir'Ske'h thought to take care of himself, hxit suddenly ix. 9
him, he suddenly cries out in a violent manner ; audit convulses
crieth out, and it hi7n SO, that hefoams again at the mouth ; and
teareth him, that he a-nashes with his teeth in extremity of aniyuish ;
loaraeth ae-ain, fand ^,, , . ,, . i»i
gnasheth with Ms ^'^« thus he mistYably pmes, and withers arvay
teeth, and pineth in the bloom of his age : and [it] is with great
away ;] and bruising ^jj^culty that the malignant demon departs fro7n
parteth from\im' ^^^^ ^^^ ^ ^^tde while, having bruised hini to such
[Mark IX. 18.—] a degree by violent distortions, that he is hardly
able to use his limbs in the interval of these
Mat. XVII. 16. dreadful agitations. And I am persuaded Mat.
And I brought him there is some more than ordinary difficulty in xvii.l^
spakl"^''to^'"A.^;;r,] the case ; ior I brought him to thy discipks, and
[Luke, and te- spake to [them] concerning him, a7id entreated
sought the^n to cast [thei7i] in the most affectionate manner, to use
•' He is lunatic.'] Grotius well observes the evil spirit would undoubtedly take ad-
Ihat this word (which exactly answers the vantage of those disorders into which the
etymology of the original) might with brain and nerves of this unhappy child were
great propriety be used, though there was thrown by the changes of the Tnoon.
something preternatural in the case ; as
lO
The disciples being unable to cure him, Jesus is applied to
SECT, their utmost efforts to cast him out ; and they him out,] and they
,. T 1 • 111- could not cure him.
'^ci could not accomplish it, nor heal him, [Mark IX.— 18.
Then Jesus said in reDlij to him, 0 ye incred- l^.ke IX. 40.]
J^:'* 1-, uhus^ and perverse generation of men, Jioiv long 17 Then Jesus
""•^' Shalt I be\vHh you before vou will learn a be- ^^^^^^^^^
coming regard to me ? Hoxv long shall 1 endure perverse generation,
that infidelity which you are shewing on so how long- shall I be .
• xnany occasions ? And thus did he mean at ^ you ^.^^^w Ion..
once to reprove the weakness ot taith m the ^^..^^^ [Luke," thy
father, and in his disciples, as well as the obsti- gon] hither to me.
nacy and perverseness of the Jewish teachers, [Mark IX_ 19.
who were triumphing in their present disap- Luke IX. 41.]
pointment : and then, tiu'ning to the father of
the child and his attendants, he said. Bring
thy son hither to me, and you shall see what my
power can effect. ,
Mark AndM^on this they brought him that was pos- ^^f^^^^^^^ ^^,oJ\,[
^^' 20 sessedto Jesus, and presented the poor creature j^j^^ ,„,to'him : and
to him. And immediately, as soon as hesaxv him, when he saw him,
-while he was yet coming, the evil spirit in a [as he was yet a
rage wrought in him with such violence that he ^^^^'^^'^''^spldt
threw him doxvn, and convulsed him ; and he fell ^^\{y^^^ him down,
on the ground with great force, and there lay, and] tare him, and
and rolled h.nr. one side to the other, a spec- "^^^^^^^JlJ::,
tacle of horror, foaming at the mouth, and ed foaming-. [Luke
sweating profuselv, .-ill nature was almost ix. 42.—]
exhausted, and he seemed readv to die.
21 And, that th- (rreatness of the cure might ^.21 And he asked
more plainlv appear, while the unhappv youth ^^^^^^^
lav thus before him, he asked his father. How came unto him ?
lon^ time is it that he hath been thus afflicted ? And he said, Of a
22 And he said,Y.vexi from his childhood:^ Andxkve ^^'22 ' And oft times
evil spirit is so outrageous, and so malicious, jt hath cast him into
that it frequently, as I said, has thrown him into the fire, and into the
the fire, and into the waters, when he has hap- ;^vater.s to destroy
^ , ^ , , TT- ^ujf\. him : but if thou
pened to be near them, as it he watched tor ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^:^^^^
optiortunities to destroy him ; so that I am sen- have compassion on
sible it is a most ditficult, as well as dreadful us, and help us.
case . but if thou canst do any thing in \t,^ have
compassion on us, and help us ; for surely none
ever needed thy pity more.
« From his childhood.'] So the word on his approaching Christ, his faith might
vdnlio^tv properly signifies ; and, I think begin to fail. This was a very natural
witli Grotius, it is much more convenient manner of speaking, and yet strongly pa-
te render it thus ; than from his ihfancj. thetic, and obliquely interesting the honour
<* If thou canst do any thing in it.^ Per- of Christ in tlie issue of the affair. See
haps, observing the/> grow more violent J?aphels ex. Xen. p. 72.
who rebukes the demon^ and expels him, - • 11
23 Jesus saidunto And Jesiis said unto hi?n^ The question is sect-
Ivim, If thou canst ^ot at all concerning my power, but concern- ^*'^-
believe, all things . ^ strength of thy faith ; for if thou canst
«re possible to him b & : J
tliat believeth. firmly and cheerfully benevey the deliverance
will surely be effected, as all things of this ' ■
kind [are] possible to him that believeth.^
24 And straight- -^^^ immediate lij the father of the child^ touch- 24
way the father of ed to the very heart to think that his dear son
tiie child cried out, might possibly lose the cure through the weak-
Lont'V'beVeTe''.' ^ess of his own faith, cried out ^\o\id, and said ^
lielp 'thou mine un- with tears in his eyes and ardour in his coun-
belief. tenance, Lord^ I do from my heart believe that
thy power is unlimited ; yet such is my frailty,
that when I look on this spectacle of misery,
my faith is ready to fail me again : help me
therefore against my unbelief by mitigating
the circumstances of the trial, or commimi-
cating suitable strength to my soul/
25 When Jesus saw Then jfesus^ seeing" that the crowd ran tc 25
f^^^'^^'^^''^^elh^r ^^^^^^' and was continually increasing round
he rebuked the [un- them, rebuked the unclean spirit which had
clean] spirit, say- possessed the child, and said unto him, with an
inguiitohim. Thou g^jj. of superior power and Divine authority,
rit, I charee^thee" Thou dumb and deaf spirit, who hast so malici-
come out of him, ously deprived this youth of his speech and
and enter no more hearing, / strictly charge and command thee
— 4*2^'.""ma^"xVii immediately to come out of him, «72<3f presume
18.—] to enter into him no more, nor farther to dis-
quiet him as long as he lives.
26 And the spirit And immediately, as soon as he had spoken 26
cried and rent him tj^gge words, [the 'evil spirit,^ havinp; cried out
sore, and came out . , ' ^ ^ i\i ^ ,. .
[of him ;] and he ^^'^^^ great earnestness, and throxvn him into
was as one dead, in- violent distortions, came out of him ; and the
poor youth had been so miserably handled, that
he fell into a swoon,and^^^w^^«« one dead, so
« If thou canst belieiye, &c.] As the con- f Help my unbelief y &c.] It seems an
struction in the original is something- un- inconvenience inseparable from this
common. To «< ^wao-ai t:z-mvactt, I cannot methodof/)ara/)Ara«/«^, that sometimes (as
forbear mentioning- a sing-ular conjecture in the present instance) some lively and
which I lately had from the mouth of a strongly pointed sentences should lose
very accurate critic, especially in biblical something of their spirit by it ; yet keep-
learning. He thinks, instead of To, it ing the original thus distinct may in part
might be Ti, as some copies read it ; and remedy it ; and, on the whole, many of
then taking ts-igiva-dt to be the imperative these expressions are so full of meaning,
'moody would render and paraphrase it that the general laws of interpretation
with An interrogation vSiev T I -^ " What dost require they should be unfolded. To
thou mean by saying // thou canst .?" refer- obsei-ve the exact medium here is a felicity
ring to u hvxa-'xt in the verse before : which I dare not say I have obtained,
•' believe : all things are possible to him that though I have laboured after it.
ielieveth : see thou to the firmness of thy
faith ; and leave the rest to me."
12 This kind eomes not out but by prayer and fasting.
SECT, fhat many who were present, satd^ He is un- somuch that manjf
''"• doabtedly quite d'jad, and will revive no more. ^J^^^ "^^^^^^ ^^^^•
Mark. ^'^^ Jesus^ taking hold of him by the hand^ —1
ix. 27 lifted him up^ and strengthened him, so that he 27 But Jesus to(ifc
arose and stood on his feet. Afid when [he'] him by the hand, and
thus had perfectly restored and healed ^'^^ he ^arose"^ fLiTKE
ehild^ he took and delivered him to his fathpr^ and he healed the
who received him with an inexpressible child, and delivered
mixture of joy and amazement. And the child 1)^? T"! ^ ^" fy^
,, ^•' - , , , , . father.] [And the
xvas uoell jrom that very nour^ and these tern- child was cured from
ble symptoms returned upon him no more. that very hour.]
Luke And they who beheld it were all astonished ^^^^^' ry^ll'-^"^^
ii.43 at the mighty power of God, by which this illus-
trious miracle had been wrought. Luke IX. 43.—-
Mark ^^^^ when A^had left the multitude, and ivas And they were all
is. 28 co?ne into the house ^ where he then resided, his amazed at the
disciples, something mortified at the repulse '^^^^^' P^'^"^ ^^
they had met with in their late attempt, came Mark IX. 28.
to jesus when he was alone, and asked him pri- And wiien he was
vatehf. Why could not w^ prevail so far as to ^?^^5.'"'!^ ^'^^ ^°"^^'
■^' 1 ■• T 1 If. • his disciples Icame
cast out this demon, and expel him, smce we to Jesus apart, and]
have performed many cures which seemed asked him privately,
equally difficult ? wJ'^cast'' him out"?
Mat. And f esus said unto them, \X.vj^'^ because oi ry^^^^ XVII. 19.1
svii.20 the remainder of your unbelief ; for verily I say MA.r. XVII. 20.
unto you. If you had but the least degree of And Jesus said unto
faith in a lively exercise, though it compara- J-our"" unbeHef f for
tively was but «.? a grain of mustardseed,^ you verily I say unto you,
mz^Ar perform the greatest wonders, so as even If ye have faith as
to say to this mountain here in the neighbour- ^^^^?- ^J mustard-
hood, Remove from this place to that, a«fl^ ?V unto* this mountain"^
should accordingly remove ; and, in a word. Remove hence unto
-1 nothing will be impossible to you. But as to y^^^f^^ P^-'^ce, audit
.1 ...u ... 1 ... 1 u r / r ...1- shall remove ; and
the case that was lately before us, he farther ^^^^-^^ ^^^^n ^e in,.
said unto them, This demon which possessed the possible unto you.
child was one of a very obstinate kind, which 21 Howbeit, [he
ca;?;z5/^ be expelled so readily as others; nor ^)^^^,^"'° ^^^"^'V^\^
" , -^ ' . kind [can come forth
must you expect to have power over such spi- by nothing] but hy
rits as these, to oblige them to go forth by any prayer and fasting.
means, unless you do by frequent prayer and [Mark IX. 29.]
fasting intercede with God for his more
abundant cooperation ; and by such extraordi-
2 Faith as a grain of viiutardseed.'] It is our Lord expresses it, one of the stnalleH
very triHing to suppose that here is a among seeds. Thus the rabbles say the
reference to the poigna?icy of niustardseed, globe of tlie earth is but as a grain of^nus-
as an emblem of a vigorous and livelyya/fA. tardseed when compared with the expanse
It is apparently a /irowrA to express any of theli^avens. Sq^ DfUsiuA, in lot.
thing iiiQonsiderably small, that being, as
Reflections on the necessity of a lively faklu IS
nary devotions endeavour to prepare your souls for his sEcr,
farther influences.^ ^^^'
IMPROVEMENT.
The invidious opposition which these scribes end Pharisees Mark
made to our Lord, and the illnatured joy they expressed in ix. U
what they imagined would disgrace his disciples, appears ex-
ceeding odious ; and it shews us the fatal effects of ambition,
pride, and avarice, when they possess the hearts of those who
should be (as these by their office were) teachers of others. Such
qualities render those in the number of the most dangerous ene-
mies of mankind, who ought to be its most affectionate friends,
and most useful benefactors. May the light of the gospel break
in on their souls, and form them to a better temper !
The solicitous concern of \.\i\s parent when he saw his child ^'^^^r
under such sad symptoms of disorder, may surely remind per- 14^ 15
sons in that relation of the sentiments with which they should Luke
view those of their children, who are, in a spiritual sense, under ^^' '^^
the power of Satan : and of the importunity with which they
should entreat that the hand of Christ may be stretched out
for their rescue.
A lively exercise of faith is greatly to be desired in this and
all other applications of this nature. But, alas! how often do we
^ This iind ca?inot go forth by any means, the apostles evidently did cast out maay
sinless' by prayer and fasting.'] An inge- cfe??io.n^, whatever peculiar malignity there
n\o\is physician, mentioned by the learned mig'ht be in this and others of his rank.
Author oi the Inquiry into Demoniacs, &c. which might make more hitense de\-otioa
p. 47, instead of u 'arpoTiv;;^» khi y»r«/*, necessary to eject them. Sir Norton
would read sy .iir;o-«;(^t/ vxre*) by constant Knatchbuli's sense is extremely forced,
fasting; and supposes it refers to the who understands it as if it had been said,
necessity of frequent and long- continued This sort [of miraculous faith] adtafices
abstinence, in order to the cure of such an not but by prayer and fastir.g. Raphelius
epileptic distemper diS\he. chWd'in c]v\esXion has abundantly shewn how inconclusive
had been subject to. But as the criticism those authorities from Zenophon are by
is founded on mere conjecture, contrary which he would justify so odd aversion
to all the copies known in the world, so I of i^ix^uy. (See Raphel. Annot. ex Xen.
cannot think it at all natural in itself, or p. 44-46) And were the words consid-
pertinent to the occasion ; for it seems ered as they stand in Mark, where there
not at all to our hordes purpose to speak of is nothing said o^ faith, it would be eas}"
the natural methods of cure, in answer to to perceive cur Lord is speaking of a kind
the apostles demand why they could not cf demons which they vjere r.ot able to c:ist
miraculously perform it ? Nor can any out.- and that some c/ewiorw arc more ma-
instance be produced to prove that the lignant than others is most manifest from
expression is /)r&^terZ>/a/ for any thing Tery Mat. xii. 45. But oftentimes an e.r:/)/zca'
difficult. 1 could therefore see no reason tion has been built upon the words of ofi/f
tt) recede from the usual interpretation, evangelist, and many learned remurkp
which I have given in the />araj&/zra^e. As have been made to establish it, which,
for the interpretation of Chrysostom and could not be applied without great vio-
Theopiiylact, who suppose that ytyn sig- lence to suit ihfi parallel place in another.
nifies Hi large this kind of beings, that is, and presently has fallen to the ground
devims, it scetns. very wronig' ; sintre upon camparin^ thea* tog^etliev.
M He passes privately through Galilee with his disciples.
SECT, find the remainders of a contrary principle ! In how many in-
xci. stances does that passionate exclamation of the father in this
story suit us ? Lord^ zve believe^ help thou our unbelief ! How
^^2^ difficult is it, in the midst of so much guih and weakness, of so
much perplexity and unworthiness, to believe the promises of
forgiveness and preservation, of grace and glory ! Yet we may
humhly hope that He, who by his grace has wrought the Divine
principle in our souls, will maintain it there. Only let it be
our concern to oppose those corruptions which would enervate
Mat. and suppress it. Perhaps there are some of them which will
iTii.21 not be driven but by prayer and fastings by deep humiliation,
and more than ordinary solemnity and intenseness of devotion.
But surely they have little regard to the peace and security of
their souls who can allot only a few hasty moments to them,
when they have whole hours and days to bestow, not only on
the labours, but even on the amusements of life.
SECT. XCII.
The disciples are offended at the zvarning Christ gives them of
his approaching sufferings. He makes a miraculous provision
for paying the tribute money. Mat, XVII. 22, to the end,
Mark IX. 30—33. Luke IX.— 4.3— 45.
Mark IX. 30. Mark IX. 30.
t^?7 AND while everii one of the spectators was A , , ^ [while
^cii- At U .1 jri, they wonder-
-^-^ amazed at this stupendous miracle wrought ed everyone at all
Mark on the child who hadbeen so terribly possessed, things which Jesus
ix. 30 and at all the other extraordinary things ^^^'3 *^^^y fleparted
which Jesus did^ our Lord and his apostles ^hi-ou^h ^" Gahfee ;
left that place, and, setting out on a further and he would not
progress, theij departed from thence^ and passed ^^^^^^^y^^^ should
from the mountain on which he had been trans- .'^"^ '^^ [Luke
figured, through the rest of Galilee : and Jesus
chose to do it ?tS privately as he could ; for he
was desirous that no one might knozv [z^,] lest 3i_ por [while
the important conversation into which he then they abode in Gali-
entered with his disciples should be interrupt- ^^' Jesus] taught
31 ed. For while they continued txa\T*i\\m^ ^^^ said ' 'luno^^'them,
conversing in Galilee^ and especially when they [Mat. ZVII. 22.—
came to the places where they lodged, fesus Luke IX. — 43-3
taught his disciples^ more largely than he had
' For yesus taught his disciples.'] Mark he mig- ht have an opportunity to talk
HSsigTis this as the reason why he desired over this subject at large ; which shews
his journey should be private, viz. that that the continuance or (d}ode in Galilee,
They are trmibled to hear of his approaching sufferings, 1^'
done before, what was to befall him. (Com-s^cr.
pare Mat. xvi. 21 ; Mark viii. 31 ; Luke ix. ^°"-
22 ; Vol. I. sect. Ixxxix.) """^
Luke IX. 44. Let And he said unto thein^ with gi'eat solemnity, Luke
these sa\ ings sink Apply yotir ears attentively to these sayings^ i^* ^'^
dovvii into your ears : how dis a ore cable soever thev may be, and let
for the Son of man , "i*. i ^''y^/o r ^
shall be delivered them smk mto your hearts ; for the Son^ of
into the hands of w^z/z, instead of reigning in that grandeur which
men, [and they shall yo^ expect, shall very shortly be betrayed intd
t^hat he'^sl^Ued he '^^^ ^^^^^^ ^/^"^f^l ^''''' and' shall seem for a
shall rise the third while t^ be a helpless prey to their rage ; for
day.] [Mark IX. the?/ shall piit him to death in a most cruel and
—^2 23^T ^^^^ infamous manner ; but they shall not finally
" * ' triumph over him ; for after he is thus slain, he
shall rz.9efrom the dead 07i the third day, accord-
ing to the intimations I have often given you,
(See Vol. I. p. 144, 347,478.)
45 But they un- -But they were so strongly prepossessed with 45
derstoodnotthis say- the expectation of a temporal kingdom, that
mg-, and it yas hid ^Yiey understood not this saying, plain as it was,
iroir. them, that thev i. , c . i-j'r^i ^t *
perceiveditnot:and «^^^ the sense of it was hid from them, so that
ihey feared to ask they perceived it not ; foolishly imagining it
him of that saying-, inconsistent with what the sacred oracles had
[n^'trryO ^mIt. declared of the glorious success of the Son of
XVII.— 23. Mark man, and the universal empire he was to estab-
IX. 32.] lish. (Dan. vii. 14.) A?id yet they were afraid
to ask him what was the meaning of that sayings '
lest he should upbraid them as unteachable ;
considering how lately he had given them the
like warning before, and how severely he had
rebuked Peter for endeavouring to dissuade
liim from it (sect. Ixxxix :) nevertheless, they
perceived that their Master foretold his own
death ; and were exceeding sorry that a Person
of so excellent and amiable a character, from
v/hom they had entertained such glorious
mentioned by MaUhew,- refers to the short ears fr»m such declarations as he was now
atay they made in the places where they about to make.
lodged ; and indeed he could not so con- = Shall shortly be betrayed., ^c.'] Mark has
veniently speak to all the t^vehe while expressed it in the /»re*e«ffe/2je, and says,
they were actuallv travelling-. The Son of man is delivered; but nothing is
*> Apply you}- ears to these sayings.li This more common in the sacred lang-uage than
seems to me Si ]\ist translation of ^icbi tospeakofwhat should cerfam/y and yw?c.f/y
ij/j-iH uc Tit ATA v/ua>v T«f hoyn? TiTiis^y de,Asir\twa.s already done. Compare John
which is literally, Pict these sayings toyoitr xii. 31 ; xvii. 4, 11, 24 ; Eph. ii. 5, 6 ; Heb.
ears; a phrase wliich our languai^e will xii. 22 ; and Rev. xviii. 2, 4. — The expli-
hardly admit. It intimates the propensity cation of many other scriptures depends on
they had to =uithdrarj and turn aiv ay their this obvious remark,
VOL. 2-. 4
t'^ Repays the tribute by a miracle at Capernaum o
SECT, expectations, should meet with so unworthy a
^cii. return.
J/z^ soon after this, he came with his disci- Mat. XVII,. 24'
vi-iJ^ok pies to Capernaum: and when they were come to ^"^ ^^^ ^^"*^ ^%
;i.\u.^'i r r • . i 71 y > Capernaum : and J
Capernaum^ the receivers and collectors oj the ^hen they were
sacred trihiite^^ which was gathered every year come to Capernaum,
through all their cities, came to Peter, and'said, ^^^^^^^^f IT^Z^
Does 7iot your Master, w^ho has the character ^^ peter'^and said
of so religious a Teacher, pay M^ usual tribute Doth not your Mas-
of the didrachma,*^ or halfshekel, to the service ter pay tribute ?
2*5 of the temple ? And he says, Tes, I know that ^^5^He^faith,Tes.
he uses to pay it, and make no doubt but he And when he was
will do it now. And xvhen he came into Me come into the house,
house, Jesus, who was there before, prevented J?^'^^ . P^^^'f "1^^
t-^r V ij 1 f .u rr • • ^^""i' saying, What
htm, beiore he could speak or the aftair m thinkest thou. Si-
question, andsaidxo him. What dost thou think, mon? ofwhomdothe
Simon, and what seems fit to thee onthisocca- ^"^^^ °^ ^^ ^^^^J^
i V>y 1 1 .t 1' r ^1 ^t • take custom or trib-
sion r Of whom do the kings of the earth receive ^^^ , ^^ ^j^^i^. ^^^
custom or tribute? of their own sons, or <?/ children, or of stran-
iJ6 strangers P Peter says to him. Lord it is evi- ^^rs ?
dent they receive it only of strangers. Jesus ^j.^ him.^Of s^^-
said to him. Then the sons, by virtue of their g-ers. Jesus saitk
father's dispensation, are free from the obliga- unto him. Then are
tion : and, on the like principle, I, as the Son the children free.
of God, might plead an exemption here, espec-
ially as I have not now the sum which is re-
quired towards the maintenance of the temple
27 worship. Nevertheless, lest we shoidd offend 27 Notwlthstand-
them, by giving an occasion to imagine that I in^, lest we should
put any slight on the temple, or lest others ^^f"'^^^'^"^'^?^^"^
{. -' ° I 1 ij-r y'cr • to the sca, and cast
from my example should m tar different cir- an hook, and take up
cumstances omit this contribution, I will not the fish that first
debate the matter, but rather work a miracle cometh up : and
than fail in the payment. Go therefore to
the sea, and when thou comest to the neigh-
bouring shore, throw in a hook, and take the
first fsh thdt comes up ; and when thou hast
'^ The collectors of the sacred tribute."] because I think, notwithstanding- wh&l,
yosephiis has expressly asserted that each Salmasius says to the contrary f against
of the Jews used yearly to pay a didrachtnay Milton^ p. 259), our Lord*s argument, ver.
or halfshekely the piece of money here 25, 26, can otherwise have no force. The
mentioned, to the service of the temple : reader will find an excellent note in Gro-
(see yoseph. Antiq. lib. xviii. cap. 9, [al. 12] tius here, which renders it unnecessary
§ i.) A custom which probably took its to enlarge any farther,
rise from the demand of that sum from
each of the Israelites, whenever they were ^ j)ogs not your Master pqy the usual
numbered; Exod. xxx. 13. And therefore, tribute, &c.] It seems then to have been
with Beza, Casaubon, Hammond, Grotius, a voluntary thing, which custom rather
and many other great critics, I choose to than laiu had established. In Nehemiah's
understand this passage as referring to days it was accounted so, and the sum was
thatt rather than to any civil tax ; chiefly then something lower. See Neh. x. 32.
Reflections on the poverty and wisdom of Christ* J7
Xvhen thou hast opened its mouthy thou shalt there find a piece sect.
oP^"^^ J^j^ fi'T^*' ^^ silver coin, called a stater, which it has just '^cii.
pieceof money ; that swallowed ;^ take that, and give it to them that TJ
take, and g-ive unto collect the tribute, bothy^r me and thee ; for ^yif^
tihem for m© and thou knowest it will answer their demands for
^ ^^' both. Accordingly Peter went, and having
caught a fish, he found the mone}^ in its mouth,
and presently returned and paid it according
to his Lord's command.
IMPROVEMENT.
How slow and untractable were the minds of the apostles^ who Mark
understood not these plain things when thus inculcated again and ^^-^^
again ! But, on the other hand, how much integrity does it
shew in the historian to record what seemed so little to the
honour of himself and his brethren ! In this respect, and many
others, surely credit rises to the gospel, even by occasion of the
infirmities of those to whom it was committed, and out of weak-
ness they are made strong. The lenity of our blessed Lord was
truly admirable, that he should bear with such stupidity in
Jhis disciples with so much gentleness and patience, and should,
with so much earnestness, go on to renew his instructions to Luke
them. Let us, however, learn to be upon our guard against ix. 44
the prejudices of worldly interest, since, as we see, they may
take such strong hold of minds, in the main upright and pious.
And therefore let us earnestly pray that God would give us a
greater relish for spiritual and eternal blessings.
It cannot surely become us to seek the grandeur and riches of Mat.
this world, when our blessed Master was so poor, that he could xvii.27'
not pay this little tribute without having recourse to a miracle.
Yet this he chooses, rather than to give offence by a refusal,
how justly soever he might have pleaded an exemption from it.
Let us learn from hence that meekness of wisdofn which will 26
teach us to seek the interest of others rather than our own ; and
f A stater, which it has just swallowed.] fore us ; kno-xoledge, in penetrating into the
The stater was (as appears in part from bowels of this animal, though in the sea ;
this text) a piece of coin, in value about and poviery in directing this particular fish
tiuo halfshekelsy or, according to Dr. to Peter's hook, though he himself was at
Prideaux, near three shillings of our money, a distance. Hardly any circumstance can
though most critics reckon the shekel but be imagined more fit to encourage him
about half a crovm. (See Drusius on this and his brethren in a firm dependence on
-cerse and the 24th.) I see no reason, with Divine Providence. And it is very natural
Schmidius, to suppose this piece of money to reflect how easily Christ could, if he had
was created on this occasion : but suppos- seen fit, have drawn up immense treasures^
ing, as in the paraphrase, tluit thejish had by this very method, from the heart of the
accidentally jTOa//cwoec/jV (perhaps as itwas sea: but he intended that his servants
falUng into the water, near some other should be enriched and adorned in a much
prey), I cannot forbear remarking how nobler manner than with pearls and co^ly
illustrious a degree of knowledge and array.
X>ower our Xort/discoveped in the case be-
18 The disciples conleiul who of them s-hoidd be greatest.
SECT, to consider how we may edify others by the abundance of ouj-
xcii. good works, rather than how we may excuse ourselves in the
omission of any. That extent of knowledge and power which
our Lord displayed on this occasion, can never be at a loss tor
means to repay whatever we may thus sacrifice for his sake.
SECT. XCIII.
Christ reproves his apostles for their contention who shoidd he
greatest ; and recommends to them humiHty and viortifi cation,
Mark IX.— .33— 37, 42, to the end. Mat. XVIII. 1—9.
' Luke IX. 46 — 48.
Mark IX. 33. Mark IX.— 33.
SECT. l^OW when Peter was returned from the ^NDbeinginthe
^^^* XN seaside, and had paid the tribute money them,^^wharwas^it
J, , with which the fish had supplied him,* our that ye disputed
IX. 33 Lord, from a late occurrence which he had amongyourseives by
observed among his disciples, took occasion to ^^ ^^'^^ "
recommend humility to them : and being in the
house with his apostles, that he might naturally
introduce the discourse he intended, he asked
them^ About what xvere you disputing with each
other on the way in so eager a manner, that I
could not forbear taking particular notice of it ?
34 But^ instead of answering him directly, they 34 But they held
rvere confounded with the question, and con- their peace : for by
tinned silent, being ashamed to confess the the way [there arose
^ n ^ ^y' i ^ reasonmsr amonff
truth ; for as they were travellmg on the xvay, them, a«^3 they had
a controversy arose among them, [and"] they had disputed amont^
warmly debated the matter one with another, themselves, [^J^j^^^
tvhich of them should be the greatest man in that ™r^.,f^ct n "n ..^rr
u I'll 11 glCcliest.J L-L<UK.E
temporal monarchy, which they assured them- iz. 46.]
selves that Jesus, as the expected Messiah,
would erect, whatever sufferings might lie in
the passage to it.
35 And Jesus perceiving, notwithstanding their o5 And [Jesus per-
silence, the secret thought of their ambitious ceivin^ the thought
heart, and observing the same carnality and dowrandr^ledthe
emulation to be still working there, xvhen he
•' When Peter was returned, ISfcS] In paraphrase on the first verse of a section
order to remind those who may hear these sometimes much longer than I should
sections read in a family, of the connection otherwise have chosen, yet I hope it may
of them, I have generally introduced each be attended with advantage sufticienfe to
^yith a brief hint at the subject of the balance th*t inconvenience,
former ; which, though it makes the
Christ taking up a little child ^ exhorts them to humility, 19
iwelve, and saith was sat down^ called all the txvelve about him,'' sect.
unto ihem. If any and say s itnto them with great seriousness and xcm.
man desire to be earnestness. It is humility that is the wav to "7~~
first, the same shall , • i • j ' \ *x, c r Mark
be last of all, and honour m my kmgdom ; and therefore if any i^, 3^
servant of all. [Luke one would be chief there, let him^ in all the
IX. 47. -— ] offices of condescending friendship to his
brethren, he as the last of all^ and the servant
of all.
Mat. XVIIT. 1. Now at the same time^ when the disciples Mat.
At the same time were thus called, they came to Jesus^ and find- xviil.l
came the disciples • ^j^^^ j^^ y^^^^ ^j^^ subject of their late de-
unto Jesus, saymcr, ,0 ,, , . '^ , , i i-,
Who is the greatest bate, some oi them at length took the liberty
in the kingdom of of sayings Lord, decide this question, and
heaven ? ^^\\ ^5 plainly, xvho is intended to be the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven^ and to whom
wilt thou commit the chief management of
affairs in it ?
2 And Jesus call- And^ when he had answered the inquiry in 2
ed a little child unto the manner related above, Jesus^ in order to
him, and [took and] .^g the important maxim yet deeper on
setlum [Luke, by a. • , 7 • 7, 7 ,• 7-7 7-77 1
him] in the midst their minds, having called to tiim a little child that
of them, and [when happened then to be in the house where they
he had taken him in lodged, took and set him hi} him in the midst of
Ins arms, he said ,, ° 7^ 7- ,• -^ i 1 • i-
unto them,] [Mark ^^em ; and taking him up, and embracing him
IX. 36. Luke IX. in his gracious arms^ in token of his tender
— 47.] regard, he said unto them^ I assuredly declare it
to you as a most solemn and important truth,
3 Venly I say unto That except ye be converted and turned from 3
converted^ ^ancT bet ^^"^^s^ ambitious and Carnal views, and he-
come as little chil- come like little children in lowliness and meek-
dren, ye shall not ness, in a candid teachable temper, and an
TornVfTeaven^'"^' indifference to the great things of the present
life (Psal. cxxxi. 1, 2,) you will be so far from
having any distinguished rank among my sub-
jects, that ye shall by no means so much as enter
4 Whosoever 2it all into the kingdom of heaven^ or be entitled
therefore shall hum- to any of its final blessings. Whoever therefore 4
^ Called all the tn^elve about him.] It <= At the same time.'] By these words
is natiu-al to suppose that tivelve per- Matthew expressly fixes the comiection be-
sons travelling- tog-ether on foot would tween this story and that which concluded
form themselves hito two or three little his xviith chapter. But Clarius seems to
companies, while some of them, no refine too much, when he supposes that
doubt, would be attending Christ, and Christ's having thus miraculously provid-
discoursing- with him : but our Lord ed for paying Peter'^s tribute with his ov.m,
judged it proper, as he was now iji the gave umbrage to the rest : yet this j^reca-
house, that all the Uuehe should hear tliis rious turn serves the church of Rome as an
admonition, though they might not all argument for the supremacy of the Pope ;
have been engaged in the dispute which nor is it wonderfiU that in so weak a cause
occasioned it. they should catch at such a shado<w.
2.0 He shexus the danger of offending any of his little ones-*
SECT, shall hiunble himself even as this little child^ and ble himself as this
xciii. act with such candour, simplicitv, and modesty, !'^^^^ ^^'^^' ^^f ^^™^
— • u- TT ' Ix, *u .. u ^ ^s greatest in the
Mat ^^ ^'^^^ ^^^ "^ ' ^^ person that here- kingdom of heaven.
^^.^- Rafter will be regarded as the greatest in the
kingdom of heaven^ and will stand high in its
5 final glories. And ivhosoever cordially shall 5 And [Luke,
entertain this child, [or] shall discover an affec- whosoever shall re-
tionate regard to any one of such little children, ro^^one^^of ^siiclil
in mtj name, and for my sake, as one w^hom I fittle [children] in
love, and recommend to his care, cJitertaineth my name, receiveth
me; for I shall take the kindness as done to "^^ ' C^',f ^^^^".'°-
,^ , _. , , , , ever sJiall receive
myseli : arid I would have you to remember, ^e^ receiveth not
that it shall not terminate even there, but (as me, but him that
I have formerly told you. Mat. x. 40, Vol. I. fo"\e\hat^sS
p. 421), ivhoever thus shall entertaiii and shew among you. all, the
a regard Xg me, entertains 7iot 7ne alone, but him same^hall be great]
that sent me,^ even my heavenly Father, uho is [Mark IX. ST.
honoured or affronted as I am respected or ^^^ '^
slighted. And this regard to the meanest of
my servants, I must urge upon you, as of the
utmost importance ; for (as I just now told
3^ou) he that by such a condescension is as the
least among you all. He shall be eminently great
in my esteem, and be distinguished by peculiar
6 marks of the Divine favour. But whoever 6 But [whosia-
shall deliberately do any thing to offe7id, and to ever] shall offend
occasion the fall of one of these little ones xvho ^JJ^^^^ whicrbelieve
believe in me,^ or of any disciple of mine, in me, it were bet-
though he may seem as weak as this infant, will ter for him tliat a
expose himself thereby to such guilt and pun- ^''^C'tTirnecC
ishment, that it were better for hiyn he should ^nd that he were
undergo the most certain and terrible destruc- [cast into the sea,
lion one can imagine, even that a huge mill- ^''^^^^^^^^ht'^sea^
stone^ should be hanged about his neck, and he r-^^j^^ jx. 42.]
should thus be thrown headlong into the sea,^
[and] there be drozuned in the depth of it,
"^ Entertains not me alone, tnit him that example, or otherwise, pervert them from
sent me."] Here Clirist was interrupted by the way of truth and goodness, would fall
a speech of John, related Mark ix. 38—41, under the weight of this terrible sentence,
which is paraphrased and explained below, ^ A huge millstone.'] So I render fAvyos
insect, xcvi. where I have accounted in ovuoc, which (as Erasmus, Grotius, Ra-
Tiote •' for placing it apart. phelius, and many others observe ) properly
' Shall offend one cf these little ones^ &c.] signifies a millstone too lai'ge to be turned.
To offend u person generally signifies (as as some were, by the hand, and requiring
was observed before. Vol. I. p. 221, note ") the force of asses to move it ; as it seems
faying a stumbling block in his '■ciay ; so that those animals were generally used by the
any who should by a scandalous life lead Jews on this occasion. See Raphel Annot.
■others to think ill of the Christian profes- ex Xen. p. 46.
sion in general, or sliould by persecution g Thrown headlong into the sea.} Ca-
discourage the weak, or by sophistry, bad saubon and Eisner fObscrv. Vol. I. p. 85<
ffo unto the world because of offence's* 21
■ 7 Wo unto the IVo unto the worldy because of such offences, sect.
•wld because of ^r scandals as these ; for they will brinff upon ''*="''
offences: for it must '^^i ^, iri'i -ii ,
needs be, that of- *^ ^"e. "^ost dreadtul judgments : indeed, con- ^^^
fences come : but sidering the corruption and weakness of man- xviii.r'
wo to that man by kind, and the various temptations with which
J^mrth.'^^ °"'"'^ they are surrounded, it is, humanly speaking,
necessary, or unavoidable, that offences come ;
but I may well say, JVo to that jnan by whom the
off^ence cometh, whoever he be, that iDy avarice,
ambition, or any other vicious affection, lays a
stumblingblock in men's way, and makes him-
self accessary to the ruin of immortal souls,
tempting them either to renounce or to despise
the gospel ; for the time will come when he
shall bitterly repent it.
8— Wherefore, if Wherefore let me renew the exhortation which g
thy hand -- offend I formerly gave you. Rather to submit to the
^r* c^a's'f it from severest mortifications than to indulge your
thee : it is better sinful inclinations, to the scandal of others, and
for thee to enter to your own ruin : and, as I then told you in
'^vl^v^^nt^m ^y se^^oi^ on the mount ^ (see on Mat. v. 30,
tto^hand^s" rto^"^o Vol. I. p. 221), If thy right hand ofend thee,
into hell, into the that is, if any thing dear unto thee as a right
^r% b ^^^^ \K^lt\ hand should be the means of leading thee into
[Mark IX. 43.1 ^^^^ rather than indulge it, cut it off, and cast
\it'\ from thee, whatever pain or deformity, or
other detriment, might follow from such a loss ;
for it is much better for thee to enter maimed
into eternal life, than having ttvo hands, to go
down into the prison of hell, even into that fire
M\RK IX /^^ "^hich shall 7iever be extinguished : Where their Ma.rk
Where their worm corroding and upbraiding consciences is as a ix. 44
dieth not, and the xvorm, which dietli not^ but, with unutterable
not to mention others, have shewn at note e.) And, considering the importance
large, ^hdldroviiiing in the sea was a punish- of these maxims, and how little many of
ment frequently used among the ancients, his hearers were disposed to receive and
and that the persons condemned had retain them, it was a valuable instance of
sometimes heavy stones tied about their his compassion and wisdom,
necks, or were rolled up in sheets of lead. ' Where their — conscience is as a laonn
It seems to have grown into 2^. proverb for which dieth not.'] There may indeed be an
dreadful and inevitable ruin. allusion here to Isa. Ixvi. 24 (compare
^ As I told you in my sermon on the Ecclus. vii. 17, and Judith xvi 17) ; but
mount.] It will, I hope, be observed, that the expression had been just and proper
Matthew, who had before so largely re- without it : and it is observable that some
corded that servio7i, gives us again this of the ancients expressed the same
passage of it on the present occasion; thought by saying, that the marrow of the
which is one proof, among many others, backbone did, in a wicked man, turn into a
that our Lord did not think it improper huge and fierce serpent ; thereby inti-
or unnecessary sometimes to repeat what mating (by a much finev figure than JEliany
he had t!>eTi said: CSee Vol. I. p. 251, who reports it, understood^ that theii own
22 Better to lose a foot or an tye t/ian suffer them to offend us*
SEC T. anguish, still gnaws upon the heart ; and where fire is not quench-
xciii. iJiQ -pre of Divine wrath, which shall penetrate ^^^*
r" T" i^to the very soul of the sinner, is not^ md shall
ix. 44 "o^i ^^ quenched throughout all the endless
ages of eternity.
45 And again, if thy foot offend thee^ cut it off 45 And if thy foot
with as much resolution as thou wouldest part ^Sf"4 .*''^^^> cut it
. , , t r 1 ^ . Oil : it IS better tor
With a gangrened member lor the preservation thee to enter halt
of thy life ; for something yet more important into hfe, than having
is here concerned, and it is better for thee to ?^^'" ^f^^J' ^^. ^^ ^^'^'^^
enter lame into the regions of eternal life and ^^^^ ^Vat^^^neler
blessedness, though thou wast ever to continue shall be quenched:
so,'^ than having tivo feet to be cast into the inex- [Mat.XVIII. — 8.]
4.6 tinguishahle fire of hell ; Where their torment- 46 Where their
ing cuorm dieth noty and where the f re is ?2o? worm dieth not, and
quenched^ nor the violence of its heat abated ^^I^^^^^JjJ^^ \® "^'^
through all the ages of eternity, ^
47 And, to repeat so wholesome and necessary 47 ^^^^ -f ^.j^jj^^
an admonition a third time, If thine eije offend ^y(^ offend thee,
thee, or vv'ould necessarily be the means of P^''^^ \t out, [and
IT , . . , • ^1 • I 1 • cast zf irom thee : j
leading thee into sin, choose rather with thine j^. ^^ better for thee
own hands to tear it out of its socket, and to to enter into the
cast it cnvaij from thee as an abhorred thing, kins^dom off God,
than,by complying with the temptation, to haz- £^; 'eye,^'^'[^atht'l
ard thy far more precious soul ; for it is far
better for thee to enter into the kingdom ofGod^
[or"] into everlasting lifi and blessedness, with
but one eije^ even though the other v/ere not to
t}iouglit should be tlieir torment y and they extinguished for want of fuel. But there-
should be unable to disarm it by those shall h& perpetual food for the viorm that
artifices which liad prevailed in the pres- corrodes it, perpetual fuel for^ the fire that
ent life ; see JElian, itist. Anim. lib. i. cap. torments it." The words of the Apocry-
51, and Gataker, Antoji'm. lib. viii. §58. phal ivriter above mentioned, Judith xvi.
Since t\\Q. first edition of this work I have 17, greatly illustrate this mterpretation ;,
met with an explication of these words in where it is said. The Lord Almighty 'uiiU
Dr. Rym^r'^s Representation of Revealed take vengeance on the wicked in the day of
Religion, p. 155, so new to me, and at judgment, putting fire and ivorins into their
the same time so considerable, that I fiesh, and they shall feel them, and %veep for
could not forbear mentioning- it. He sup- ever.
poses that both the ivorm and the fire are ^ Though thou wast ever to continue
ineant of the body, and refer to the two so.] It is certain no man will enter into
diflTerent ways of funeral among tlie life halt, maimed, or blind, as the bodies of
ancients, interment and burning. So that the saints will be restored in the greatest
lur Lord may seem here to prevent an perfection. I know indeed that, with
objection against the permanent misery some latitude in tlie expression, he may
of the wicked in hell, arising from the be said to enter halt, or maimed, into life.
IVail constitution of tJie body .- as if he wliose spirit passes from a dismembered
should have said, *' The body vvill not body into the regions of the blessed ; but
then be as it is at present, but will be in- it seems to me that the propriety of the
capable of consumption or dissolution. In phrase is most exactly preserved by tak-
its natural state, die morms may devoiu* ing it as in the paraphrase, and the spirit
the whole, and die for want of nourish- of the thought is greatly increased by
mcnt ; the fire may consume it, and be tliat interpretation.
Offences shall be sOtted xvithjire and not be consumed. 23
tiian having- two be restored at the resurrection, but the blemish sect.
eyes to be cast into ^ continue for ever, than having txvo eyes, '^cm
hell fire : [Mat, , ,, , , , r i i i • *iu —
XVIII. 9] 2i^tl all the other members ot thy body m the
greatest perfection, to be cast bito hell, where ^^ ^^
they will all be full of unutterable anguish, be-
48 Where their ing tormented with everlasting Jire. In that 48
worm cUeth not, and ^j.g3^IYil prison of Divine vengeance, where
quenched. ^^ "^ (^^ ^ h2cvt told you again and again) their
xuorm dieth not, and the Jire is not quenched nor
abated, but preys perpetually on the miserable
49 For everyone sinner that is condemned to it. For ^s the 49
shall be salted with fl^sh burnt on the altar has salt rubbed upon it,
llre^lIalrb^sXd i^ consequence of which it burns so much the
wiUi salt. more fiercely, so ^t;en/ oweof those unhappy crea-
tures, the victims of Divine justice, ahallbe (as
it were) salted xuith fire ;^ a7id, instead of being
consumed by it, shall, in those wretched abodes^
continue immortal in the midst of their flames;
whereas everij acceptable sacrijice shall be sea'
soned xvith another kind of salt^ even that of
Divine grace, which purifies the soul and pre-
serves it from corruption.
In allusion to this, you, my disciples, may
remember, I have formerly called you the salt
' Shall be salted xvith fire."] Grotius, Span- guity ; not to say how much it would im-
heim, Gataker, Le Clerc, and Dr. Mill, pair the force of the sentence, leading- to
have abundantly answered the favourite an idea^ the very contrary to what Christ
criticism of Scaliger, by which he would hadsug-gestedabovenolessthan^Areefzwer.
here read ^ijf^i± instead of ^yg/, that it ™ Every sacrijice shall be seasoned with-
might be rendered, Every offering made by salt.'] It is well known that the mosaic la'U)
Jire shall be salted. The learned and labo- required this. See Lev. ii. 13. Heinsius
rious Wolfius has proposed a multitude of thinks that as salt contracts and binds, it
interpretations on this text. He andMons. was therefore used as an emblem ojjriend-
L'Enfant think it refers to the ^ery trial ^A/^, which he suppose sowrZorc/ after wards
through which Christians must expect to to refer to ; and that it was the foundation
pass : but this neither seems a natural of the Jigure by which a perpetual engage-
sense of the phrase itself, nor does it so inent is called a covenant of salt ; Numb,
well suit the context, by which it should xviii. 19. I should rather think it in-
seem to be a reason why the infernal fire tended as a circumstance of decency^ that
is never quenched. I know it may be an- the meat of God's table should be salted ;
swered tliat it is however a reason wliy and conclude that, if it had any emblemat-
the disciples should practise the mortifica- ical meaning, it was to recommend to the
tion required above : but it seems desir- worshipper an incorrupt heart, seasoned
able, where it can be done, to interpret the with savoury sentiments of wisdom and
particles in their most usual sense, though piety. Si?iners are elsewhere represented
sometimes it is necessary (as we have as the victims of Divine justice : (Isa.
else where observed. Vol. I. page 283, ;zofe') xxxiv. 6; Jer. xii. 3; xlvi. 10; Ezek.
to recede from it. To suppose, as Dr. x^i. 9, 10 ; and xxxix. 17.) Andgoodmen
Clarke and some others do, that here is a (as mtheendof this verse J aire represented
reference to the ambiguity of the Hebrew in another view, with regard to their con-
word nSnJ, which signifies either to be secration to God, as acceptable sacrifices^
ealted or consumed, seems very unwarrant- Rom. rii. 1 ; xv. 16. Compare 1 Pctfr
able ; since A\t9-^»a-i]sti has no such ambi- ii. 5.
VOL. 2-. 5
24 Refections on the need of self denial and mortif cation,
SECT, of the earth (Mat. v. 13, Vol. I. p. 212) ; and, , ^o Salt U good:
*" I y, ' but if the salt have
XCIIT
Ij. ' J ^u* Ml ^,, :f ^,, DUi ir ine sau Dave
as salt IS a very good thing, so will you, it you ^^^^ j^j^ saltness.
j^^,.). answer that character, be inestimable blessings wherewith will ye
ix 50 to the world, by purifying and preserving it season it ? Have salt
from corruption, and diffusing the savour of l'^ ^'""""'^frj' ^"?
, , _ i^- ' , • 1 T • 1 have peace one With,
that knowledge and grace with which you are another.
seasoned : but^ as I added then, if the salt itself
be g7'0xvn insipid^ with ruhat -will you season it P
or what can restore you, if you are corrupted,
who should be the means of curing or restoring
others ? See to it therefore, that you have this
excellent salt in yourselves ; and^ as one in-
stance of it, be careful to maintain peace zvith
each other ^ and do not give way to those very
unbecoming disputes and emulations which have
been the occasion of my present discourse.
IMPROVEMENT.
^^y How deeply is pride rooted in the heart of fallen man ; when
^^^"' neither the daily instructions, nor edifying example, of the
humble Jesus could prevent it from appearing, even among the
apostles themselves, in so mean and unworthy a manner ! Still
did worldly interest and grandeur so intoxicate their minds,
that they seemed even against hope to have hoped for it, and to
have found out a strange kind of method of grafting these
expectations, even on the very cross of Christy which was in-
tended to destroy them.
Mark Kow edifying and affecting are these lessons which the meek
*^' and lowly Redeemer gave us, with this little child in his armsy
whose example we are required to copy ! Lord, give us of thy
Mat. regenerating grace ^ that we may do it ; that we may be converted^
xriii. 3 and become as little children^ free from avarice and ambition,
malice and prejudice ! How melancholy is it to think that many,
who have by their ofice been employed to read and explain this
lesson to others, and who have not been children iniinderstandingy
seem to have learnt so little of it themselves ; as if it had never
been at all intended for that order of men to whom indeed it
was immediately addressed ! If there be any such yet remaining
in the Christian ministry^ let them seriously weigh the xvo de-
nounced on that 7nan by whom the offence cometh. May the infinite
mercies of God be extended to all professing Christians who give
themselves up to worldly pursuits and projects ; and especially
to those who make the church of Christ only a kind oi porch to
the temple of mammon^ and the sacred ofice itself merely a con-
venient vehicle for swallowing down riches and honours ! May
Divine grace deliver us from such fatal snares, and form us t#
Christ will not ha^e his little ones despised, 25
that selfdenial and mortification^ without which we cannot be the sect.
true disciples of Christ ; but, after having pierced ourselves xcm
through with many unnecessary sorrows here, shall plunge our- — ~
selves deep into eternal perdition !
May these repeated and dreadful representations o^ future Mark
misery^ which we have now been reading, impress our souls in ^^•
a becoming manner ! Blessed Jesus I thou bringest^oo^ tidings;
yet which of the prophets under the legal dispensation ever
represented the terrors of the Lord in so awful a light as that, in
which thou hast placed them ! Let none oi ^kij ministers be
afraid to imitate thee herein ! nor let any of thy follozvers pre-
sume to censure them for it ! May we all be effectually warned
to flee from the zvrath to come ; and, as we would not another day
be salted with jire^ may our hearts now be seasoned with thy 49
grace I and may we, by a modest -And peaceful^ a benevolent and 50
useful life, be daily bearing a testimony to it, and, as the salt of
the earthy may be labouring to cure the growing corruption of
the world about us !
SECT. XCIV.
Our Lord farther enforces condescension and himiility^ and gives
rules for the accojiimodation of disputes and offences among
Christians. Mat. XVIII. 10 — 20.
Mat. XVIII. 10. Mat. XVIII. 10.
'-pAKE heed that TnARTHER to promote the humility and sect.
JL oFtfiese^'litae ^ moderation of his disciples, our 'Lord ^^^v-
ones ; for I say unto proceeded in the discourse which he began (as
you, That in heaven in the former section) with the little child in xvUi*.
their angels do al- his arms, and said, Take special heed that 10
wavs behold the j j - j. r ^1, v.^i ^i. ^
face of my Father V^'^ despise not One oj these little ones^ or that
which is in heaven, you do not cast contempt on the weakest and
meanest of my servants, nor slight even the
soul of a child ; for L say unto you^ that their
attendant angels^ while in heaven^ do inces-
santly behold the face of my heavenly Father ;^
* Their attendant angels while in heaven, plain, that the highest angels do not disdain.
Sec] The ya?/2er* looked on this as an argu- on proper occasions, to perform services
ment that each good man has his particu- of protection and friendship for the tnean-
lar guardian angel : (see Suicer. Thesaur. est Christian ; but, as St. Paul says, they
Vol. I. p. 43.) And Grotius also seems to are all viinistnng spirits sent forth to minis-
allow the force of it. I apprehend this ter to the heirs of salvation : (Heb. i. 14.)
passage rather intimates that the angels I say, the highest ; because to behold the
who somet'mes attend the little ones spoken face of God may signify luaiting near his
of, at otier ti.nes stand in God's immedi- throne, and be an allusion to the office of
ate presence ; and consequently that dif- chief ministers in earthly courts, who daily
ferent angels are at different times em- converse virith their princes. See Grotius;
ployed in this kind office, if it be inces- and compare 2 Sam. xvi. 19 ; 1 Kings xii.
santly performed. The general sense is 6 ; Esth. i, 14 ; and Luke i. 19.
26 Nor will the Father suffer one of them to perish,
SECT, and if the highest courtiers in the world above
xciv. do not disdain, on proper occasions, to minis-
^-—^ ter unto them, much less should vou disdain
^^.|^J^ it. Especially when vou consider how much 11 For the Son of
-( -i c^reater an instance of condescension vou have "^''^" is come to save
^^ ^ . n 1 r .1 ..' ••! 1 that which was lost.
contmualiy belore you, than it is possible even
the angels should give ; for the Son of man
himself,^ that great and illustrious Personage,
came not, as many have imagined, to reign
and triumph upon earth, but by all the offices
of humility and endearment to save that ivhich
was lost and undone ; and he takes a gracious
and constant oversight of the least, as well as
the greatest, of his redeemed ones. (Compare
12 Luke xix. 10, sect, cxliii.) What do you 12 How think ye ?
think would be the conduct of a faithful shep- If a man have an
herd? If a man had a flock of an '^^^'^^'^^ ^nrtTtLm^be' one
sheep^ and but 07ie of them should wander from ^su-av doth he^not
the rest, would he not leave the mnetynine in leave* the ninety and
their pasture or fold on the mountains ^^ and go "i"e» -'^^^^ g'^eth into
out with the most solicitous care and labour to the mountains and
. ^ A J Ti seeketh that which
1 3 seek that zuhich is gone astray < And tj he \^ g-one astray ?
happen to find it ^ I assuredly say unto yoii^ that 13 And if so be
he will brinp^it back with s:reater pleasure, and that he finds it, venly
^1 r -^ •/; • L Ml I say unto vou, he
the recovery of it will groe him a more sensible rejolceth more of
joy^ than the safety of the ninetynine which had that sheep, than of
not xvandered Txt all. (Compare Luke xv. 4, 5, the ninety and nine
14 sect, cxxii.) Even so the love and tender- ^^l^^^,^ "^^"^ "°^
ness of God for those who are regarded by him 14' Even so it is
as his children is such, that you may be assured not the will of your
it is not the will of your heavenly Father that J'^^^^^'' ^1"^J^ '^ ^'J.
r ^j. v^^i 7 lit 1 r heaven, that one ot
any otie oj these little ones should be losty tor ^j^g^g ij^tle ones
want of your care in attending it, or through should perish.
your negligence in seeking its recovery*
15 And, as in order to the recovery of your 15 Moreover, if thy
weakerbrethren, admonition will frequentlv be ^^'^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^''^*'
necessary, let me lay down a rule, which, when
larger societies are formed among you, it will
be of great importance to attend to with the
utmost care : Jf thou shalt know thy brother
^ For the Son of man himself] The par- « Lea^-e the ranetynine on the onountahis-^,
ticle/or here introduces another reaso;? to The original will' bear either this con-
enforce the caution not to despise these struction, or that which is g-iven in our
little ones, and not a proof of their angels common trarslntion ; but I have rather
beholding God^s face- See note^ on Luke xi. chosen to express it thus, as most agree-
36, Vol. I. p. 352. able to wliat we find in Luke, cliap. xv. Ai^
s«ct cxxii.
Hoxv they should deal xvith an offending brother, 27
pass against thee, ^o to be guilty of a fault, and he shall sin against sect.
and tell lilm his ftiult ^/^^^^ ^^ ^j^^ reprove hi??! in the most convinc- ^^^^
hta'Tlone :''ifT] inS> vet the most gentle manner that thou —
-.hall hear thee, canst ;^ and that he may take it the better, let ^^jji^
thou hast gained it be done between thee a?id hi??i alo?ie : if he is
ihy brother. ^^,.y^ ^,^^^. ^^^^,^, ^^-^^^ j^^ regard, it is well, for
by this means thou hast gained thy brother; he
will return to the way of his duty, and the
friendship between you will thus be establish-
ed on firmer foundations than ever, in conse-
quence of this substantial token of thy impar-
tial sincerity and frankness of temper. (Com-
16 But if he will pare Prov. xxviii. 23.) But if he zuill not 16
not hear thee, then hearken [to thee,] take xvith thee one or txvo ??iore,
oftVrmQrtTha?"n ^^'^^ ^^^ persons of character and reputation in
the moutli of two or the society, that their presence may add greater
three witnesses ev- weight to the admonition given, and may be of
^TbTTed""*^ ^^ service, either to silence his objections, and
bring him to a sense of his fault, or to prevent
disputes, and justify thy conduct, if the matter
should be carried farther ; as in the mouth of
txvo or three xvit?iesses every xvord may be estab-
lished more effectually than it could otherwise
17 And if he shall have been. (See Deut. xix, 15.) But if he 17
neg-lect to hear shall be still incorrigible in his fault, and disre-
them, tell It unto the ^^^.^ ?/z^;;i in the advice they offer hmi for
peace, then tell it to the whole church^^ or
^ Reprove him in the most convincing' with an attentive meditation on the text
— manner that thou canst.] The word and context, may illustrate the spirit and
tXiy^cv signifies to convince as well as to energy of a multitude of places in a man-
adtnonish. Compare John viii. 9, 46 ; xvi. ner which could not otherwise be learned*
8 ; 1 Cor. xiv. 24 ; Tit. i. 9 ; and James The old English editions of 1539 and 1541,
ii. 9. The reader will observe I often render it. Tell it to the congregation ,- and,
choose to give the full force of a word in I think, properly enough. The word church
the paraphrase, rather than greatly to in- is unhappily gro\\'n into a tertn of art, and
crease the number of words in the version, has by different persons a variety of secon^
though so increased they might express dary ideas annexed to it ; as Dr. Watts
no more than is expressed in a single has beautifully shewn in his Essay on Un-
word or two in the Greek. charitableness, p. 7 — 10. But it signifies in
*= Tell it to the whole church.'] This is general an assembly, or number of people,
one of those many scriptures which would called together on whatever occasion, as is
have been very intelligible^ if they had not well knovt-n. (Compare Acts xix. 32, 39.)
been learnedly obscured by ingenious It is in the /Texy Tw^awe/zf generally used,
men, whose interest it has been to spread as here, for a particular assembly (Acts
a cloud over them. I am more and more xiv. 23 ; 1 Cor. iv. 17 ; xiv- 23 ; xvi. 19) ;
convinced that the vulgar sefise of the Ke-iv but sometimes it is used for the ivholebody
Testament, that is, the sense in which an of Christians, because they are now called
honest man of plain sense would take it out from the viorld, and are at last to be
on his first reading the original, or any good gathered together in the presence of Christ
translation, is almost every where the true their head (2 Thes. ii. 1), and to dwell
general sense of any passage ; though an for ever with each other, and with him.
acquaintance with language and antiquity, (I Thes. iv. 17.) Compare Mat» xvi. 18 ;
28 Whatever they bind on earth shall be bound in heaven*
SECT, society of worshipping Christians to which he church ; but if he
^^^^- belonprs, and amonp: whom he has immediate "f ^'^^^ ^p hear the
_ ° '. . 11. J r ^ church, let him be
Mat. communion m gospel ordmances ; a7id if they ^.^to thee as an hea-
xviii. concur in any admonition to the offender, and then man and a pub -
17 Ae be so far hardened as to disregard the whole lican.
churchy or society of Christians, you have then
done your utmost to reclaim him ; and while
he continues in this obstinate temper, you will
do well to enter your protest against it, by
forbearing any intimate friendship with' such a
person ; and let him therefore in this case be to
thee even as a heathen^ and a publican^ or other
most notorious sinner,^ to whom you would
perform only the common offices of humanity,
but would avoid his intimate society as scan-
dalous, and to whom you are not under those
peculiar obligations whereby Christianbrethren
are bound to each other.
18 These are the maxims which you, my apos- is Verily I say
ties, are to inculcate on my other followers, unto you, Whatso-
and let them see to it, that they dulv regard ever ye shall bind on
r 'IT ^ AT " 1- 11 i_ earth, shall be bound
you j for verily I say unto you. You shall be j,, ^^^^,^^ ^ ^„d
furnished with such Divine illumination and whatsoever ye shall
assistance, as shall abundantly confirm the loose on earth, shall
authority of your decisions on every case and ^^ ^"°'^^ "' ^^^^•
question which may occur ; and fully prove
(as I formerly told you that whatsoever you
shall bind, even in this course of your humble
ministry on earth, shall be bound in heaven ;
and whatsoever you shall loose on earth, shall be
loosed in heaven, (See note ^ on Mat. xvi. 19,
Vol. I. p. 485.)
Eph. 1. 22 ; ili. 10 ; v. 24 ; and Col. i. 18, 24. their onflxmj, which comwenfafor^ mention
According- to Bishop Stillingjleet's inter on this text, ^ee Lightf oat's Hor. Hebr. in
pretation of this text,(in his Irenicutn, book loc. and Setden de Syjied. lib. i cap. 9.
ii. cap. 5, § 8) it should be rendered, Tell ^ As a heathen^ and a publican, or other
it to an assetnbl)', or a select company. But most notorious sinner.] If I am not much
it is certain the force of f/i6- rtr?/c/e is better mistaken, that celebrated text in Titus
preserved by our ^•eri7■on / and as undoubt- relating to heretics (chap. iii. 10), which
cdly it must be an assembly of Christians requires that a man who disturbs the
(compare 1 Cor.vi. 1), so no interpretation peace, or subverts the faith of his Christ-
seems so natural as that it should be that ian brethren, should be tv:ice adino?tished,
assembly which was under a peculiar obli- and then discarded by the society, may be
,U"ation to watch over the person in question much illustrated by this passage. When
(compare 1 Cor. v. 12, 13, and 2 Thes. iii. stich a case occurs (as well as when an
14, 15), and Ma^ whose advices and remon- offended brother has just cause of com-
strances he was peculiarly obliged to hear, plaint) each particular person concerned
And this was likewise conformable to the must judge as well as he can, remember-
nsage of the Jews, who admonished of- ing he is answerable to Christ for thje
fendersintheirsynagogues,andtomanyof impartiality of such judgment.
Jiefiections on the management of church censures* 29
• 19 Again I say im- And further^ as a convincing token and sect.
*o you, That if two demonstration of this, I say unto you^ That this x<iiv.
of you shall agree authority and power not onlv shall attend the "— *
on earth, as touching . •' ^ , , . ,-, i u 4. r Mat.
any thing that they actions of your whole united body, but even tj xviii,
shall ask, it sliall be any two of you shall agree together here on ig
done for them or my ^^j.f/^^g concerning any thing zvhich they shall
helven. '' '" think it proper to ask in prayer, for the mirac-
ulous confirmation of any of their determina-
tions, it shall be immediately done for them by
20 For where two my Father in heaven,^ For xvhere but two or 20
«r three are gath- t^ree are assembled in my name^ with a regard
ratX'elmnntorny authority, and to the purposes of my
the midst of them, g^or)^, whatever the peculiar occasion be, I am
there by my special, though invisible, presence,
in the midst ofthem^ and will shew, by all proper
interposition of my Divine power, the regard I
have to their interest and their prayers.
IMPROVEMENT.
Thus happy are the meanest servants of Christy in the care ver.l#
and favour of their heavenly Master^ and in the angelic guard
which, by his high command, are continually attending even the
lambs of his fock. So condescending are the blessed spirits above,
that even the greatest of them do not disdain to inimster unto the
heirs of salvation ; (Heb. i 14.) Let not the wisest and greatest
men despise those whom angels honour with their guardianship
and care ; especially since the Son of man, that merciful Shep-
herd, has come forth into this wilderness to save that which xuas 11, 12
lost, and even to seek and recover us when we were gone astray,
and should otherwise have wandered on to our eternal ruin.
What could have been more happy for the church of Christ 15, 16
than the observation of this plain and easy rule which he has
given for ending disputes among his followers ! And yet who,
that sees the conduct of the generality of Christians, would imag-
ine they had ever heard of such a rule ? Instead oi tKis private
expostidation, which might often bring a debate to a speedy and
amicable conclusion, what public charges / what passionate com-
plaints ! what frequent and laboured attempts to take, if the least
g If any tu:o of you shall agree together extraordinary success was expected. See
here on earth.'] The text so expressly Triglaiid de Secta Karceorum, cap. x. page
refers to agreeing in a petition, that I won- 172.
der the lenrned and judicious editors of the
Prussian Testament should render it, If ^ It shall be done for them^ ccc] That
any tvjo of you shall live on earth in a good this refers to a viiraculous ansiver of prayer
understanding Hxiith each other. Perhaps may appear from comparing Mat. xxi. 21,
there may be a reference to the notion the 22 ; Mark xi. 13, 24 ; John xiv. 13, 14 ;
Jews had, that it was necessary at least 1 John iii. 22 ; v. 14, 15 ; and Jam. v. 16.
ten skould concur in soiial prayer, if any See Tillotsm's Workst Vol. III. pag^ 307.
40 ^ow often an offending brother should he forgiven*
3ECT. scandalous, yet not the least pernicious kind of revenge^ by
xciv. -vvounding the characters of those whom we imagine to have
~ injured us !
As for church censures ^ how lamentable is it that thev have
been so little conformable to Mfv rule^ and in many instances so
contrary to it, in almost every Christian nation under heaven ! Is
this the form in which ecclesiastical judgments do appear in the
Popish^ or even in the Protestant world I Are these the maxims
by which they have been, or bv which they are determined, even
by those who claim the largest share in the promises made to the
apostles., and boast with the greatest confidence of the presence
and authority of Christ with them, to confirm their sentences,
and to sanctify perhaps rapine and murder ? Vain wretched con-
fidence ! Let us earnestly pray that this dishonour to the Christ-
ian name may every where be wiped away ; and that true re-
ligion, and even common humanity, may not with such solemn
mockery be destroved i7i the name of the Lord,
18 Let humble submission be always paid to apostolical decisions
in every difficulty ; and let tht promises made to these leaders in
the Christian Church be some encouragement even to us,^?^ xvhom
the ends of the world are come. None but an Omnipresent, and
20 consequently a Divine Person, could say. Wherever two or three
are gathered together in my nayne^ there ayn I in the midst of them.
His power and his goodness can never be impaired ; let it there-
fore be an encouragement to social prayer ; and let the remem-
brance of our Redeemer's continued presence and inspection, en-
gage us to behave ourselves agreeably to the relation that we claim
to him, and to those expectations from him which we profess.
SECT. XCV.
Our Lord cautions his disciples against a revengeful spirit^ and
i7iculcates mutual forgiveness .^ by the affecting parable of the
unmerciful servant. Mat. XVIII. 21, ^o the end,
SECT. Mat. XVIIL 21. Mat. XV.III.21.
XCV. cr^HEN when Jesus had given this advice for 'y « E N came
J_ ^^ -^ 1 . r vrr -■- l^^ter to him,
-*- the accommodation ot difterences among ji^^i gaid, Lord liow
^?.V hisdisciples,/'^^cr,imaginingitmightbeabused oft shall my brother
oj bv indisposed persons, as an encouragement to «'" ^g-ainst me, and
offer injuries to others, came to him and said, LSimesT " ^''^
Lord, how often must I forgive my brother, if he
offend against me P must I go on to do it until
he has repeated the injury seven times P 22 Jesus saithunto
22 And yesus, in reply, sa,js to him, I do not [j™; ' ^ZT^^
merely say to thee. Till seven times, but even till times ; but, until sev
■seventy times seven : in short, the precept is enty times seven.
XV
en
The parable of the unmerciful servant. -3 1
unbounded, and you must never be weary of sect.
forgiving your brethren, since you are so ^^^'
much more indebted to the Divine mercy, ~~"~"
than they can be to your's. ^-^^^
23 Therefore is For this reason^ or with respect to this mat- 23
the king-dom of hea- ^er, I may properly say, that the kingdom of
certain king, which heaven^ in its constitution and final process,
would take account ^nay be likened to^ or be illustrated by, the in-
of his servants. stance of a certain king- that ruled over a large
country,* who^ as he had a great number of
officers under him, was deten?iined a.t length, to
24 And when he settle an account with his servants. Andxvhen 24
kad begun to reckon, ^^ began to reckon with them, there xuas brought
unto ^tm whfch ^° ^^^^ ^^^ "^^^^ ^^^ ^'^ abused the eminent sta-
owed him ten thou- tion in which he had been placed, and the high
sand talents : confidence which his prince had reposed in
him, that he owed him a most immense sum,
and stood accountable for ten thousand talents .-^ 25
25 But forasmuch And as he had nothing to pay which could be
as he had not to pay, ^ny equivalent for the debt, or any considerable
his lord commanded •^' r "^ l- / _/ i* r
him to be sold, and composition for it, his lord, according to fre-
his wife and chil- quent custom in such cases (Exod. xxii. 3 ;
dren, and all that he Lev. XXV. 47 ; and 2 Kings iv. 1), commanded
bf iade.^^^™^''^ ^^ him to be sold for a slave, and also his wife and
children, and all the goods that he had, andpay^
ment to be made with the price of them, as far
26 The servant as it would go. The servant therefore falling 26
therefore fell down down in helpless ZQTi^X.exxi2iX\cm, prostrated him^
:avj;,t?r5!''hive *^^f t« master's/../, and said. Lord, I be-
patience with me, seech thee to have patience with me for a while
and I will pay thee longer, and I will endeavour to pay thee all.
*^*27 Then the Lord '^^^I^ ^^^ Lord of that unhappy servant, whose 27
©f that sei-vant was affairs were so utterly desperate, being melted
moved with compas- wz^A compassion, graciously discharged him ;
sion, and loosed him, and, knowing how vain it was to expect he
should ever pay him, declared that, on con-
» Maybe likened tOy or be illustrated, wa.s to ipSiy ffteen thousand talents, that Is,,
IP'c,'] See sect. Iviii. note\ Vol. I. Jive hundred talents down, two thousand ^ve
hundred when the senate should ratify the
•* Owed him ten thousand talents."] Ac- peace, and the remaining twelve thousand
cording to Dr. Prideaux's computation, if in twelve years, at a thousand talents a
these were talents of gold, this would year : (^X/v. ^/*for. lib. xxxvii. cap. 45, and
amount to seventy two millions sterling ,- lib. xxxviii. cap. 38.) And even thus the
which is so immense a sum, that it seems sum must have amounted to 6,750,000/.
strange Antiochus the Great should be See Frid. Connect. Vol. I. Fref. p. 20, and
able to pay it, as Eutropius tells us he did. Vol. II. p. 138. Our Lord seems to have
to purchase a peace with the Romans : mentioned so large a sum on purpose to
fEutrop. lib. iv. cap. 2.) But, by Livy's intimate the number and weight of our ofp
account of the conditions of peace, they fences against God, and our utter incapac^
were talents of silver, of which Antiochxis ity of making him anv satisfaction.
VOL. 2. 6
32 The parable of the unmerciful servant,
SECT, dltioft of his future good behaviour ,*= he frankly and forgave him the
^cv. forgave him all the debt. ' ^^^^'
""^ But just as that servant we?it out from the 28 But the same
fl. presence of his generous and indulgent sove- --"t-nj°^^»*
28 reign, >^^ met with 07ie of his felloxvservants^ who lowservants, which
otved him but a very inconsiderable sum of owed him an hun-
money, no more than an hundred pence ;^ and f\^}^ ^^^^^ '• and he
. • , 1 » /' » . f -7 .7 ^ J 1 ^ l^id hands on mm,
laying- hold of him by the throaty and almost ^nd took him by the
strangling him,* he said, in-a furious and out- throat, saying/ Pay
rageous manner. Pay me that which thou owest "^e that thou o west.
me immediately, or I will detain thee as my
29 prisoner. And his ^oorfellowservayit felldozvn 29 And his fellow-
at his feet, as he had done at his lord's, and en- servant fell down at
''^ , . . .1 J I.- L 1 his feet, and be-
treatedhim, saying, m the very words which he soug-hthim, saying,
himself had used but just before on the like Have patience with
occasion. Have patience with ine for a while "j^e, and I will pay
longer, and I will endeavour to pay thee all,
30 And he would not be prevailed upon to forbear ^of b^f wenrTnd
him any longer ; but xuent away with him be- cast him into prison,
fore a magistrate, and cast him into prison, pro- till he should pay
testing he should lie there till he should pay ^^^ ^'^^'^'
even the last farthing oi the debt. ^^ ^^ ^^^^ j^.^
31 And when his om^r Jellowservants saxv what feiiowservants saw
xvas done, they were exceedingly grieved at such what was done, they
an instance of unexampled cruelty from a man were very sorry, and
. , . . ' 7 I ^1 ' came and told unto
in his circumstances, aiid came and gave their ^j^^-j. j^^.^ ^ ^^isx.
lord the king an exact and faithful account of was done.
the whole matter,^ who was highly incensed at 32 Then his lord,
32 so inhuman an action. Then his lord, having ^^'"[j;^^ ^',^f ^^^^J
called him again, said unto him with just indig- him, O thou wicked
nation, Thou wicked and barbarous slave^^ thou servant, I forgave
knowest that I frankly Jorgave thee all that ^^^^^^^^"^ ^^^^ ^^)^:
vast flf^^^ which thou owedst to me, because thou ^^^^ ^^ .
33 didst entreat 7ny pity : And shouldst not thou 33 shouldst not
also have had compassion on thy fellorv servant, thou also have had
when in thy power, ^en as I but just before ^^^^J^^Z
had compassion on thee ? Thou art most mex- as I had pity on thee?
<: On condition of his future good beha- ^ Gave their lord an exact and faithful
viour.] This is a circumstance exceeding account.'] This is the meaning of the
natural, and by tlie revocation of the par- word <r«9-it<j)»crA)», as Albert has shewn ;
don afterwards it seems strongly implied. Obserm. p. 116.
•^ An hundred pence.'] Reckoning the g Thowuiicked slave.] The word cTaxt is
Jionian denarius at seven pence halfpenny of not always a term of reproach, nor does
flur money, it amounted to Mreej&ow«(/*anc^ it necessarily imply more than serva7it :
halfacrcmn. (compare Mat. xxv. 21,23) Yet in this
e Bv the throaty and almost strangling connection I thought it would well bear
him.] This is the proper import of the the version I have given it, which may best
word iTTiiyiy which 3'et more strongly ex- express the indignation with which his hrd
presses his cruelty. is supposed to speak.
Rejltctions on an unforgiving and revengeful spirit. ^s3
cusable In what thou hast done, and I am de- sect.
termined to treat thee accordingly. ^tcv.
34 And his lord And his lord, being justly incensed, revoked "^^
was wroth, and de- the grant of remission he had just before made, ^^^j."
livered him to the forfeited by so vile a behaviour ; and not 34 "
tormentors, till he . , • "• • 1 ^ j ;• j w * *i
should pay all that only put him m prison, but delivered him to the
was due unto him. tormentors there, to fetter and scourge him,'»
till he should pay all that was due to him ; which
was equivalent to condemning him to per-
petual confinement and painful imprisonment
during life.
35 So likewise And Jesus concluded the discourse with 25
shall my heavenly saving, Thus also will my heavenly Father deal
Father do also unto :^ r ^ ^^ ^^^ ^f yy.^,,,
you, if ye from your :j •> J r? , ?- , ^ i'\
hearts forgive not your very hearts jorgive his brother tiis tres-
e\eT\onc:\{\shvo\hev passes ; and I leave it to your own consciences
their trespasses. to judge whether it be safe for you to tempt
the strictness of his inexorable justice, by th^
severity of your conduct towards your oflfend-
ing brethren.
IMPROVEMENT.
How unreasonable and how odious does a severe and un- Versg^
charitable temper appear, when we view it in the light of this 24
parable ! Yet what light can be more just than this ? We are
indebted to God more than ten thousand talents ; from our infancy
we begin to contract the debt, and are daily increasing it in our
ripening years : justly, therefore, might he cast us into the prison
of hell till we paid the uttermost farthing. And were we to fall at 26
his feet, with a promise oi paying him all on his patient forbear-
ance, it must be the language of gross ignorance, or of pre-
sumptuous folly, when addressed to a Being who knows our
poverty, and knows that, in consequence of it, we are utterly-
incapable of making him any amends. But he magnifies his
grace in the kind offers of a free forgiveness ; and shall we who
receive it, and hold our lives and all our hope by it, take our
brethren by the throat, because they owe us a few pence P or shall 28
we carry along with us deep continued resentment, glowing
like a hidden fire in our bosoms ? God forbid! For surely if
we do so, out of our own inouth shall xve be condemned, while we 34
acknowledge the justice of the sentence here passed against this
eruel servant,
^^ Delivered him to the tormentorsy Sec] ^o>^e5 of heavy wood, in which they cannot
Itnprisonnnent is a much greater punish- either lie or sit at ease ; and, by frequent
ment in the ecr^fern parts of the world than scourgings, and sometimes by racking^ are
here : state criminals especially, when con- quickly brought to an untimely end. (See
demned to it, are not only forced to sub- Samedo*s China, page 225.) To this there
mit to a very mean and scanty allowance, is probably a reference here. CompJlTC.
\m% are frequently loaded with clog^ or sect- xsxii. note^, Vol. I- P« i85.
SECT
XCV
34 A stranger^ acting in the name of Christy
SECT. Christ himself has made the application : so shall my heavenly
3^cv. father deal with you^ if you do not forgive your brethren : and he
~ ~ has instructed us elsewhere to ask forgiveness only as we grant
35 '^^' (Mat. vi. 14, 15.) Let us then from this moment discharge
our hearta of every sentiment of rancour and revenge^ nor ever
allow a xvord^ or even a xvish^ that savours of it. And as ever
we hope our addresses to the throne of Divine mercy should meet
with a favorable audience, let us lift up holy hands^ without
wrath, as well as zvithout doubting, (1 Tim. ii. 8.)
SECT. XCVI.
Christ reproves John for prohibiting one who cast out demons in
his 7iame, because he rvas not of their company, Mark IX,
38 — 41. Luke IX. 49, 50.
Mark IX. 38. Mark lie. 38.
IN the midst of the preceding discourse, re- A N D John an-
lating to humility and selfdenial, the apos- saving-rMaster, we
^^^'" tie John (whether desirous of diverting him saw one casting out
Mark ^^^^^ ^ subject which he could not hear pur- devils in thy name,
ix. 38 sued without some consciousness of having ^of us^i^nd^w^To^^
deserved blame, or thinking it might receive bade him, [because
some farther illustration by his remarks upon he followeth not
the case that he should mention) interrupted J^^^ 4?-^ [Luke
our Lord,* and answered him^ when he had
just been urging a readiness to receive one of
the least of his servants in his name (Mark ix.
37, p. 20), by saying. Master, while we were
in our late progress, xve sazu one casting out
demons in thy name^ zvho does not follow us, nor
converse with us as brethren : and xve forbade
him to do it any more, because he does not follow
thee among us, and never had, as we apprehend,
any regular commission from thee, and so
might possibly have proved an occasion of
neglect or reproach to the rest of thy disci-
ples.
* Interrupted our Lord.] I have in- bling- that of the sous of Sceva (Acts xix.
serted this story apart here, that the thread 13 — 16) ; and God mig-ht see reason now
of the preceding discourse might not be to grant that efficacy to their adjuratioiis,
broken ; that the xciii. section might not which he afterwards denied, when the
be lengthened beyond due bounds ; and evidences of the gospel were proposed
that I might have room to illustrate and so much more distinctly and fully, after
improve this passage, which, though the descent of the Spirit. Dr. Clark sup-
short, has both its difficulty and its use. poses that he was one of John the Bap,
^ Casting out demons in thy name.'] Prob- list's disciples,
ably this was a case something resem-
is not to be forbidden* '^Sr
39 But Jesus said Bitt Jesus said unto him^ Do not forbid^ or sect,
[unto him,] forbid go about to hinder him at present ',for^ by thus ^^vi.
him not : for there is makincr use of my name, he appears to have ""T"
no man which shall ° -^ j j r j -ii Mark
do a miracle in my ^ome reverence and regard for me, and will j^^. 39
name, that can not therefore set himself against me ; since
lightly speak evil ^^^^^ j^ ^q ^^^j^ ^^^/^^ g/i^H be seen to work such
50.-1 lLuke IX. ^ jj^iracle in my name^ that can quickly^ or on
any slight occasion, speak evil of me^ or say
anv thing dishonourable of that name for
40 For he that is which he professes such a regard : And be 40
not against us, is on that regard ever so imperfect, I would not dis-
ix!— sTi '"^^^^ courage one who acts thus now : for, with re-
spect to such, and in a case like this, I may use
a proverb, (the reverse of that which I men-
tioned on a different occasion) and say, ^fTio^o-
ever is not against us, is for us ;* and therefore
I would by no means condemn a ma*^ for doing
that by which the kingdom of Satan is in fact
weakened, and my name glorified, though he
have not my immediate and express commis-
41 For whosoever sion. I rather take it in good part, as I am 41
shall give you a cup willing to do any thing that looks like a token
of water to drink in ^f gsteem and affection to me, be it ever so in-
mv name, because .. ,, _ -r r 1 ii
ye belong to Christ, considerable ; Jor, as 1 formerly told you
verily I say unto (Mat. X. 42, Vol. I. p. 421), w/zoet><?r shall pre-
you, He shall not ^^^^ ^^^^ xvith a Clip of cold Water only in my
tose his reward. -^^i ^. , ^ "^ 2. 7 ^ r^u '\. •/
name, that is, because you belong to Lnrist, verily
I say unto you^ He shall not lose his proportion-
able reward. And so he went on to warn them
of the danger of offending any of the weakest
of his disciples, in the manner recounted and
explained above. (See Mark ix. 42, p. 20.)
And when he had concluded that discourse
he not long after quitted Galilee. Compare
Mat, xix. 1, sect, cxxxv.
* Whosoever is not against us, is for us."] and charitably to hope that they who did
■Our Lord had formerly said (Mat. xii. 30), not oppose his cause wished well to it ; a
He that is not vsith vie, is against me ; there- conduct peculiarly reasonable, when his
by giving his hearers a just and necessary cause lay under so many discouragements,
admonition that, on the whole, the war be- Probably many who now concealed their
tween him and Satan admitted of no new regard to him were afterwards animated
trality, and that those who were indifferent courageously to profess it, though at the
to hint would finally be treated as his ejie- greatest hazard. I cannot, with Mr.
mies. (See ^ecf. Ixi. Vol. I. p. 339.) But Baxter, think an express declaration of
here, in another view, he very consistently regard to Christ to have been more neces-
uses a different and seemingly opposite sary in the former case than now ; but it
proverb, the counterpart of the former, di- is most obvious that Christ requires us to
recting his followers to judge of men's be more rigorous in yuc/^/??^ ourfe/TW, than
characters in ttie most candid manner, he allows us to be in judging each other.
3§ Reflections on an enmous and censorious temper.
IMPROVEMETIT.
SECT. It is sad that the spirit which remains in so many ChristianSj
xcvi and in this instance appeared even mlihthtXoY^d Saint J ohn^
7 should (as the apostle James expresses it) hist unto envy : (Jam.
iiTss ^^'' "^ ) '^^^^ ^^^" ^°^^ ^^^^ spirit become a disciple^ and much more
a minister of the benevolent Jesus I The apostle Paid had learnt,
and taught, a better temper, when he rejoiced that Christ was
preached^ even by those who were his personal enemies (Phil. i.
18). To seek our ozvn glory ^ is not glory (Prov. xxv. 27) ; and
to confine religion to them that follozv us^ is a narrowness of
spirit which we should avoid and abhor.
39,40 Christ here gives us a lovely example of candour and moder-
ation : he was willing to put the best construction on dubious
cases, and to treat those as friends who were not avowed and
declared ei^emies. Perhaps in this instance it might be a means
of overcoming a remainder of i.rejudice, and perfecting what
was wanting in the faith and obedience of the persons in ques-
tion ; at least it suited thie present state of things, in which men
are to be judged of by their professions and actions^ as their
hearts cannot immediately and certainly be known.
But let us judge ourselves with greater severity, remembering
there is an approaching fl^isjy, i?i tvhich the secrets of all hearts will
he made manifest ; in v/hich those, v/hohave indeed been neuters
in the war between Christ and Satan^ will be treated as eneinies ;
and those other words will be fulfilled, He that is not with we, is
against me ; and he that gathereth not with me^ scattereth abroad*
(Mat. xii. 30, and Luke xi. 23.)
41 In that day^ may the sincerity of our hearts be discovered, and
then we may rejoice in this repeated assurance, that the least of
our services shall be kindly remembered, and abundantly rexvarded
according to the riches of Divine bounty and grace.
SECT. XCVII.
Our Lord sends out the seventy disciples with large
like those he had before given to the twelve apostles, Luke X.
1—16.
Luke X. 1. LukeX. l.
AFTER these things, before he departed from J^l^^ f Uie Lo?d
-^ Galilee, the Lord Jesus intending, when ^^"^^'
the approaching feast of tabernacles was over,^
» When the ajijproacliing feast of taber- more reasonable to suppose that Christ scut
nacles was over.] It seems to me much out the seventy hQfovt the feast of tabernacles',
Christ having chosen seventy disciples^ 37
:ippolnted other sev- to make one journey more over the country, in sect.
enty also, and sent ^^^ j^g^ Yi2i\t year he was to spend on earth, xcvu.
brfoVhis%ace/irto/>^^/w/;o;z5rt;e^ his disciples also, —
every city and place, besides the twelve apostles so frequently men- ^ -^
\Thither he himself ^-^Qj^e^j ][3gfQj.e^ (see Luke ix. 1, £s? seq, sect,
would come. Ixxiv.) and sent thein out before him, two and
two together, into every city, and more private
■place, into which he himself intended shortly to
come; and thus, as it were, he divided the
whole country into thirty five lesser circuits.
2 Therefore he And at their setting out he gave them many 2
said unto them, The important instructions, nearly resembling those
.^eX^ut' the \Z ^vhich he had before addressed to the apostles ;
bourers are few : and as it was a large and copious field for ser-
pray ye therefore the yJce on which they were to enter, he said
Jh^fhf wrS "'erefore to tken,^ as he had formerly done to
fortli labourers into their brethren (Mat. ix. o7, o8, Vol. 1. p. 40dJ,
his harvest. The harvest is indeed great, and many souls
are to be gathered in, but the faithful labourers
are as yet very few ; pray ye therefore the
Lord of the harvest, that he xvould, by his im-
mediate access to the spirits of men, thrust
forth more labourers into his harvest, though
the work may prove so fatiguing and hazard-
ous, that they are naturally averse to it,^
than after it ; considering" how little time ter, may either refer to the stories imme-
he had between that and thefeMst of dcdi- diately preceding-, in the close of the
cation, in which interval he dispatched his former, from ver. 57, to the end, or to the
last circuit in Galilee. To take from ^Ao^e general series of events recorded above,
three months all the period to be allowed though (as I think the evangelist himself
for their journey and return, seems incon- strongly intimates) one little history be
venief4t. But it is astonishing that Mr. transposed.
Le Clerc, and some others, should sup- •> He said therefore to thern.'] Luke is
])Ose that these instructions were given to the only evangelist who has given us this
them in Christ's journey to the abovemen- account of Christ's sending out the seventy ,-
t'loned feast .■ for, not to mention the im- ajid it is the less to be wondered at that
possibilityof holding adiscourse with such he should do it so particularly, if the an-
a number of people on the road about an cient tradition be true which Origen and
affair of such importance, it is expressly Epiphanius have mentioned, that he was
said, John vii. 10, that he vjent up to the himself one of the number. See Dr.
feast of tabernacles privately ; which is Whitby's Preface to Luke, where he has
utterly inconsistent with his being at- shewn this to be highly probable, and no
tended with such a train ^^^severity, or way inconsistent with what Luke has said
(according to that author) eiglity t^.vo per- at tlie beginning of his gospel.
sons ; for Le Clerc supposes the tv.elve '^ That he would thrust forth more la-
were also with him. 1 sb.all elsewhere bourers, &c.] As both Luke here, and
give my reasons why I suppose the story Matthew in a parallel passage (Mat. ix-
of the Samaritans refusing hiin entertain- 38), use the word sz^jt^xx, wliicli literally
nient (though recorded Luke ix. 51 — 56), signifies to thrust ohi, I was willing to ex-
to have happened later than this. (See press the force of it in the version as well
sect, cxxvii. note^.) At present I would 3iS Xht paraphrase. (See 7iott^ on Mat. ix.
only observe, that the expression, after 38, sect. Ixxiii. p. 405.) So many of the
- V.v things, in the beginning of this chap- expressions used in this discourse are to be
38 spends them out with large i?ist ructions,
SECT. And as for you, go your ways with all the 3 Go your ^va} s :
xcvii. resolution and zeal you can employ in your ^^^l^"^* ^ ^^"? >°'*
. . .11" -11 1 •' 11 /• forth as lambs
^^^ ministry, as mdeed you will need it all ; tor among wolves.
X 3 behold^ I send you forth as so many defenceless
lambs in the midst (?/' ravenous and cruel wolves,
4 Yet as you go under the singular care of 4 Carry neither
Divine Providence, carrii not with vou any P^rse, nor scrip, nor
^ • , r " shoes ; and salute
purse of money, nor even a scrip tor your pro- no man by th© way
visions, nor any more shoes than you have now
on your feet ; nor stay so much as to salute any
man as you pass by him on the way ;^ but let
it evidently appear to all who see you, that
your thoughts are full of the great errand on
which you go.
5 And^ in all the stages of your journey, carry 5 And into what-
along with you those benevolent affecMons -;-['»- y--
which are so well suited to the design or your ^^ to this house :
mission : into whatever house therefore you
shall happen to come^ at your first entrance sayy
Peace be upon this house^ and pray that pros-
perity and happiness may attend the whole
6 family. And if any son and heir of peace ^ or 6 And if the son
any truly o-ood man who is worthy of such ^^ V^^^^ be there,
,,-^.'P, ••,, "^ r your peace shall rest
blessmgs, be there in the house, your prayer tor upo^t it : if not, it
peace and prosperity shall be answered, and shall turn to you
shall rest upon it ; but if not^ it shall not be ^&*"i-
entirely lost, but shall return upon you^ and you
shall be the better for those kind and friendly
sentiments, even though the wishes they dic-
tate be not exactly answered.
7 Andwh^n you are entered into any lodgings, 7 And in the same
continue in the same house as long as you stay ^^'^^se remam, eat-
in the town, cheerfully and contentedly eating gji^h things arthey
and drinking tvhat you find with them ; for as, g-ive ; for the la-
on the one hand, the common labourer is wor^ dourer is worthy of
thy of his rexvard^ and therefore you, who take
so much pains to bring them to the greatest
blessings, have much more right to your enter-
tainment ; so, on the other, it is beneath you
found in that to the tivclve, sect. l\xiv. Ixxv. the use of shoes and purses ; only whik
that it is g-enerally sufficient to refer to the they were employed on this particular
paraphrase and notes there for the explica- message, lie required the forbearance of
tion of them here. them, that every one who saw them pass
by might perceive that their minds were
'' Nor stay to salute any man, as you pass full of the most important business, and
iy him on the ivay.'] Oicr Lord did not in- that they were earnestly intent on the im-
tend by this to forbid his discipits in gen- mediate dispatch of it. (Compare 2 Kings
eral, nor even any of his ministers^ a de- iv. 29.) This was the more necessary, as
cent use of the customary tokens of c/i)// they were so much straitened for time.
respect to others, any more than he forbids See above, note^.
How they should treat such as should not receive them* 39
hishire. Go not from to be very solicitous and nice about the man- sect.
house to house. ^^r of it ; and therefore do not create an un- xcvn.
necessary trouble in the family where you are, "
o^* g^ from one house to another^ in hope of ^^^S
better accommodations, during the short stay
you make in a place.
8 And into what- And^ I repeat it again, Into ruhatever town or 8
a!ir^they^!'eTehS ^^'^^ ^^" ^^'"^^ ^^^ ^^^y receive and entertain
you, eat such things 5/^". freely and cheerfully, be ready to accept
as are set before their kindness to you, and without any diffi-
y®^ • culty eat and drink such things as are set before
9 And heal the yQu . And I am sure I put it into your power 9
sick that are therein, l_i^u x, a ^ ^
and sav unto them ^^ make them an abundant recompense, when
The kingdom of God I commission you, as I do now, io heal the sick
is come nigh unto that are in it, and to sai/ unto them. The long-
^°"; expected kingdom of God is come near unto you,
and therefore prepare yourselves thankfully to
receive the blessings of it, which are thus freely
offered to you by the Messiah.
10 But inta what- ^^^^ i^^f^ whatsoever city you come, and they 10
soever city ye enter, , , i • i i
and they receive you P^^v^^s^v set themselves agamst you, and do
not, go' your ways not entertain you, nor regard your message, go
out into the streets of ^7/^ into the Streets of it, andsaif, in amostpub-
the same, and saA', |. j i o* • \u -i •*
11 Even the very ^^^ ^"^ solemn manner, Smce you reject so 11
dilst of your city, gracious and important a message, we cannot
which cleaveth on but consider you as rejected by God, and de-
Tkins^t'^vou'^i^^ot^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^'^^" ^"^ inevitable destruction;
withstanding,' be ye "^^ therefore separate ourselves from all that
sure of this, that the belongs to you, and wipe off' from our feet, as
kingdom of God is ^ testimony against you, even the very dust of
come nigh unto you. . r- l i ^ .. ^l i i "^
° ^ your city, zvhich cleaves to iis;^ nevertheless, know
this assuredly, that the kingdom of God fv come
near unto you, and in the midst of all the ca-
lamities which are to befall you, let your con-
sciences witness that mercy hath been offered
12 But I say unto and refused. And I say unto you, as I formerly 12
Ee^'toliratlf 'in ^^^ ^^ ^^^^ brethren. That in that day of the
that day^for ^Sodom) final judgment it shall be more tolerable, even for
than for that city, the accursed inhabitants of Sodom itself, than
for that city, wheresoever it be found.
13 Wo unto thee, Now while our Lord was thus mentioning to 13
Chorazin, Wo unto his seventy disciples the wretched case of those
« Wipe off the very dust of your cifyy &c.] our Lord's purpose. He strangely sup-
For the import of this solemn action, see poses it an aUusio7i to those courts, where,
j(?cf. Ixxiv. note°, p. 411, from whence it as in what we call /)/e/>oWer, (or/fzW^/jow-
will appear that JDr. £Ju'rtn/*'j singular in- dres J courts, controversies were immedi-
terpretationf j5./w. 07z5a-//)f. Vol. II.p. 189 ately decided, as it were, before psop^
—'193) is not only foreign, but contrary to couldwipc the dmt c^" their ihegs.
VOL. 2^ 7
40 The dreadful case of those who rejected the gospel
SECT, that rejected the gospel, he could not forbear thee, Bethsaida ; lor
xcvxi. reflecting that this was the condition of some jfj^^^^f JfJ^'m
-*"*^ ■ of those cities where he himself had made the r^^^^e and Sidon,
^^'^^-, most frequent visits, and the longest abode : wMch have been
""• he therefore repeated the pathetic lamentation done ^in you, ^^they
he had before taken up for them,^ and said, ago repented, sTtting
On this account, Wo unto thee^ 0 thou obstinate in sackcloth and
Chorazin^ Wo unto thee^ 0 thou incorrigible ashes.
Bethsaida ; for if the xvonders xvhich have been
wrought in you had been done in Tyre andSidon^
degenerate as they were, they would have re-
pented long since^ sitting in sackcloth^ and lying
down in ashes^ to express the depth of their hu-
14 miliation and sorrow. But though vengeance 14 But it shall be
has long since been executed upon them, God more tolerable for
will make manifest the i.npartiality of his jus- ^^^ ^^/^^'J^J,
tice, and it shall be more tolerable in the clav ot ^r you.
his tremendous judgment for Tyre and Sidon^
\S than for you, ^^6^ fA&w, <9 most ungrateful and 15 And thou,
rebellious Capernaum, who hast been distin- Capernaum which
. , , P ^ 11 1 .1 1 4. -art exalted to hea-
guished from all the rest by my longest resi- ^,^„^ ^i^^n b^ ^t^rust-
dence in thee, so that thou hast (as it were) down to hell.
been lifted up to heaven in that respect as well
as in magnificence and wealth, shall be brought
down even to hell, and sunk into the deepest
and most irrecoverable ruin, since thou hast
heard my gospel only to despise it.
15 And then turning to the seventy disciples, 16 Hethatheareth
who still stood around him, he concluded his you, heareth me:
, . , . ^1 and he that despis-
mstructions to them m these important words, ^^j^ ^^^^ despiseth
(to the same purpose as he before had said to me : and he that
the apostles. Mat. x. 40, sect. Ixxvi.) He that despiseth me, de-
heareth you, in the discharge of this your em- '^^^t^^ ^^"^ ^^"'
bassy, heareth me ; and, on the other hand, he
thairejecteth you, in like manner rejecteth tne ;
and he that rejecteth me, rejecteth him that sent
me, even the Father himself, whose creden-
tials I bear, and who will punish the despisers
of the gospel, as impious rebels, who presume
to contemn his Infinite Majesty, and provoke
his almighty po\Ver.
* He repeated the pathetic lamentation, read tliem. Oh that they might noiv have
^c] Considering' the affectionate tern- their due weight with those who might
neT o^ our Lord, il is no wonder that he pass them over too slighth, when they oc-
should renew his lamentation over those curred before, in Mat. xi. 20 — 24. (See
unhappy places where he had so intimately sect. lix. p 324, 325.) Oh that every im-
conversed; and that he should do it in penitent creature who reads them might
such words as these, so well calculated to know that the sentence of his ov^n condem
alarm and impress all that should hear or nation is noto before his eveh
I
ver. 1
Reflections on the conduct that becomes ministers* 41
IMPROVEMENT.
So unwilling was the blessed Jesus to give over his kind at- sect.
tempts for men's salvation ! He projected another dran^ through ^^v'^-
the country, and sends forth other messengers^ more numerous
than the former company. He renews his invitations to perish-
ing sinners, and his lamentations over those who had hitherto 13, 15
rejected the counsel of God against themselves ; (Luke vii. 30.)
Thus let us love the souls of men ; thus let us use repeated en-
deavours to deliver them ; endeavours which would probably be
much more successful than the)^ are, if these wise and gracious
directions of Christ to his rjiinisters were more attentively ob-
served bv those who are honoured with that important office.
Let all such cast their care upon God ; let them go forth cheer- 3, 4
full)' in a dependence on his protection and favour ; let them ^ ^
carry about with them hearts full of affection for the whole '
human race, seeking and praving for the peace of all around
them ; cheerfully contenting themselves with such things as they
have (Heb. xiii. 5) ; and neither pursuing the grandeurs nor the
delicacies of life with any eager attachment.
Sendforth^ 0 Lord^ such labourers into thine harvest^ and ani- 2
mate them to a becoming zeal in their work, by a deep sense of
that dreadful condemnation which those will incur who, despising
them^ pour contempt on their Divine Master^ and his heavenly 16
Father^ in whose name he was sent ! May God preserve our
country from that guilt and ruin ! The kingdom of God is come 11
7iigh unto us, and we are lifted up to heaven by our privileges ;
may we not, after all, be cast doxvn to hell for the abuse of them ! 15
but may Divine grace make such a way for the gospel into our
hearts^ that we may cordially receive all who faithfully proclaim
it, and bid them welcome in the name of the Lord !
SECT. XCVIIL
Christ discourses with his brethren about his goingup to the feast of
tabernacles^ and stays some time after them, John VII. 1 — 13,
. J°«ifJ" 1- John VIL 1.
A tlLgs Jesus A^TER these things, that is, after he had mi- sect.
walked in Galilee ; raculously fed the five thousand, walked on xcviir
the sea to his disciples, and discoursed with
the multitude concerning the bread of life,* ^^ J
Jesus for some time walked^ or travelled, as
^ After these things, &.C.] Those that I been recorded by John. See a more parti -
have mentioned here are the /aj^whichhad cular account of tkenQ,«ec*.lxs:\iii — IxjLxii.
42> His brethren urge his going to the feast of tabernacles.
SECT, we before observed, in Galilee, and there in- ^^^ he would not
^^^•"'- structed his disciples (see p. 14) ; for hewould '''^\''' l^''''^'\}^:
, . i ^ r •/• 1 • cv f h cause the Jews
John ^^^ mtn xvalk or converse lamuiarly injtidea^ sought to kill him.
Vn.X because the fews^ and more especially their
rulers, incensed by the growing fame of his
miracles, and the freedom of his discourses,
sought an opportunity to slay htm, either by
private assassination, tumultuous assault, or
legal process.
2 And a very noted feast of the Jews was then 2 Now the Jews*
near, which is [called^ the fast of tabernacles ; ^^f at hind*"' "^""^^^
instituted in commemoration of their dwelling
in tents in the wilderness, and celebrated in
booths erected for that purpose, with great so-
lemnity and joy. (See Lev,, xxiii. 34, ^ seq.J
3 Therefore his brethren, qv near kinsmen in 3 His brethren
Galilee, >«zW unto hi?n. We would advise thee J^erefore said unto
to remove from hence, and go into y?^^^«, J^A«? and'^olnto^ Judea)
thy disciples also who are there 7nay, for the that thy disciples
confirmation of their faith in thee, behold thy also may see the
miracles, and see the mighty xvorks which thou "l^^^. ^^^^ ^^°^
4 performest here : For this retirement seems 4 For there is no
not at all to suit the great pretensions thou art man that doeth any
making to a public and extraordinary character; [''"^5j'" ^^f ^^^*k^'th
as it is well known that no man will choose to to be known openly ;
act any remarkable thing in secret, that is him- if thou do these
self desirous, like thee, to be publicly known and things, shew thyself
talked of :^ if therefore, Mot/ art really the ^^ ^^'^ '^''^^^•
promised Messiah, and performest these things,
which we so often see at home, by a Divine
commission, go up to Jerusalem, and there
manifest thyself to the great men of the rvorldy
and appear in places of the most public con-
course ; and thou canst not have a better op-
portunity of doing it, than at this celebrated
feast, which brings together so many, not only
from the land of Israel, but from neighbouring
5 countries. This they said, not out of any real 5 Nor neither did
friendship and respect, but to make farther
* He nvouidnot luali in yudea.'] This may not particularly known to us who have no
be an intimation either that he was not at concern with them. See note^y sect. Ixxxiii.
Jerusalem the preceding- passover^ or at Vol. I. p. 459.
least m.ide no public appearance, or long- <= That is hitnself desirous to be publicly
abode there. I am inclined to think the knoxvn and talked of.] This seems to be a
former was the case- Undoubtedly, his very invidious and g-roundless insinuation,
omission of a journey thither, at some of as if he was actuated hy ostentatious views j
the ^rea^/ea^f J, might be vindicated by his the contrary to which appeared so evi.
extraordinary character, and those intima- dently in the whole of his conduct, that
tions he might have from his heavenly nothing- but base envy could suggest such
Father, of being dispensed vjith, for reasons a charge .
He at first refuses^ as fits time was not yet come* 4^
Ws brethren believe trial of him, and in some measure to upbraid sect.
in him- him with those precautions which he thought **^^^""
proper to observe ; for^ notwithstanding all TT
the evidences he had given of his Divine mis- ^ii/^
sion, yet neither did his brethren and kindred
themselves believe i?i him^ when they saw that
he took no such method to raise himself and
his family, as they thought inseparable from
the character of the Messiah, whenever he
should appear.**
b Then Jesus said Then Jesus said unto them^ My time^ either 6
unto them, My time to manifest mvself, or to go up to Jerusalem,
IS not yet come : but ^^ ^^^ ^^ come ; but your time is always ready ^
your time is alway , ^ . . -^ . ^ . ^'
ready. ^"^ such a Circumstance m your case is com-
7 The^'orld can- paritively of very little importance. You have 1
not hate you, but ^o reason to fear any injury or assault, as the
cause I testify of it| "^'orld cannot hate you^^ because it is on prin^
that the works ciples of carnal wisdom that you act, and so
thereof are evil. have nothing in your conduct that may draw
upon you any particular opposition ; but me it
hates^ not on account of any ill action which I
have committed, but because^ from a zeal for
truth, and a desire of its reformation, / bear
my testimony concerning it^ that its deeds are
8 Go ye up unto evil. Do you therefore go up to this feast^ S
this feast: I go not whenever you please, without waiting for me ;
up yet unto this ^^^ acquiesce in what I now tell you, that /
do not as [_yet'\ go tip to this feast ;^ for that
d Keither did his brethren believe in hion, titute of the love of God, and all well-
SfC.] It is astonishing- that these ??ear re- grounded hope from him.
lations of Christ, who must have had so ^ I do not yet go up to this feast."] The
many opportunities of seeing the glories readermayobservethat I enclose the word
both of his character and miracles (which [je?,] which answers to utto! in the original^
last they here expressly acknowledge) in crotchets / and the reason is because I
should continue in «n^e//e/l Butlheyun- do indeed doubt whether it was in the
happily laid it down as a first principle that oldest copies. And this dolibt arises, not
the Messiah must be a temporal Prince ,- merely from Porphyry's objecting against
and finding this mark of his mission want- this as vl falsehood (for frequent experience
ing, and seeing (more strongly than others, has taught us how little the enemies of
not so intimately conversant with him, C/imf/a«/ify are to be trusted in their repre-
c^uld do) his aversion to any such scheme, sentations ofscripture)^ but from observing
they would yield to no other proofs ; and that Jerom, and the other most ancient
are, I fear, on tlie fatal list of those who fathers, who reply to that objection, do not
perished, as thousands now do, by op- found theiransweron his citingthe passage
posing hypothesis io fact. See Dr. Sykes on wrong, but as they justly might, on the inti-
the Truth of Christianity, p. 128. mation our LordgSLve of his intending short-
« The 'World cannot hate you.'\ These ly to goto the feast, in that expression, My
words, gentle as they may appear, con- titne is not yet fully come. It is a glorious
tain a most awful insinuation that these testimony to the unblemished integrity
his kinsmen were persons governed en- of our Lord's character, that so cunning
ticely by carnal vieKs, and therefore des- a))d inveterate an enejny was forced tq
4r^ He afterwards goes^ and the Jews are divided about him,
s?;oT. which I judge my most convenient time of feast, for my time is
^cviji. doing it, is not yet fully come^ nor do I need to not yet full come.
be directed by you in my conduct on such oc-
John . .1
y\\. 8« c^sions as these.
9 Noxvi -when he had said these things unto 9 When he had
them, he left them to go up alone, while he ''^^^^^^^ hTabode
continued [still] in Galilee for a few days longer: still in Galilee.
10 But xvhen hi'>- brethren or kindred xvere gone up, lo But when his
then he also \\imst\i xvent up to the feast, ^ not brethren were gone
publicly with a train of attendants, as he had "P' then went he al.
'^ c^ i 1, , .^ • ' .1 so up unto the feast,
oiten done," but as it were in secret, with as not openly, but as it
much privacy as he could* were in secret.
11 T/i^ y^w9 ^A^re/'cr^, not seeing him appear 11 Then the Jews
as usual, sought for him at the beginning of the sought him at the
feast, and said. What is become of Jesus, and ^^^^^^ js^^e ? ^^^^*
where is he P or what can have prevented his
coming up to the feast ?^
12 A7id there ivas, in the mean tiiriG, a great 12 And there was
murmuring amo?ig the people concerning Aim; much murmuring
for some said (as they had, from the whole ^'^^"^ the people
r 1 • 1- r 1 concernmg him : tor
tenor oi his lite, the utmost reason to con- come said. He is a
elude), Surely^ he is an eminently pious and good man : others
a ^ood man : but others, under the force of ^^^^\ ^^y* ,^"^ ^^
^ .J. ^ J ^r ^ J deceiveth the peo-
strong prejudices, suspected the worst, and p^^ *
^^said. Nay, that cannot be, but he certainly
seduces the ignorant populace, however he
comes by this power of doing it ; and the
wisest part of mankind must see that he will
undoubtedly at last draw his followers into
ruin^ as some other impostors have lately
13 done. (See Acts v. 36, 37.) Thus they 13 Howbeit, no
privately debated the matter ; howbeit, no one,
have recourse to such mean and ridiculous vented his coming up to the feast ?] If our
methods of aspersing it. See Dr. Mill Zorc/ had absented himself from the tiao
on this text, and Cleric, de Arte Critica, part preceding Jeasts (which perhaps the expos-
iii. p. 232. tulations of his brethren^ ver. 3, 4, may im-
g He also xient up to the feast.] Our Lord ply) there was yet an obvious reason for
might know of some circumstance of par- the surprise which this question expresses ;
ticular danger, which might have rendered or undoubtedly our Lord used generally to
his going up at the usual time, and in com- attend on these occasions. See Vol. I. p.
pany with his brethren, unsafe, and there- 459, sect. Ixxxiii. note^.
fore improper. ^ Surely.'] It is possible, as our transla-
^ Not publicly with a train of attendants, tors have supposed, that the word on here
iJ'c.'] I look on this as a most certain ar- may be only an expletive ; but to me it
g-ument that the story in Luke ix. 51 — 56, seems probable that it may not improperly
cannot (as most commentators suppose) be rendered surely^ or truly, which is ac-
relate to tliis journey ; since it is so evi- cordingly the sense that I have sometimes
dent he was then attended with a nume- given it. We should not, I think, unnec-
rous train of followers. Compare «&«e% essarily conclude a word to be quite zre-
■sect. xc\ii. p. 36. «^?z//fcanf in any writer of credit and char-
• Where is he P or what can have pre- actor, especially in the sacred penmen.
1
Reflections on the unbelief of the brethren of Jesus. AiS
man spake openly of that thought favourably of him, spoke his mind sect.
him, for fear of the -uuith freedom concerning him^ for fear of the xcviii.
^®^** rulers among the Jews^ who were jealous of
his growing fame, and •looked with a very ^[J^^g
malignant eye on all who took any peculiar
notice of Jesus.
IMPROVEMENT.
We see how little the greatest external advantages can do ^er. 5
without the Divine blessing, when some of the nearest relations
of Christ himself, by whom he had been most intimately
known, were not prevailed upon to believe in him. Who then
can wonder if some remain incorrigible in the most regular and
pious families ? How much more valuable is the union to him,
which is founded on a cordial and obedient yaz^A, than that which
arose from the bands of nature f and how cautiously should we
watch against those carnal prejudices by which even the brethren
of Christ were alienated from him ?
Our Lord^ we see, used a prudent care to avoid persecution 1, 8
and danger till his time xvas fully come ; and it is our duty to
endeavour, by all wise and upright precautions, to secure and
preserve ourselves, that we may have opportunities for farther
service.
In the course of such service we must expect, especially if 12
we appear under a public character, to meet with a variety of
censures ; but let us remember that jfesus himself went through
evil report and good report ; by some applauded as a good man^
but by others, and those the greater part of his countrvmen,
condemned as deceiving the people. Let us learn of Christ pa-
tiently to endure such injurious treatment; and endeavour to be-
have ourselves so, that wemayhavea^es^zwowz/ in the consciences
of men, and in the presence of God, that, after the example of
our great Master, in simplicity and godly sincerity^ not with
fleshly vAsdom^ but by the grace ofGod^ zve have our conversation
in the world (2 Cor. i. 12). Then will our names be had in
remembrance, and the honour and reward of our faithful obe-
dience continue when the memories of those that reviled us are
perished with them.
* No one, that thought favourably of essary. Those that thought contemptibt;
him, ^c] The reason afterwards given of Christ might have spoken theu* mindi
renders suck a restriction absolutely nee- as freely as they pleased.
46 He preaches in the temple^ to the wonder of the JexO^^
SECT. XCIX.
Christ, going up privately to Jerusalem at the feast of tabernacles^
vindicates his condu%t^and farther urges the proofs of his Divine
mission, John VII. 14 — 24.
John VII. 14. John VII. 14.
SECT. nnHUS were the Jews divided in their sen- T^OVV about the
-XX. 1 timents about our blessed Lord, ^r.^ fX^'f:^^^^:,
though they eagerly inquired after him, they ^^^ i^to the temple,
^f'l4 knew not where to find him : but noxv in the and taught.
midst of the feast of tabernacles, about the third
or fourth day, Jesus tvent up to Jerusalem, and
entered publicly into the temple, and taught the
people, who were in yast multitudes assembled
15 there. And the Jews who heard him Tvere 15 And the Jews
amazed, saying. How does this man understa^id S^-^oWetirthfa*
letters .^* or how comes he to be so well ac- ^^^ letters, having
quainted with sacred literature, as to be able never learned ?
thus to expound the scriptures, and to apply ^
himself to us with such gracefulness and pro-
priety, having never learned xh^s^ ^rt% of ad-
dress at any place of public education ?
16 Jesus answered them and said, There is no ^^l/J;---r^d
such reason why you should wonder at this , ^^octrine is not mine,
for mif doctrine, or that which I now teach you, but his that sent me.
is not mine own inyention, or what I have
learnt by any common method of inquiry ; but
it is entirely his that sent me, and I learned it
17 by immediate inspiration from him. And if 17 If any man
uy 111*1" i • ^ 4.U ^ ^xAAp^-nne^c Will do hlS Will he
you desire rightly to enter into the evidences ^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^
of it, vou must make it your great care to doctrine, whether it
maintain an honest and religious temper ; for be of God or u'Ae^Ae*
if any one be resolutely determined to observe I speak of myself,
the dictates of my heavenly Father, and to do
his xvill,^ though ever so contrary to the im-
pulse of a corrupt nature, he shall then quickly
understand, whether my doctrine be of God, or
.Ho^cloes this man understand letter.?^ ^"^'.^^^'rT/.rS e'Jiuca^n" "om-
^-thin^^^-bi^^^r^rie^r :' v^f^::^s^:rS^^^^
inff, or shewed anv extraordinary acqu.si- to be the import of ^)f^J°"'^^^^^]^,,.^
uL h. .,>«,,, .,;->'■"■«. ^c, The e.an ^^y'^^^ ;"\~;,^,^:,p.^T;^s.s::
i'elists ha.yc ffiven us no specimen ot this voi. i. p. j-oi.j ,^ ,^,.^i-_,- ^u„t everv
feind t and it is certain thit foreign litera- seems an ^^PJ^^^^^^^J^f °" Xs P^^^^^^
manner in which he taught the people out awful judgmi^J^<^nom<:^<X
of them, with far greater majesty and presume to lejectit.
They seek his life for a miracle rvr ought on the sabbath, A7
whether I speak it of myself ; for the evidence sect.
is plain to an honest mind, and the corres- "^^^t^-
pondence which such a truly good man will _
fmd between the whole system of my doctrine Jj^ ^"1
and his own inward experience, will be unto him
instead of a thousand speculative arguments.
18 He that speak- In the mean time you might observe some- 18
3th of him self, seek- thing, even in the very manner of my teach-
bShethI7sfek7th ing> sufficient to convince you that I am no
his glory that sent impostor : for he that^ in such a circumstance,
him, the same is ^md with such pretensions, speaks of himself
rs'nc"s™inriS'- Without any Divine commission, will govern
himself by secular views ; and a sagacious
observer willsoon see that he is seeking his own
glory and interest, even under the most self-
denying forms : bid he that in the -whole of his
conduct shews that he seeks the glory of God,
as of him that he declares to have sent him^
gives great reason to believe that he is true and
sincere in that declaration, and that there is no
unrighteousness or imposture in him.^
19 Did not Moses But your character is the very reverse of this, 19
?r.f ^°?,^.!2^.f ^^1\ and you cannot but know it in your own con-
ana yet none oi you , J r i i • •
keepeth the law ? science : ior let me upon this occasion call you
Why go ye about to to reflect on your own conduct, and appeal to
^^ "™*^ ■ that : hath not Moses given you the law^ and do
you not eagerly contendfor its Divine original ?
and yet none of you observes the law which he
has given you. If you deny the charge, let
me remind you of that grand precept, *^ Thou
shalt not kill," and then ask you. Wherefore do
you go about to kill uie^ though an innocent and
upright person, who am come to bring you a
most important message from God t
20 The people This Jesus said with reference to what he 20
answered and said, j^j^^^ ^o be the secret design of some of his
Thou hast a devd : , , i i ^ • t_ • i
hearers, who w^ere even then plotting his de-
struction J but the multitude^ who were notaware
of it, ignorantly and rudely answered andsaid^
Surely thou art possessed^ and distracted,*^ to
^ No unrighteousness or imposture in shews (as many have observed) that they
him."] The word a.S'ifxn, in this opposition tjiought some of the worst kind and de-
to £t\>)3-)if, niust signify imposture. Yet 1 grees of lunacies proceeded from th^
think it the fairest way to translate the agency of some (/e^non.- as many conslder-
original words in all their extent, and con- able Greek ivriters plainly did. (See JBos,
tent myself with suggesting in the para- Exercit. p. 41 — 43.) But it can never be
phrase those limitations which the partic- argued from hence \.)isX possession and /«-
ular connection requires. nacy are universally eynonimous terms.
^ Thou art possessed, and distracted-^ Whenjoined together they seem to signify
So some of them express it, John x. 20, different thhgs ; the former being put fo*
He hath a devil j and is mad : which plainly tK? cause^ aBd tb^ latter for tli5 effeQU
VOL. 2*. 8
48 Tet they scruple not to circumcise on that day*
SECT, talk thus ; dost thou not safely travel from wji" .?oedi about t«
xcix. place to place, and appear in our most public ^ ^ ^^^^ •
assemblies, even here at Jerusalem, and who
v^H X ^°^^ about or desires to kill thee ?
21 y^*?/?, referring to the design which he knew 21 Jesus answered
some of them had of renewinjjj their prosecu- ^^^^ ^^^^ '^"^^ them,
, . 1 1 .1 1 1 u 1 nave done one
tion agamst him as a sabbath breaker, because ^^^^.^^ ^^^ ^^
he had commanded the disabled man at the marvel.
pool of Bethesda to carry his bed on that day
(compare John v. 16, Vol. I. p. 267), answered
m the gentlest manner, and said unto them^ I
have some time ago performed one remarkable
rvork^^ and you all^ to this very day, xvonder on
account ofit^ that I should order the man I
cured to carry his couch on the sabbathday :
22 Yet a little reflection might convince you that 22 Moses therefora-
your cavil is very unreasonable, even on your ^^^^^^^l f^^Vbt
own principles : for Moses gave you a precept, cause it is of Moses,
which required circumcision^ (not that it is but of the fathers,)
originally of Mo^es his institution, but had been ?;"f, J^ «'^. ^^^^ ^?^'
ci'ifAA^ 1 I • c Datiiciay circumcise"
formerly established by the observation otj^j^^n.
Abraham, and of the oth^r fathers of our na-
tion, many ages before Moses was born, which
therefore could not properly be altered by
him ; s) and you scruple not to circumcise a
23 man child on the sabbathday^ if it happen to be 23 Ifaman on the
the eighth from his birth. If[the7i] to prevent sabbathday receive
the violation of Moses his law by deferring ^ * *
this sacred rite, you acknowledge it fit, that
f / ha'oe some lime ago p&Jortned one re- in Mat. xiii. 52 ; xviii. 23 ; and in a few
markable •work.'] It is plain \.\\q miracle other places; and so Grotius takes it here,
here referred to was wrought a year and a See Dr. Whitby on this place.
halfhehve this feast. Compare sect. xlvi. g Not that it is originally o/* Moses, &.C.)
note*, Vol. I. p. 262. An excellent person, justly celebrated in
f And vou all wonder on account oj" it.'] I the learned world, has lately suggested to
here follow Theophylact and Beza in join- me a thought on these words (which I
ing the words S'lx t/Io to the end of this have not met with elsewhere, but have
verse, because it is certain that in their briefly hinted in the paraphrase J as to the
usual signification they cannot properly reason why owrion/ makes this obvious re-
introduce tlie next; and John xix, 11, fsect. mark, that circumcision was older ihaxi the
clxxxviii.) may be an instance of tlie like time of Moses. Had Moses instituted it
kind. The Prussian translators render it, he would probably have ordered it so as to
Because Moses gave vou circutncision, &c. make it quadrate with his law relating to
and the learned Eisner inclines to this ver- the strict rest of the sabbath ,- but finding it
sion .• f Eisner, Observ. Vol. I. p. 314, 315.) instituted by a previous covenant, which his
But though I am sensible a iviKtv sometimes laiv could not disannul (see Gal. iii. 17), he
signifiesZ»ecf22<5c(see Gen.xxxviii.26; Num. left it still on the same footing. This ar-
X. 31,and xiv.43.5'e/>n/«^. and^eii>r.) lean- gument will indeed infer that the strict
not find (Tj* ralo ever so used ; and I think, sabbatical rest was not observed in the pa-
if it be retained at the beginning of the next triarchal age ; but yet it might be a day of
terse^ it should be rendered. As to this extraordinary devotion, which I apprehend
fnatter t which sense it may perhaps have to be proved from Gen. ii. 3.
Refectionfi on the meekness we should shew under reproach, 49
tlie law of Moses a ma7i should receive circumcision on the sab' sect.
should not be brok- ^^^^ itself ; {whiA are you incensed ap;ainst jne. ^'^^''•
en ; are ve anerry at , . , , . -^ -■ \ r i j -
me, because I have ^^^^ ^y speaking a word, / have cured a man,
made a man every who was entirely disabled,^ on the sabbath ; as vii.23
whit whole on tlie if it was a more servile work to heal than to
sa at day { wound ? or how do you imagine that 1 have
not power, when I have thus healed him, to
manifest the perfection of the cure, by com-
24 Judge not ac- manding him to carry his couch ?^ Judge not 24
©ording- to the ap- according to these prejudices which the mean-
pearance, but judge j^^^g ^f appearance tends to produce ; but
riGrhteous judgment. . , .•■'-' , • i i • ? . i • i
mdge righteous ^lid tc^\i\\.2ib\t judgment ;\\h\cn
if vou do, }'OU must necessarily acknowledge
my Divine mission to be as evident and cer-
tain as that of Moses himself, to whose pre-
cepts you profess so gi*eat a regard.
IMPROVEMENT.
Let us learn of our meek and humble Master to refer the ver.
honour of all we know and do to Divine instruction communicated ^^' ^ ■
to us, and Divine grace working in and by us ; that, seeking the
glory of God, we may have the surest evidence that we are truly
his. Let us on all occasions remember that integrity and up*
Tightness will be a certain security to us against dangerous mis-,
takes In matters of religion. If the light we already have be
faithfully improved, we may humbly hope that more will be given
in ; nor shall we then fail of convincing evidence that the gospel \i
doctrine is of God ; for thfe experience of its power on our hearts
will check our passions, '2iU(}L destroy the prejudices that would
prevent the truth from taking place in our minds.
Let us receive his doctrine as Divine, iiwd. hearken unto Christ
as sent of God ; and whatsoever be the vile reproaches we may
meet with from a wicked world, and the malicious designsit may
form against us, let us be resolute and steadfast in the practice
of the duties he has taught us, that ivith welldoing we may put to t9
silence the ignorance of foolish men, (1 Pet. ii. 15.)
'' Ihaxe cured onan entirely.'] Our trans- ic, bothinthe Greek and English language,
lation loses much of the emphasis: the has suggested another "Dfr^ion, yet more
words oAov avS-paTcv vyi-ri uTroiria-ct literally literal tlian this, or any of the rest ; I have
signify, / have healed, or made sound, a made a man sound throughout^
•uiiiole man. But the ambiguity in our ' That I have not power, when I have
English word whole rendered such a <ver- thus healed him, iP'c.^ So our Lord him-
sion very improper. I therefore thought self states the argument in a case nearly
it recessary a little to vary the expression, resembling this (Mat. ix. 5, 6, Vol. I p.
but the sense is altogether the same. But, 260), and might probably here intend to
sinct^ IpubUshedthis, a veiy accurate criti^ insinuate it, though in an oblique manner
50 The Jews are prejudiced^ as knowing whence he wass
aECT. Our Lord was reviled as a demoniac and a lunatic; but instead
xcix. Qf Yendering railing for railings he replied in the words of gen-
~ T^ tleness aiid sobriety. So let us endeavour to conquer the rude-
21-^23 ^^^^ °^ those attacks we may meet with in his cause ; that we
may, if possible, remove the prejudices so fatal to those that en-
tertain them, and form men to that equitable and impartial
2^judgj;ie?it which would soon turn all their cavils against Christ
into admiration, praise, and obedience.
SECT. C.
The JeWs pass a variety of censures on Christ ; and the sanhedrim,
alarmed by the regard which some expressed toxuards him^ send
offcers to seize him ; hut Christ openly declares that their pur-
poses shouldnot immediately take effect, John VII. 25 — 36.
John VII. 25. John VII. 25.
SECT. CJ^HEN^ while our Lord was thus discoursing 'T^ HEN said some
"=■■ ^ at the feast of tabernacles, some of the in- ^ , "^ ^^i^"^ «^ J?'
. r T^ ^ r Of 1 11 '^ ri rusalem, Is not this
. habitants gj Jerusalem^v,'ho knew more or the ^e whom they seek
vii. 25 designs of the sanhedrim than others who had to kill ?
spoken before (ver. 20), saidy Is not this he
xvhom they seek an opportunity to put to death f
26 But behold^ he is not only come up hither to the 26 But lo, he
feast, but speaks openly and freely in the very speaketh boldly, and
• temple itself; and theif are so far from seizinc^ ^^ J^y ''J^'^'l'}^
, . ^ , ^^, , ^ , ,. o unto him : Do the
nim, that they do not so much as say any thing rulers know uidced,
to prohibit him : do the rulers then indeed know that this is the very
they were mistaken in their former censures, Christ >
and are they now persuaded in their consciences
27 that this is really the Messiah f But we have 27 Howbelt, we
sufficient reason tu conclude this cannot be the ^"^^ ^'^i^. ^^"^
case ; for many of us know this yuan, from rvhence wheirchristcometh!
he is, and are sure that he was bowi of Joseph's no man knoweth
wife ; whereas, when the Messiah comes, no whence he is.
man will thus knozv from whence he is ; for he
is to be born in a n>iraculous way of a virgin.*
a He is to he born in a miraculous way lofson (Vol. II. p. 454), that the words refer
of a virpn.] It is evident from Mat. ii.4', to an expectation they had that he would
5, that the Jews apprehended the Messiah be born of a virgin. As for the notion
was to be 6orn at Bethlehem ; and from a which Justin Martyr mentions, that the
multitude of other places, that they knew Mcs.siah shoxild for'a while be hid, it seems
he was to be a descendant of David ; (comr more modern ; and thevmust puta strang-e
pare ver. 42.) I know not how therefore interpretation on Isa. 'liii. 8; Mic. v. 2;
to account for tlieir saying- that, v-^hen «ind Psal. ex. 4 ; to draw any such conse-
Chistcavie, no man li^ou'ld kriorj v^^hence he quence from them, as Dr.' Whitbv and
>>, but by supposing-, with Archbishop Tit- Mr. L'Enfant suppose they did.
The sanhedrim send officers to seize him, 51
28 Then cried Then Jesiis^ though they said this in a private sbct.
Jesus in the temple manner to each other, and imagined that he ^•
as he taught, saying, ^^^^j ^^^ j^^^^ ^^^^^ ^:^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^ teaching ^
Ye both know me, . ;. r , '^ Tohn
and ye know whence ^^ the temple^ and at some distance trom them, ^.^ 23
I am ; and I am not cried out with a louder voice than before, and
come of myself, but ^^y j^^ ^ indeed both know me, andknozv from
he that sent me is , r «5k a i • • i i
true, whom >e know "thence lam /° Alas, it is great rashness and
not. folly for you to assert it ; and whatever you may
object, i/et it is most certain, that/«wi not come
of myself, with vain and false pretences to a
Divine mission, nor do I want any proper evi-
dences of it ; but he who sent me is true to all
his promises and predictions,^ xvhom neverthe-
29 But I know less, with all your boasts, ye know not. But 29
him, for I am from J know him in a most intimate manner ; for I
him, and he hath n 7 • ri u ^ • 1 t^*
sent me. ^''^ sprungyro??: nimP- by a mysterious and Di-
vine generation, in consequence of which I am
infinitely better acquainted with him than you,
or any mere creatures, can be ; and he hath
sent jne among you, as his Ambassador, on an
errand of the highest importance.
30 Then thev Then they were so |M-ovoked by this claim of a SO
sought to take him : Di^^jieoi-iginal, and by the charge advanced
but no man laid .^1° • "^ r ^ a?,- 1
hands on him, be- against them, as Ignorant or that (jrod in whom
cause his hour was they gloried as so peculiarly their own, that they
not yet come. sought an opportunity to seize him ; yet God
impressed their minds in such a manner, that
no one of them would be the first that laid hands
on him : and they were kept under this visible
restraint, because his appointed hour of suflfering
was not yet come, but he had farther services in
life to dispatch before he was delivered to them.
31 And many of And 7na7iy of the people were so much affected 31
the people believed ^y[^]^ tj^gge discourses, that they secretly believed
Whe^Christ com- ^'^ ^"'"^ '^"^ ^^^^ ^^ -^^^^ Other, When the Mes-
siah comes, will it be possibleA^ should do greater
^ Do you both hno-ci me, andknozv ivhence ^ I am from him. 1 I should have chosen
I am P'] So Bishop Chandler would render to render tta^ ctuTK, luith him, as I did in
these words (see his i)e/e«ce, p. 334) ; and the first edition, to avoid a tautology ,- but I
it seems necessary, in order to vindicate am sensible, on farther reflection, that I
the propriety, and indeed the veracity, of the want a sufficient authority for such a ver-
reply ; unless with Beza and Camerarius sion. I therefore acquiesce in our ouvi .•
we suppose it to be spoken ironically. but I see no occasion to vary any thing in
•^ Is true to all his promises and predic- the paraphrase, since in either sense it sug-
tions.] There seems a reference here to gests so strong a reason for believing that
the accomplishment of some of the prophe- Christ hath the most intimate kno%vledge of
cies already fulfilled in him, together with tl\e Father.
a cheerfuiyazfA in what was yet to come.
32f: He tells them he is gmng' where theij shall notjindhim.
SECT, miracles than these which this [^Jesus'] has done etii, will he do more
^ here at Jerusalem, and over the whole country ? '^^^'^^^^f.^^^" ^'^^^f
^- This, however, could not be so privately ^",J;;f/^^^' ^^^" ^"'^
vii. 32 said, but some information of it was sent to the 32 The Phariseeg
Pharisees^ who, when they heard that the people 'leard that the peo-
whispered such things cojicernin^ him, were f/^ n^^nnured such
K ,. , 111 ^ ' 7 , things concerning'
greatly displeased, and alarmed at it : and the him : and the Phari-
Pharisecs afid the other members of the grand sees and the chief
sanhedrim, particularly the chief priests, among f^'^^^l^ ^.^"^ officers
whom there were many Sadducees (see Acts iv.
1), sent oncers from the chamber in which they
held their council,^ into the adjacent court of *.
the temple, to seize him, as he preached there
to the multitude.
33 Then jfesus said to them, as soon as thev ap- 33 Then said Jesui
peared, I know the design on which some of unto them, Yetalit-
you are come, but God will not permit you ^^^ while am I with
immediately to execute it ; for yet a little while to lum that "sent me'
longer / am to continue zvith you, and \then'\
34 /am to go again to him that sent me. And when 34 Ye shall seek
I am returned to him, I shall be entirely out me, and shall not
. of your reach ; so that you shall seek me, and TtZ^.j^^^ 7^cZ
wish that you had me in your power again, but not come.
you sliall not find me; and xvhere lam^ or where
i shall then, and always be, you cannot possibly
come : which he said, referring to his speedy
exaltation to the heavenly world, and to the
impotent malice w^ith which they should then
oppose his triumphant cause.
35 But he was not understood in that sense ; the 35 Then said the
yezvs therefore who were present said among ^^^'^ ^vrd ^'^*^^il
themselves. Whither is he about to go, that we he g-o,'that we shall
shall not find him ? r^z// deleave J udea, and ^0 not'find him? will
to the remainders of the holy seed, who are dis- ^^ ^^ ""^^ ^^^^ ^[^'
persed among the Greeks and other nations ? and Qemiles '^and^teach
will he teach them, or the Greeks themselves,^ the Gentiles ?
e From the chamber in which they held countries, to address himself to the Jews
their council.] See sect. xxiv. nott^^ Vol. there, who mig'lit be supposed not so well
I. p. 144. instructed as those tliat lived in Judea and
* Will he go to the dispersed among the at Jerusalem, he would not be able to
Greeks, and teach the Greeks .?] By Greeks make any proselytes, even among these ; but
we are here to understand idolatrous Gen- would be constrained to apply himself to
tiles, and not Hellenists, or Jews that used the ignorant and stupid Gentiles, to seek
the Greek language ; for these were the disciples among them ; which to be sure
dispersed among them- There is therefore, appeared to these haughty scorners one of
I think, a jri/2^in these words beyond what the most infamous circumstances that
cmnmentators have observed. They insin- could be imagined, and most incompatible
uate, that if he was to go into foreign with the character ef the true Messialv.
Reflections on the fatal tendency of error, 55
even the idolatrous Gentiles, after his being sect.
thus rejected bv his own nation at home and c.
36 Wliat manner abroad ? What [sort of] saying is this which he —
o/sayin? is this that /^as now spoj^en. Toil shall seek me, and shall ?iot J'^ijS
he said, Ye shall r j i l r mi vu.3o
seek me, and shall>^^ '''^ ' "^^ where lam, you c«?2?20f possibly
not find me .• and come f Thus they continued cavilling at his
•where I am, thither words ; yet were so overawed by his presence,
ye cannot come ? ^^i^it. they did not dare to offer him any vio-
lence, notwithstanding the commission with
which some of them came.
IMPROVEMENT.
So confident is error in its own decisions, and so vain in its verse
selfapplauses ! These unhappy people, every way mistaken, cen- 26, 2f
sure their rulers {or a supposed credulity, in seeming, as it were,
to acquiesce in Christ's claim to be the Messiah ; and imagined
themselves, no doubt, exceeding wise in rejecting him, while
they blindly took it for granted he was the son of Joseph, and had
not patience to wait for the authentic story of his miraculous
conception. Surely men had need to look well to the force of
those arguments on which they venture their souls by rejecting
the gospel.
Our Lord answered their secret reasoning in a manner which 28
might justly have alarmed them, charging them with ignorance
of that God whom they pretended to know, and whom, with a
presumptuous confidence, they claimed as theirs. And oh, that
it may not be found at last, that many who have appeared most
confident of their interest in God, neither know him, nor are
knotvn by him !
The blessed Jesus, who is the brightness of his glory, and the 29
express image of his Person, has the completest knoxvledge of the
Father, May we be so wise and happy as to seek instructions
from him, that the eyes of our understandings may be enlightened^
and the temper of our hearts proportionably regulated, by all the
discoveries of the Divine Being which he makes !
How obstinate and desperately hardened were the hearts of
those who, notwithstanding all the proofs that Jesus gave of his
Divine mission, were yet so far from hearkening to him, as to seek 30,32
opportunities to destroy him / So dangerous and fatal is the prev-
alence of error, in such as like not to retain God in their knowledge^
that they wull even venture on the greatest wickedness, when
once they are given over to a reprobate mind (Rom. i. 28). May
God preserve us from a spirit of delusion, and fill us with that
wisdom, that we may know the things belonging to our peace ;
and, being ready to receive the truth in the love gf it^ may we ac-
knowledge and attend to Christ as sent of God ^^
c.
ver.34
54 Jesus catts them to cotrie and i'eceive the Spirit from hhn.
SECT. May we learn this heavenly wisdom in time, since the hour is
approaching when Christ will be sought hi vainy and all corres-
pondence between him and sinners will be finally cut off! Where
he isy they cannot then corne ; and to be excluded from him will
at length appear insupportable misery, even to those who, with
proud folly and fatal selfsufficiency, are now most ready to say
unto him, Depart from us ^ for we desire not the knowledge of thee.
or thy ways. (Job xxi. 14.)
SECT. CI.
Christ invites his hearers to C07ne and imbibe the spirit from hi?n ;
and by these and other gracious discourses disarms the resohition
of the officers^ who return to the sanhedrim xvithout him ; where
a short debate arises between Nichodemus and his brethren, John
VII. 37, to the end*
John VII. 37. John VII. 37.
SECT. QucH were the discourses which our Lord Tjf /^^ ^f^, ^"^>
CI. ^ 1 ^ .1 1-1 r 1 JLthat great day ot
__^ f^^ made to the people, mtne presence oi those the feast, Jesusstood
Johrt who were sent by the sanhedrim to seize him; and cried, saying-, If
til. 37 and this happened in the eighth and last day^ ^">' "^*" ^^"^s^' ^""^
that great [dayl of the feast of tabernacles, when,
according to the institution of Moses (Lev.
xxiii. 34, 36 ; Numb. xxix. 35), there was to
be an holy convocation, attended with somo
extraordinary sacrifices. Now on this day,
when it was customary for the priests to sur-
round the altar with their palmbranches, and to
pour out water in the temple, as an expression of
tKe general desire of the Messiah's appearance,
and the pouring forth of the Spirit by him,^ Je-
sus stood on an eminence, that he might be the
better heard and seen, and proclaimed \w\xh a
loud voice, sayings If any man thirst, that is,
if he ardently desire true happiness, and Jpng
for the blessings promised under the adminis-
* When it was customary for the priests think It was intended to supplicate thefo?-
to pour out water, 45*0.] That there was a oner rain,- but the contextinclinesme much
custom on this day of draviivg water out of rather to believe those Jewish writers pro-
the fountain of Siloam, scad pouring it out duced by Dr. Lightfoot (in his Hor. Heb. on
before the Lord in the temple at the time of this place), who say it was meant as a way
evening sacrifice, and that the priest who of invoking the Divine influences of the
did it stood on some eminence, the ^eivish blessed Spirit, and as a mark of their desire
rabbies unanimously assure us. (See Me- of having it poured out upon them. See
land':: Antiq. Heb. part iv. cap. 6, § 6.) Some TremelUus's exceUfut vote on tliis text.
The people are divided hi their sentiments about him* S3
liim come ujito me, tratlon of the Messiah, let him come unto me by sect.
and drink. faith, and drink his fill ; for I am most ready ^'-
freely to communicate every needful blessing, ^^^^
and particularly those supplies of the Spirit ^^^ 37
which you profess so earnestly to desire.
38 He that believ- (Compare Isa. Iv. 1.) For .he that truly be- 33
eth on me, as the ii(.^jgi/i on 772f, as the scripture hath in many
"aEbel'v :wi P'-<^- ^«-'^='"J promised,^ shall receive those
flow rivers of living supplies in SO great an abundance, that he shall
water. not only be refreshed himself, but out of his
belli/, or from within him,« shall fow vital
streams, and, as it were, rivers of living water,
for the refreshment and comfort of others.
39 (But this spake A^oiu this, which was true in a more exten- 39
he of the Spirit, g'^.g sense, he peculiarly spake of the Spirit,^
iTeve^n^fL^'shouW ^^^^ ^^^ believed on him should receive,
receive : for the Holy and which some of them should also be enabled
Ghobt was not yet ^q communicate to others. But it was not
given, because that ^ jrenerallv understood ;for the Holy Spirit
Jesus was not yet o _.'. _. ,''' ,. -^ ^
g-lorified.) was not yet \^lven^^ m that extraordmary man-
ner, because Jems was not yet glorified ; and
it was the wise and gracious purpose of God
to send him do'.vn on the church, after the as*
cension of Jesus, as a triumphant Conqueror,
into his Father's presence. (See Eph. iv. 7 —
12 ; John xvi. 7 ; and Acts ii. 33.)
40 Many of the Then many of the people, zvhen they heard this AO
people therefore, g^acious saying, which was indeed a more free
when tliey heard ^,^,i^j.^tio,, ^nd profession than he commonly
tins saving, saiu, .,r>'^, ,.r t- 1
Of a truth this is made, said. Surely this \jnan\ is at least a
die prophet. prophet^ and probably comes to introduce the
'' As the scripture hath in many places heart. Compare Job xv. 35 ; xx. 20 ; and
jaiiand promised.] Clirysostom, and after Prov. xx. 27, 30. It sometimes signifies,
him many other eminent critics, refef this in a more g-eneral way, the in<viard part of
to the former clause, and understand it as a thing- (1 Kings vii. 20 ; Mat. xii. 40),
if he had said. He that hath that faith in me and may perhaps have some allusion here
ivhich the scripture requires : (see Castalio, to the prominency of tliat capacioxis golden
Zegerus, Jac. Cappellus, in loc.J And thus vase from which the water was now poured
they avoid tlie dilficulty which arises from omt in a large stream.
our not finding the following words in ^ This he spake o/the Spirit."] It is stvau^e
scripture. But it seems much more nat- that, when the evangelist has thus plainly
ural, with Grotius, to suppose that here is commented on these words of Christ, a
a. ge?ieral reference to ihe seyeral prophecies late eminent writer should venture to
which refer to the effusion of the Spirit by advance a different interpretation, and
tiie Messiah under the similitude of pour- explain them as spoken of the doctrine of
ing out Hhater : and accordingly I have/>a;-- the gospel.
aphrased the words in that vie w of the con- « Surely this man is a prophet."] As the
nection. See Isa. lii. 15 ; xliv. 3 ; Iviii. article is prefixed, it might seem natural
11 ; and Joel ii. 28. to render it the prophet, were it not after-
^ Out of his belly, or from within him.] wards distinguished frovathe Christ. Oil
The belly is frequently put for the 'tnindor this account 1 conclude Uiat here, as aba
V05.. 2. 9
*f6 The officers admire his preachings and return xvithoiit htm*
sicT. Messiah. And others said^ Nav, this is cer- 41 Others said,
*'• tainlv the Messiah himself, but^'m opposition This is the Christ
; ' • , . , . , ^ ' 1 T ij li 7ir But soipt saicl, bnall
John ^^ ^^^^^^ '^'^^"^ objected, and said, shall the Mes- Christ come out of
vii. 41 siah, when he appears, come out of Galilee, as Galilee ?
42 we know this Jesus of Nazareth does ? Hath not 42 Hath not the
the. sen/Aforesaid expresslv^ That the Me,M ^Z::^J^
js to come from the seed oj JJama f ana natn it ^^^^ ^^ David, and
not also added, that he is to ariseyrow the town out of the town of
of Bethlehem Judah, ivhere David xvas [born,] ?^^^^.!jf^'^^', "''^^'^'''^
and which was the ancient seat of his family ? ^^' ^^^ '
43 (Compare Isa. xi. 1, and Mic. v. 2.) And 43 So there was
thus they were divided in their sentiments, and ^^^ ^^ ,--|
there xvas a warm dissension^ among the people of him
on his account.
44 And the officers also, who had been sent to 44 And some of
apprehend him, were at a loss what they should f-- ,1^'S^TZ
dio, and some of them xvoidd have seized him; but, ^^an laid hands on
struck with the regard which several of the him.
people expressed towards him, and, above all,
' impressed by the dignity and sweetness of his
discourses, and the secret hand of heaven which
wrought for his deliverance, they were so far
restrained, that no 7nan laid hands on him,
45 Then the off cer s came back to the chief priests 45 Then came the
and the Pharisees, without accomplishing the "J^^^rs ^ the^cMef
purpose for which they were sent : and when g^.^^ . ^^^ ^^^^^ g^-^j
the sanhedrim perceived they had not executed unto them. Why
their commission, they said wito them, rr% j^i^^^,)'^ "<^^^^*o^^t
have ye not brought hifu with you as your
prisoner, according to the orders you received
from us ?
46 The officers replied, we could not find in our 46 The officers an>
hearts to attempt it ; for surely no man living ^^^-^f^^^^-^J-^ ^
ever spake m so engaguig and irresistible a
manner as this man doth ;^ and had you heard
John i. 21, 0 'cr§o4)»']«? signifies only a him, that when he began <rp!tz^a.iTH7^dn
prophet^ ihat is, one of the ancient prophets tgv 3-stv3tTcv, to plead for his ///e, he dis-
revivcd. See sect. xv. jtote", Vol. I. p 123. armed their resolution, and melted them
tj loarm dissension.~\ Sol apprehend into tears. (^P/wfarcA rif.p.431.) But these
the word J.^i't/ji.^ always signifies. And officers are thus vanquished merely by
thus the word schism,' wh\ch is just the liearing Christ's gracious discourses to
same, (with an English termination) ex- the people, which is a circumstance much
presses, not merely nor neccssai-ily a *<?/?- more remarkable. They return in a kind
oration horn each other, but an angry de- of amaze, and, instead of seizing him as
hate, whether it be or be not attended their prisoner, or making a laboured apol-
with separation. ogy for their failure, only break out into a
z No man ever spake as this man doth.'] pathetic exclamation, that vo man in the
Plutarch mentions it as a memorable proof luorld ever spake like him. It is a reflec-
of the extraordinary eloquence of Mark tion which I hope we often make as we
Anthony, whenMarius fcent soldiers tokill read his discourses,
The Pharisees are angry ^ hut Nkodanm stands vpfor him* 67
him yourselves, it must have disarmed your sect.
resentment against him. '
47 Then answered Then the Fharisees, far from being softened ^^^
them the Pharisees, ^y tj^g account they gave them, ansivered thein ^-^ 47
Are ye also de- j^ ^ scornful and upbraiding way. What
^^"^^ ■ are ijou also deceived by his artful and popular
address \ Surely you cannot be so weak as to
48 Have any of be thus infatuated ? Pray consider the conduct 48
the rulers, or of the ^f those who are most capable of judging of
on hira >'' ^^^'^""^"^ this point : have any of the rulers Mieved on
^™ ■ h'vn^ or [any] of the Pharisees of a more private
station l^ Yet you know these are most emi-
nent for their acquaintance with religion, and
are the most authentic interpreters of the sa-
49 But this people cred writings in which it is contained : But 49
who knoweth not ^/^jg wretched herd of people^ who are so en-
the law, are cursed, ^.j^^j^^^^j ^^i^h him, know and regard not any
thing of the true meaning of the iazu, and, it
is easy to be seen, are cursed with a judicial
blindness, and given up to the most absurd
and fatal mistake.^
50 Nicodemus saith Upon this, Nicodemus^ whom we before have 50
unto them, (he tliat mentioned as the person xvho came to lyesusl by
came to jesus by ^ / . John iii. 1, ^ seq. Vol. I. p. 147),
nie-nt, heme; one oi , 9 > , *' , \ t-»i • j •*4.- ^-
then,,) being both a ruler and a Pharisee, and sittmg
in the sanhedrim as one ofthem^ took so much
51 Doth our law courage, that he said to them^ Doth our laWy 51
judge any man be- which you boast SO much acquaintance with,^
fore it hear him, ^^^ judge and condemn any man before the magis-
trate appointed to execute it summon him into
his presence, that he may hear from him what
he hath to say in his own defence, and know
^ Have my of the rulers believed on him^ ignorance of the populace must always ex-
or any of the Pharisees P] 1 cannot think, pose them to a curse. It rather intimates
withGrotius, that this is any intimation an apprehension that God had given them
that, if there were any of the Great Council up to a spirit of fatal iifatuation. Instances
who had favourable thoughts of Jesus, of their co;2fem/)f of the co7M,mon)&co/7/e may
they were the Sadducees. The interpre- be seen in Lightfoot ( Uor. Hehr. in loc.J
tationof the paraplirase is much easier. SiX\<i Vitringa. (^Oi'.yeri). 5'acr. lib. iii. cap. 2,
There is no reason to believe any of the p. 498.)
Sadducees were inclined to receive the ^ Doth our lavi^ which you boast so
gospel ; and if the Pharisees had secretly much acquaintance with.] Soft as these
suspected them of such an inclination, words seem, there is a severe sting in.
they would hardly have affronted them by them ; and they in effect amount to a
such an insinuation in this grand assem- charge, that while they professed such a
bly, considering the high rank in which knowledge of fAc /aio, and zeal for it, they
many of Mat jecf were. either knew not, or regarded not, some
' This people luho knoia not the laiu, are of its plainest precepts, and were even
cursed.'] I see no ground to think, with unmindful of those which, as they were
Grotius, that this refers to Deut. xxvii. a court of judicature, were their peculiar
26, and is built on a supposition that the concern.
S8 Reflections on the excellence of the words of Christ,
from credible witnesses, xvhat he hath done to know what he doth?
deserve punishment? (See Deut. xvii. 8 — 11,
and xix 15, £sJ* seq.)
But theij^ without entering farther into the 53 They answered
argument, answered him oni\^ bv sayings in a ^"^ ^"J^ ^"^^^ '''"^'
slight and superficial manner, What, art thou G^uiee T Search,
thyself flr/6'{? of Galilee^ that thou favourest the and look ; for out of
pretences of this contemptible Galilean ? Galilee ariseth no
Search a little farther into the matter, and t\\o\x P^'^P^^*^^-
wilt soon see the unreasonableness of doing it ;
for it is notorious, even to a proverb, that no
prophet is raised up from Galilee^ nor will God,
ever honour that contemptible country M^ith
such a production.
53 And^ having said this, they would not wait So And tvery maif
for a replv, but immediately broke up the T;'''''^ ""^o his own
^ -^ ' / . , .^ house.
court ; and so every one went away to his ozttn
house,
IMPROVEMENT.
ver.Sr With what delight and thankfulness should we hear this gra-
cious proclamatio7i of Christ, which he now made in the temple^
and a while after repeated from the throne of his glory ! If any
man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink ; yea, whosoever will,
let him take of the water of life freely ; (Rev. xxii. 17). Blessed
Jesus, had we been allowed to have prescribed to thee Q.form oj
words, in which thy kind purposes towards us should have been
expressed, what could we have invented more pathetic, more
condescending, or more reviving ! May we thirst for the bless-
ings of thy grace, and in the confidence oi faith apply unto thee
for them ; and particularly for these communications of thy
39 Spirit, which are so highly excellent and desirable, and indeed so
necessary for us ! Supply us vrith them, we entreat thee, in so
rich an abundance, that we, in our different spheres, may supply
38 others, and from us there may ;?(9w rivers of living water I
40 Well might such gracious zvords as these disarm the rage of
enemies and persecutors. Let us add our testimony to theirs,
and say, Never man spake as Jesus speaks. Let us hear him
1 No prophet is raised up from Galilee.'] As father have quoted the text which men^
it is plain that Jonah, and probable that tions Bethlehem as the birthplace of tha
Nahum also, was a Galilean, Sir Norton Messiah. The answer must therefore be
KnatchbuU, and others, who imag-ine that acknowledged to be very mean and tri.
these rulers could not be ignorant of that, fling ; and the abrupt manner in which the
suppose that <nfp<^if]»i here signifies the assennbly was broke up, seems to intimato
Great Prophet, or Messiah. But probably, their consciousness that it would not beav
had this been their meaning, they woutd examination.
He goes to th e mount of Olives^ and returns early to the temple, 59
with calm and thankful attention, while his voice still sounds in sect.
his word. hl2Lp\iy are those that bioiv the joi/ful sound / (Psal. ^^•
Ixxxix. 15.) The Pharisees^ like deaf adders, stopped their ears "~~~
against the voice of the Charmer ; and, while they proudly cen- 43^49
sured the populace as a brutal herd, and gloried in their own su-
perior wisdom, rejected the cou7icil of God ; rashly judging with-
out serious inquiry, and weakly borne down by vulgar, senseless
prejudices against names and places, which is a\\ the senate of Israel 51, 52
opposes to the solid argument of Nicodemus ! That good man,
already considerably improved by his interview with Jestts, was
undoubtedly confirmed in his adherence to him, by observing
the methods of their opposition : and where magistrates arm
their authority to overbear argument, they will probably, in the 53
judgment of impartial men, produce a suspicion, at least, that
they know their cause to be incapable of a rational defence.
SECT. CII.
Christ, having spent the ?iight in retirement, returns to the temple,
where an adulteress is brought before him ; but he avoids giving
jiulgment in her case, and turns the consciences of his enemies on
themselves, John VIII. 1 — 11.
John VIII. 1. JoRN VIII. 1.
J^hY^ mo"l """^"f TT^^^ ^^^ Pharisees debated the case, and sect.
Olive^^ "^^^^ ^ X in such dissension their assembly broke en.
up ; but Jesus, choosing to retire in the evening, —
that he might by secret converse with his hea- ^- "^
venly Father be animated to all the labours and
dangers before him, went up to a mountain in
the neighbourhood of Jerusalem, which lay to
the east of the city, on the other side of the
brook Cedron, and is well known by the name
of the mount of Olives, where he spent the
night in meditation and prayer.
2 And early in the But, that his retirement might not break in 2
morning he came ^pon the opportunity of public service, which
agan mto the tern- ^/ /^ r 1 i •
pie : and all the ^^^ present concourse of people gave him, he
people came unto returned to the temple early in the ?}ior?iing ; and
all the people who came to worship there before
they returned to their respective habitations
in the country (the feast being now ended)
flocked around him to receive his instructions ;
and, such was his courage and zeal, notwith-
standing the late conspiracy which had been
$0 A waman caught in the act of adultery is brought before him,
SECT, formed against him, that sitting doxvn in one him, andhe sat down
of the cloisters, he instructed them as freely as ^"^ taught them.
he had ever done.
And^ while he was engaged in this exercise, 3 And the scribes and
the scribes and Pharisees brought to him a woman Pharisees brought
who had just been taken in the commission of ""^^ ^!^^ \ ^'«"^^"
, , 1 . 1 y -1 1 1 • taken m adultery ;
adultery ^^ havmg been unhappily betrayed mto r^^d when they had.
it among those intemperances which too often set her in the midst,
attend public feasts ; and^ as the court of ju-
dicature, before whom she should have been
tried, was not yet assembled, they took that
opportunity of laying a snare for Jesus, by fset'
ting her before him, in the midst of the people
-i who were attending his discourse. And, as if 4 They say tmto
they were desirous of information from him, ^^"^> Muster, this
they^ craftily said unto him^ Master^ as thou adultery7hi theTery
protessest thyself an extraordinary Teacher, act:
we desire thou wouldest pronounce thy judg-
ment on this case : here is a woman who was
5 taken in the very act of adultery : Noxv Moses in 5 Now Moses in
the law has commanded us, that such infamous the law commanded
zvomen should be stoned^ (Lev. xx. 10, and "'' ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^
Deut. XX. 22) ; but, as thou takest upon thee,
- Brought to him aivornan taken in adul- stances of the like nature, shews thatcrit-
'ery.'] It i? well known that this story is ical exactness with which they examined
wanting in the Syriac version^ as well as in into the genuineness of the several parts of
the Alexandrian and Bodleian copies, and the Nei\i Testament, and so, on the whole,
indeed in most of the oldest onanuscrtpts ; strengthens the evidence of Christianity,
which engaged Beza to question, and Le which (as I have shewn at large in the
Clerc, with many others, to reject its ninth of my Ten Sermons) is so inseparably
authority. But I acquiesce in the reason- connected with the genuineness and pu-
mgof the learned Dr. Mill, to whom I re- rity of the Ne'ia Testament.
fer the reader for the arguments to prove
it authentic; the critical examination of ^ Such zvomen should he stoned."] If they
these matters lying quite out of tlie sphere spoke accurately, this must have been a
of my present design. A mistaken ap- ivovian -who hadheen betrothed to a husband,
prehension that some circumstances in the and had been guilty of this infamous crime
ytory were indecent, and an excessive before the marriage was completed ; for
rigour with respect to those who liad fallen such only are expressly condemned to be
into this truly detestable crime, might stoned. (Dcut. xxii. 22 — 24-) Tlie Jewish
perhaps be the occasion of this omission, writers tell us, that when (as in the case
if it was not accidental in some early co- of other adulteries J only death in general
pies. Erasmus conjectures it might be was denounced, without specifying the
added by St. John after some copies of his particular kind of it, strangling was to be
gospel had been taken ; and Grotijus, that used. Custom indeed (as Grotius ob-
some who heard the story from the apos- serves) might have introduced stojiijig in
tie's mouth recorded it with the approba- all these cases (compare Ezek. xvi. 38,
tion of Papias and other eminent persons 40) ; yet that would not justify whatthey
in the church. The notice that Eusebius, here say. But ozir Lord's Spirit was too
fEccles- Hist. lib. iii. cap. ult.J yerom, noble to take the advantage of such a slip,
fadv. Felag. lib. ii. cap. 6), and other an- if it was a.mistal-e .- he had a mucli greater
cient writers, have taken of tlie dubious- view, and silenced them in a far more
ness of this passage, with a few other 'm- efiectual manner.
He bids the guiltless person throw the first stone at her, 61
be stoned : but what either to supersede many of his precepts, ^r to sect.
sayestthou ? interpret them in a very singular manner, we c
would be glad to hear thy determination in
an affair of so great importance ; xvhat there- \^^^\_
6 This they said 7^^^ ^^•'^^ ^^^" ^'^V ^ ^^^^ ^^^If ^^^^ tempting-
tempting hinn, that hi?n^ that^ which way soever he should deter-
they might have to mine, they might have an opportunity to accuse
accuse him. ^^.^ . either to the Jewish rulers, if he acquitted
such a criminal ; or to the Romans, if he Ven-
tured, though on the authority of the law, to
pronounce a capital sentence against her, which
he had no authority from the Romans to do,*=
and which the Jewish rulers themselves had
at present no power to execute. (Compare
John xviii. 31.)
—But Jesus stooped But Jesus^ stooping down^ wrote something
down, and with his on the ground with his finger ^^ choosing (as it
fini^er wrote on the ^^,^^^^ ^^ g |. ^^ ^^^^ ^ tj^^^j. action, rather
OTound, as thoug'hhe . / ^ , ■*- t ■ 7 ^
heard them not. than by words, isz^? <75 ^/zez/, trim kmg that they 7
7 So when they con- had him at a great advantage, continued asking
tmued asking him, ^^^ \\\\h. Great importunity, he raised himself
he hft up himself, , , ^. , ^^i- \. . ^ ,. .^
and said unto them, ^P^ ^^d, Without replymg directly to their de-
He that is without mand, only said to the7n^ Let him of you that is
sin among you, let xvithout sin^ in this or anv other reject, pursue
LThet'^'''''''''''''^ the prosecution, and throw the first fatal stone
at her^ when she is condemned ;^ (compare
*= To accuse hhn — to the Romans, if he though he heard them not, or (as I would
ventured, ^ifc] It is very evident that the render them) as not regarding them, are
yewish sanhedriin sat by licence from the wanting; in the most valuable ^nanuscripts.
Roman governor ; and though they had a Dr. Mill therefore, I think justly, omits
right to try capital causes, it was neces- them, as several other printed editions of
sai-y (as it seems from passages elsewhere the Gree.^ Testament do. Were they ad-
examined) that the sentence they passed mitted, they would cut ofl' most of the
should be recogjiized and alloiaed by the conjectures which learned men have ad-
Romans before it could be carried into vanced a.s to <w hat Christ ivrote; a question
execution. (See sect, clxxxvi. ?iote'', on which it is impossible for us to determine.
Matt, xxvii. 2, and sect, clxxxviii. note\ on and which we have no need at all to be
John xix. 10.) For Christ therefore to solicitous about. I am inclined to think
have undertaken the decision of this case there was a language in the action itself,
vfonVl ipso fucto have rendered himobnox- either to intimate that tliese hypocritical
ious to the Romans, as well as to the san- Pharisees should be tliemselves (as the
hedrim: and had he condemned her, a new prophet expresses it, Jer. xvii. 1:^>) ivritter
occasion of offence must have arisen, in in the earth, or thattliey were to attend to
consequence of that^ to Pilate, if execu- what was vjritfen : but I can determine
tion had been ordered without an applica- nothing, and must say with a great critic
tion to him, and to the Jews, if Christ on these words, I7escire've/ie,qu<e77iagister
had directed such an application to be optimusnescire nosvult, erudita inscitia est .-
made. So that the snare here was much *' To be willing to continue ignorant of
the same with that afterwai-ds laid for what our great Master has thought fit to
him (Mat. xxii. 17 — 22, sect, cliv.) in the conceal, is no inconsiderable part of
question about the lawfulness of paying Christian learning."
tribute. «= Let him of you that is voithout sin, thror.
^ Wrote on the ground tuith his Jlnger."] The the first itone at her.'\ Le Clerc makes the
following words, ^» rr^roTau/Ait&i as supposed impropriety offA/5re,6/>' a further
63 They all retire^ and he bids the xuoman sin no more,
sEcfr Deltt. xvii. 7), thus prudently avoiding a de-
^^^- cision of the case, and leading them to reflect
"~~ on their own guilt. And stooping down again^ 8 And again he
vf. i « he zvrote on the rround, as he had done before, stooped down, and
iiri u- n ' wrote on tlie ground,
and left them to their own rellections.
9 But having heard [his anszver], and being by 9 And they which
a secret enerp^v which w^ent along w^ith the heard f?, being con-
ITT* r 1 J , ^, f.,1 victed by tlieir owni
word of Jesus, in a very awful and powerful conscience, wentout
manner, convicted in their conscie7ices of their one by one, begin-
own personal and aggravated guilt, tiLey were ^iHg" at the eldest,
ashamed,eventolookeachotherintheface;and ^^^" tT° '^'^. ^ w>
' , , . . ^ ; ; 7 ^ f ^"" Jesus was leit
so we7it out one by one^ beginmngjrom the eldest^ alone, and the wo-
whose age and office tended to increase their man standing in the
shame and remorse ; and the impression passed "^^^^^t.
even to the last^ or the youngest and meanest of
them. And Jesus xvas left alone by all the ac-
cusers, and the woman standing in the midst of
the crowd, with which he had been surrounded
before she w^as brought in.
10 And Jesus raisin^' himself yp, and seeinp- none 10 When Jesus haa
r^i 1 u J u r •*• u- • 1 4. lift up himself, and
of those who had been sohcitmg his judgment, ^,^^'^^ ^^^^^ ^^^l ^^^^
but only the woman they had brought before ^voman, he said unto
him, said to her^ JVoman^ xvhere are those thine her, Wonr,an, where
accusers f Has no man condemned thee^ or is ^^'^ ^"^^^^ thme uc -
, ..,.'. cusers ? hath no man
there none remaining to bear witness against condemned thee \ ..
11 thee? And she said y No man ^ Lord, And Jesus 11 She said, No
said unto her. Neither do I take upon me, at "^^"' ^?^^^' f '^'^
^T. ^. 1 1 ^u- • \ ' Jesus said unto her,
this time, and under this circumstance, ju- i^xg-^j^g^. ^^^ i eon
dicially to condemn thee^ though thy crime has
been undoubtedh' great ; go thy zvay therefore
without any impediment from me ; but, as tlie
argument against the genuineness of this sensible confusion, and were some off/W
text ; since the Urcj did not require the fr^t that left the assembly. And in this
voitneases GV executioners io he free from a'uu view it is very remarkable; especially
hi order to the efficacy of such a prosecu- considering that they were now in the
tion. But it may be answered, that our presence of the multitude, before whom
LorWs certain knowledge of what the ef- they would, no doubt, be desirous to keep
feet w^ould be, vindicated the wisdom of up the strictest appearance of virtue, in
his putting the mutter upon tliis issue, by order to maintain their Intluenco over
which it is plain in fact he escaped their them. Though (as Dr. Whitby sliows,
snare. on ver. 7) aduiiery prevailed much among
^ Went out one by onf, beginning froin the the Jews about this time, yet I see no
eldest.'] It is strange any sliould have in- reason to conclude that their conscience
terpreted this clause so rigorously, as to convicted every one of them of tins par-
imagine that every particular person went ticular ci TTt-. The'iv partiality (as Dr.
out just according to his age. It seems Lardncr w ell observes) seems to appear
only to intimate that those elders of the in bringing only the "Ji'omar;, not the viany
people, wiio had been most eager in the when the law condemned both. ( Lardt
prosecution, appear-d uadcr Uie most O-er/iZ' part. i. Vol, I. p. 79.)
Reflections on the force of an accusing conscience. 63
demn thee ; go, and Messenger of God, and Friend of souls, I sect.
sin no more. warn thee, that thou sin no more ,-s for such ^"•
enormous practices as these must subject thee TT^
to a severer judgment from God than man yiii,ii
can pronounce or inflict.
IMPROVEMENT.
The devout retirements of Christy and his early renewed la- verse
bours^ so often come in view, that, after having made some prog- ^> ^
ress in his history, we are ready to pass them over as things of
course. But let us remember, that in some degree they call
upon us to go and do likezvise ; and will another day condemn
those who, while they call themselves his disciples^ are given up
to ease and luxury, and suffer every little amusement or sensual
gratification to lead them into an omission of their duty to God
and their fellowcreatures ; an oniission especially aggravated in
those whom he has appointed to be teachers of others, and who
have therefore so many peculiar errands to the throne of grace,
and so many engagements in the morning to sow^ or to prepare
the seed oi religious instruction,. a?2^ ?;? the evening not to with-
hold their hand h ova dispensing it. (Eccles. xi. 6.)
While jfesus is teachings his enemies address him, not only as 3, 5
an instructor^ but as 2i judge : and yet, by this specious form of
honour and respect, they sought only to insnare 2i\\{\. destroy him, 6
So unsafe would it be always to judge of men's intentions by the
first appearances of their actions ! But our Lord^ in his answer,
united, as usual, the wisdom of the serpent with the innocence and 7
gentleness of the dove ; and in his conduct to this criminal shewed 10,11
at once that tenderness and faithfulness which might have the
most effectual tendency to impress and reclaim her ; if a heart
capable of such infidelity and wickedness could be impressed
and reclaimed at all. Go thy zuay^ said he to this adulteress, and
sin no viore, PerhjqDS the charge may have little weight with
such abandoned transgressors as she ; but let all learn to im-
prove their escapes from danger, and the continued exercise of
Divine patience towards them, as an engagement to speedy and
thorough reformation.
Let the force of conscience^ and the power of Christ over it 9
(both which so evidently appeared in this instance), teach us to
g Sin no onore.'] Eisner fObserv. Vol. I. even the light of nature taught many of the
p. 318),and^Mjcerf T/^f^aur. Vol.I.p.205), Heathens the exceeding siiifub^ess of it:
have shewn that the word aL/xafixvuv, to sin, which is the more worthy of notice, as not
is used by the most elegant Greek classics only the greatest of their men, but (ac-
(as the correspondent word peccare is by cording- to their scandalous theology J the
the Latin J to signify the com.mission of grea^ ^ of their gods too, gave it all the
adultery : which strongly intimates that sanction it could l^ave from example.
VOL. 3. 10
64 Christ speaks of himself as the light of the world.
sEcf. reverence the dictates of our own minds, and to do nothing to
«'!• bring them mider a sense of guilt ; which, through the secret
** energy oi o\ir J^edeemer, wrought so powerfully on these Phari-
sees, that, hypocritical and vainglorious as they were, they could
not command themselves so far as even to "save appearances ;
but the eldest and gravest among them were the first to confess
their guilt, by withdrawing from the presence of so holy a
Prophet, from the teinple of God, and from the criminal whom
they came to prosecute. A like consciousness of being ourselves
to blame will abate the boldness and freedom of our proceedings
with others for their faults, if, while we judge them, we are self-
condemned ; nor will the authority of a superior ag^e or station,
of life bear us out against these imvard reproaches.
SECT. CIIL
Our Lord speaks of himself as the light of the world, urges the coti^
current testimony of his Father y and gives the Jews repeated
ivarning of the danger they -would incur by persisting in their
mfidelity, John VIII. 12—29.
John VIII. 12. John VIII. 12.
,ECT. CJ^HE N Jesus, after the interruption that he 'T' HEN spake Je-
ciii- J. met with while he was speaking to the peo-,-*- su« again unto
, . , ,1 t T^, • I - • • them, sayiriQ', I am
pie m the temple, by the rhansees bnngmg m the light of the
'^ the adulteress, resumed the work he was before world : he that fol-
• enG:aQ"edin, and a^ain proceeded to instruct the lo'^^fthnie, shall not
° ? I u • ^L 1^1- J walk in darkness,
people; andobservmg the sun lately risen, and b^^. gj^^ll have the
John
viii
shining with great lustre and beauty, he spake light of life.
unto them, saying, I am the true light of the
zvorld, in whose appearance you ought chiefly
to rejoice : * this sun arises, in a few hours to
descend again, and may fail many of you before
your intended journey is dispatched ; ^ whereas
he that follows me, and governs himself by the
dictates of my word and Spirit, shall not be left
to walk in the darkness of ignorance, error, and
sin, but shall have the light of life continually
shining upon him, to diffuse over his soul
^ I atn the true light of the 'world.'] The will remeYnl>er tliis was the morning after
Messiah was often represented under this the conclusion of the feast of tabernacles,
view. Isa. xlii. 6 ; xlix. 6 j and Mul. iv. and probably might be before t!ie morning
2. Compare Luke ii. 32 ; John i. 4 — ^9 ; sacrifice : after which, no doubt, many
iii. 19 ; ix. 5 ; and xii. 46. ^ would be setting' out for their Uabitatior?
» The sun arises to descend a^ "g^ and in tiie country,
may fail many of you, cP'c] The reader
He had not orilij his ozvn, hut his Father'' s testimonif ; 65
knowledge, holiness, and joy, till he is guided sect,
by it to eternal happiness. cm,
13 The Pliarisces Some of the Pharisees therefore^ who were 7"
therefore said unto then present, but different persons from those ^^j ^
rrjr/^r thyself! ^^ho had brought in the woman, enraged at the ' "
thy record is not late disappointment of their brethren, said
true. itjito him. Thou bear est witness of thyself and
therefore, by thine own confession (chap. v.
Si), thy testimony is not to be admitted as triie^
but may rather be suspected of vain glory ; nor
can we believe such great things of thee, im-
less we have some farther proof than thine
own affirmation.
14 Jesus answered Jesus answered and said untothem^ Though 14
and said^unto Uiem, / indeed bear witness of myself [yet] as I
JrdTmyself>/mv ^peak from my own certain knowledge, and
record is true : for have already shewn that I am come with a
I know whence I Divine commission, 77:?/ testimony is entirely
rr;bmVtnn:t^"d perfectly m,., and as such you ought to
tell whence I come, admit it '.for I well know from whence I came y
and whither I go. and whither I am going, and the most evident
demonstrations of it have been given you, both
in the nature of my doctrine, and in the mira-
cles which I have wrought among you ; but
you are so perverse, that, as often as I have
hinted or declared it, you knoxt; not to this day
from whence I come, and whither I am going :
15 Ye judg-e after Which is not to be ascribed to the want of 15
the flesh, 1 judge sufficient evidence, but merely to the force of
no man, your own prejudices ; for you judge according
^(5 Me* maxims oi flesh and sense, and will be-
lieve nothing in opposition to these principles
which you have so rashly imbibed,^ and by
this means are justly liable to condemnation :
but I wave that for the present, as I now judge
no man, but rather appear under the character
16 And yet if I of a Saviour. (Compare chap. iii. 17.) Tetl6
judge, my judgment ^r J gi^Q^l^j /Wp-^", ?/7z/ determination and sen^
IS true : for I am not '' - i ^ j'l^ j
alone, but I and the ^^^ce zs apparently true and right, and you
Father tliat sent me. would justly be condemned for not receiving
my testimony ;for lam not alone in what I say,
but I and the Father that sent 7ne, as we are in
other respects inseparably united, do evidently
concur together in the testimony that I give.
'^Tou judge according to the fleshy Sic] temporal Prince,, and Deliverer. And the
The same carnal prejudices still prevail in admission of false principles, which are
the minds of the Jews, and prevent their constantly taken for granted, and never
reception of Christ ; they laying it down examined, will, I fear, be attended with
as a first principle that he is to be a great fatal consequences to thousands more.
55 But they neither knew his Father nor him,
SECT. And it is written in your own knv^ for which 17 It is also wnt-
ctii. vou profess so sacred a reejard, Ma^ ^Ae ?e.9^i- ^f" "\ y<^V^* ^^^'
-^ ^ r • L 1 -^^ J ^ that the testimony or
7nofiy oj trvo men is to be aamitted as true^ ^^,q ^^^ ig true.
JP.^JL and matters of the greatest consequence are
without scruple to be determined by it.
18 (Deut. xvii. 6. and xix. 15.) Now / am 18 i am one that
[one^ xvho bear this rvittiess of myself, in a fact, ^ear witness of my.
S J 1 r 1 • t T * u * ^ • 1 1 ^ self, and the Father
the truth ot which I cannot but certamly know ; ^i^J^entme beareth
and the Father zv ho sent me is another, and witness of me.
surely a most credible Person, who also bears
his testiynonif to me ; thereby asserting the truth
of every doctrine I teach, an4 the justice of
every sentence I might pass.
19 Then said they to him. Where is this thy 19 Then said they
Father, to whom thou so frequently appealest> ^"^« 5l^"l' ^^^f ^ ^^
.'.. 1-1 1 IT thv Father ? Jesus
mention him plainly, that we may know now answered. Ye neith-
far he is to be regarded, and produce him as a er know me, nor my
witness, fesus ansivered. You mav well ask ; Father : if ye had
r -^ 1 • 1 u J *. -lU ^ known me, 5^e snould
for It plainly appears by your conduct, that ^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^
you neither knoxv me, nor my Father, however Father also,
you may boast an acquaintance with him :
and indeed, if you had known me aright, and
regarded me as you ought to have done, you
ivould also long ere this have known who and
what my Father is, in another manner than
you now do ; for I bear his complete resem-
blance, and it is my great business to reveal
him to those who submit to my instructions.
20 These words Jesus spake with the' greatest 20 These words
freedom, as he was teaching in the temple, in a spake Jesus in the
certain part of it called the treasury, where the ^^^^Xt\ tlfe tem!
chests stood in which the people put their pie': and no man laid
gifts for the service of that sacred house, (see hands on him, for
Mark xii. 41, sect, clix.) the stores of which his hour was not yet
were laid up in chambers over that cloister :
and though he so plainly intimated that God
was his Father, and charged the Jews with
being ignorant of him, in whom they boasted
as so peculiarly their God, yet their spirits
were kept under such a powerful, though
secret restraint, that no one seized him ; which
was the more wonderful, as it was a place
from whence it would not have been easy to
have escaped without a miracle, and which
was much frequented by his greatest enemies:
but the true reason was, because his hour was
not yet come in which he was, by Divine per-
mission, to be delivered into their hands.
They that rejected him should die in their sins ; 6^
21 Then said Je- Confiding therefore in the protection of sect .
sus again unto them. Divine Providence, Jesm th?n said to them ^i"-
lh!?."s:r';;,e!'lnd «.-«-, =•= he had done before (chap vH. 33, 34, —
shall die in your sins: p. 52), lam speedily ^cz;2§- axvai j ixovsx among ^•'■••^^
whither I go, ye you, and ijou shall seek me^ and inquire after
cannot come. '^^ Messiah in vain ; but, as a just punishment
for your having rejected me, you shall die in
this your sin^ and perish for your unbelief by a
singular stroke of Divine vengeance, which
shall sink you into final condemnation. Re-
member then, that I have warned you with
the greatest faithfulness, and now again I
solemnly repeat the warning, That though you
should be ever so desirous of admittance to
* me, it will be in vain ; for you cannot come to
the place whither I am now goi?ig, either to
molest me, or to secure yourselves.
22 Then said the The Jews then said^ with a very perverse 22
Jews, Will he kill and foolish contempt. What, will he kill him-
Sr'wh'tSrUo: *^^' that he says nu cannot come rvhMer lam
ye cannot come. going f We shall not desire to follow nim
upon those terms.
23 And he said And he said to them y^tvciort^lmvAy^ So vile 25
unto them, Ye are ^nd malicious an insinuation as this evidentlv
fromatve':'';e\'r™ ^^ews that you are from beneath, the slaves of
of this world, I am earth, and the heirs of hell; while, on the other
not of this world. hand, I am from above^ and shall quickly return,
thilher : you are originally of this xvorld^ and
your treasure and hearts are here ; but as I am
not of this rvorld^ my thoughts therefore natu-
rally turn to that celestial abode from whence I
came, and I incessantly labour to conduct men
24 I said therefore thither. But as to you I labour in vain : and 24
unto you, that ye therefore I \w^\ViO\^ said unto you Ahat you shall
shall die m vour .. .^ *^. j • • n ^ j
sins : for if ye' be- "^^ "^ your sins ; and it is really a great and aw-
lieve not that I am ful truth, and deserves another kind of regard
Ae, ye shall die in than you give it ; so that I yet again would call
your sms. youtoconsider it \for if you believenot that I am.
\_hey'] whom I have represented myself to be/
you shall unavoidably die in your sins^ and art
in effect the murderers of your own souls.«=
^ That I am he, S;c. o7^ iycf «ac;.] There ening here, from ver. 21, is a very awful
IS evidently an c///p,y25 here, to be supplied rebuke to the folly of their answer, ver.
by comparing it with ver. 12. Compare 22, as if our Lord had said, *' It very ill
John xiii. 19; Mark xiii. 6; and Acts becomes you to trifle and amuse yourselves
xiii. 25. with such silly and spiteful turns, when
<= Arc in effect the murderers of your your life, even the life of your souls, is at
own souls.] The repetition of the threat- stake ; and to talk of my killing myself
m For he only spake what the Father had taught him,
SECT, Then said they to him^ in proud derision, Who 2'5 Then said tkey
CI"- artthouy that such great regard should be paid ""^^ ^^^^' Who art
• ' to thee, and that it should be so fatal a thing- to ttl ' .t^f 4f.T
To in 1 ^ ^ /f 7 £-/• • 7 saitn nnto them,
\\u.25 ^^&^^^ ^"^^ ' -^fjd Jesus said to thnn, Tndy, Even Me jame that I
because I am still speaking- to you to this very said unto yoa from
26 day in so plain and affectionate a manner, /^l^e begi-ming-.
, -^ ^ , . ^ 7 . 7 . 26 I have raaT>y
riave many things to say and judge concerning t]^]^^^^^^ say, and to
you^^ and justly might upbraid you with the ut- judg-e of you • but
most severity, and pass an immediate sentence ^^^ ^'^^^ ^^J^^ ^^ *^
of condemnation upon you : 3z^^, for the present, J,^^ ' ^^!JI,.ia*^'hose
I content myself with reminding you, that he thlng-s which I have
7vho sejit me is true ; and^ as I speak to the -world heard of him.
only those things ivhkh I have heard from him^
he will finally verify my words, and it will be
at the peril of your souls if you continue to
treat me with such pen^erseness and contempt.
"27 These things v/ere very intelligible, when 27 They under-
compared with what he had said before ; [yet] -'^tood not that he
so exceeding stupid were they, and so blinded ^P^k^^to them of the
by the prejudices of their mindsy that they did
not understand that he spake to them of GoA the
Father as the Person who sent him,
23 Jesus therefore said to them^ 1 know that, not- 28 Then said Jesus
withstanding all I have said,, you will be still so "«to them, Whejj
obstinate as to persist in your infidelity, till vou
proceed even to take away my life ; but xvhen^
after all your professed desire of his appearance
when by your unbelief and impenitency T;?p «/';c^'-> «•'?' ««^ ^axos vyjvy faro\Ka. iyfos
you are phinging- yourselves into eternal 'wm viji'jov x^k'-uv ic^i y.pivuv. All that know-
death." Thus do those passages in our an}" thing- of the Cree/'langiiag-e, know that
Lord's discourses, -which to a careless r?<7 Aoyjuv often signifies indeed^ or truly f
reader mig-ht seem flat tautologies, appear, and so the translation I have given is very
on an attentive review, to be animated //Verti/, and makes a very good sense. Mr.
■with a most penetrating Spirit, and to be F'lejTiing would render it, I am, as 1 said
full of Divine dignit}'. A remark which untoyou, The Begin7ii?2g,thsLi is, the. Versow
v/ill frequently occur, especially in read- spoken of. Gen. i. 1, and elsewhere, under
ing those important discourses of Chri&t, that title : but this, as \vell as our own
which John has, througl\ the infinite version, is not any tiling like a just and
goodness of God to Iiis church, recorded gvammaticul translation; though to be sure
after they had been omitted by the other there is a sense in which Christ may most
evangelists. properly be called the Begi?mi?ig. Compare
^ Truly, because I a'ms\!\\\speal'ing to you. Col. i. 18; Rev. i. 8; xxi.6; xxii. 13.
/ have oyiany things to say and judge concern- (See Fleming's Christology, Vol. I. p. 281.)
ingyou^ I entirely agree with the learned I sliall only add, that some would render
JRaphelius f Annot. ex Herod, p. 292 — 303), it, The same I a? n speaking to you of: but
that all the difficulty of tiiese words arises the "yerj/o'j here given is more agreeable
irom a mistake in the pointing, as they to the original, and by a proper pointing
stand in most copies ; and 1 think his woidd appear natural and easy, if what
method of restoring the true reading and should be considered as one sentence \\ixdi.
sense the easiest andjustest I have ever not been separated into two parts by a
met -with. He would point them thus, vjyox)^ dii^sion oi \\\^ xerses.
Reflections on the danger of neglecting Christ.
6$
y-e have lift up the and kingdom, ijou shall have lifted up that glo- sect.
^u\ "*' T"""* l*^^"; ric.us Person, the Son of man, from the earth, «^"^-
shall ye know that i i ,i ^ i c ^ !_• — —
I am he, and Maf I ^"^ "ath even proceeded so far as to put him ^^^^^
domothing-of myseU; to a violent death, instead of seeing his cause viii.28
but as my Father ^nd interest overborne by that outrageous at-
'speak\h^£e\liings. ^^^^'^P^ ^^^ ^^^<^^^^ ^^^^^^ know, by some new and
convincing tokens, that I am \Jie\^ and [that']
I do nothing' se^2.Y?ite\y of myself but, in exact
agreement vt'ith him, speak all these things ac-
29 And he that cording as my Father has instructed me : And 29
ient me is with me : even now he that sent ?ne is graciously present
left me'tione foJ ^^^^ ^^^ to bear his testimony to the truth of
I do always those what I say, and to support and vindicate me :
things that please and whatsoever you may foolishly surmise, the
^^' Father has not left me alone, nor will he ever
leave me ; for I ahvays do the things which are
most pleasing to hhn, and faithfully and con-
stantly pursue the important work which he
has committed to my trust-
IMPROVEMENT.
Such may our character ever be, as -we desire the supports ver.29
of the Divine presence ! Whoever be displeased, may we al-
ways do the things which please him ; and with all diligence let
us labour, whether present in the body, or absent from it, to be
still approved and accepted of him ! (2 Cor. v. 9.)
Our blessed Redeemer is the light of the world. With how 12
much pleasure should we behold his rays ! With how much
cheerfulness should we follow, whithersoever he leads us ; as
well knowing that we shall not then rvalk in darkness ; and God
forbid we should ever choose to continue in it, as the shelter and
screen of wicked works !
May we, with all candour and humility, regard and submit to 1Z,18
the testimony which the Father has borne to him in so express and
incontestable a manner ! Dreadful would be the consequence of
our refusing to do it. The doom of these wretched y^iy^Si, 24
would be ours, to die in our sins. And oh, how insupportable
will that guilty burden prove in a dying hour, and before the
tribunal of God ! How will it sink us into condemnation and
despair ! In vain shall those who now despise him then seek
8 Yozi shall then biovj that I am he."] This able to the reserve which, on some of these
imdoubtedly refers to the progid'ies attend- lieads, prudence oblig-ed him to keep ; or
ing' his death, his resurrection, andascen- such as, in other instances, would have
sion, tlie descent of the Spirit, the amaz- superseded farther inquiry into the mearv-
"ing miracles wrought by the apostles in ing of what he said. I think it most natu-
his name, tfc. But I am careful not to ral to refer these to tlie ?iQt€s, or to the j&ff-
put such words into owr Lorrf'* mouth in ra/fhrase on ■f*ome following- passage
h^"^ paraphrase as would have been unsuit-
70 Many believe and are inclined to follow him,
SECT. ad«ilttance to the world where he is : thither they cannot come ;
c"^- and if excluded from him^ must be excluded from happiness.
Justly might it long since have been our case : for surely he
^^'25 has many things to say of us, and to judge concerning its ^ should
he lay judgjnent to the line^ and righteousness to the plummet^ after
his having been so long zvith iis^ yea, after we have, as it were,
seen him lifted up and set forth as crucified among us, (Gal. iii. 1.)
28 May this faithful admonition prevail to our conviction and
reformation ; that our everlasting condemnation may not far-
ther illustrate the reasonableness, yea, the necessity, of it, and
the madness of hardening our hearts against it !
SECT. CIV.
Our Lord continues his discourse with the fews in the treasury;
the day after the feast of tabernacles ; and labours to convince
them how vain their pretences to liberty and to the privileges of
the children of Abraham were, xuhile they continued to reject and
persecute him, John VIII. 30 — 47.
John VIII. 30. JohnVIII.SO.
s£CT. r I ^HUS did Jesus warn the Jews of the dan- A S he spake
CIV. J^ ger of rejecting him, and appeal to his "^^/^^^ "^^'"^'^^'
"T"! heavenly Father as authorizing the whole of hi? JJI^^^
viii.30 administration ; and, as he was speaking these
words, many of his hearers were so struck with
them, that they believed in him^ and were
strongly inclined to follow him as the Messiah.
31 Then Jesus, knowing the weakness and 31 Then said Je-
treachery of the human heart, and the difficul- sus to those Jews
ties which would lie in the wav, if they at- ^If ^A^!'^''"^'!- """
, ,.,..•'.' ^ . him, It ye continue
tempted to put that mcimation mto practice,
said to those of the Jews who were now ready
to profess that they believed in him. If you con-
* Many believed in him.'] One can hardly Christ; bearing- the perverseness of his
think that the ambig-uity of the expression enemies with so much patience, speaking-
oithe Son of onanh- being lifted up (ver. 28) of an ignominious and painful death witji
engaged them to thisj in hope that it might such holy composure, and expressing so
intimate some exaltation to a temporal genuine and lively a sense of his heavenly
kingdom. It is more reasonable to believe Father's approbation, and so sweet a corn-
that they felt their hearts impressed with placency in it. And, perhaps, woxxXdmin-
what they heard from \\m\ in the whole inters generally allow themselves to open
preceding discourse. Yet it is observable, with freedom the native workings of aheart
that in the series of it he advances no new deeply impressed with the gospel, these-
proof of his mission : so that probably these cretcharm might subdue those whose sub-
people were wrought upon by what they tlety and prejudice might be proof against
«>»hsexved in the temper and conduct of the most conclusive abstract reasoninsr-
The truth would make them free who had been slaves to shi' 7X
in my word, then tinue stedfast in your adherence to my word, sect.
are ye my disciples ^nd yield a constant and universal obedience ^^^'
*"^ ^^ ' to it, [the}i] you are my disciples indeed, and I t^^^
32 And ye shall will finally own you as such. And you shall viii.32
know the truth, and then knoxv the truth of my gospel in its full
you ft^e^ ^^^^^ "^^^*^ compass and extent, so far as it is necessary to
your salvation, or conducive to your comfort ;
and the truth shall make youfree^ and fix you
in that state of glorious liberty which is the
privilege of my disciples alone.
33 They answered But some that heard him were not a little 33
him,^ We be Abra- displeased at this, as an insinuation that they
weTe' never in hot ^^^^ ^^^ already free ; and strangely forgetting
dage to any man : the servitude of Egypt and Babylon, and how
how sayestthou. Ye oftentheimationhadbeen conquered by Others,
shall be made free ? ^^^ ^^^^ j^^^^ |q^^ j^ ^^^3 ^^ present reduced by
the Roman power, they confidently anszvered
hi?n. We are the seed of Abrahani, a person al-
ways free, and the peculiar favourite of heaven ;
and we have never been in slavery to any man
whatever, nor do we fear that God will permit
us to be so ; hoxv then dost thou say to us, Ton
shall be made free upon becoming my disciples t
54 Jesus answer- Jesus, waving what he might easily have re- 34
ed them. Verily, ver- plied as to their former history, and the present
ily I say unto you, g^^^^ of their civil aifairs, that he might give no
Whosoever commit- ^ ' , , ir -i
tethsin is the ser- unnecessary ottence,rt«.STfer^«^/zew, yerily,ver^
vant of sin. ily, I say unto you, and recommend it to your
consideration as a most important truth. That
every one xvho habitually practises sin^ and
goes on in a course of it, is the slave of sin ; and
that is a servitude by far meaner and more
dreadful than the yoke of an earthly tyrant.
35 And the ser- Noiv, as the servant does not always abide in the 25
vant abideth not in family of his master, but is at his lord's pleasure
the house forever: liable to be dismissed or transferred toanother;
^ The truth shall }naie you free.'] Accord- sides that, we never ivere in bondage to any
ing to Sir Isaac Ne-ivton, Con Froph.p. 149) man at all." But tlie arguments by which
these words were spoken in a sabbatical this is fixed to a sabbatical year are dubi-
year, when ^tthe feast of tabernacles, which ous ; and the words will make a good
was just about the beginning of the civil sense, independent of this peculiar inter-
year, great numbers oi' ser'va7its were set at pretation ; which yet seemed remarkable
liberty : and he supposes that the answer enough to deserve a mention here,
of the Jews (ver. 33) is to be explained
with a peculiar reference to this, and con- "= Who habitually //racf/^M sin."] Hciuv
tains two distinct thoughts : *' JVe are ot/niLgji^v seems a /j/zr^i-e of the very same
Abrahavi's seed, and consequently, had we import with v:orking iniquity : I have
ever been in bondage, we should have therefore rendered it practises sin, as that
been set at liberty at this season, though word generally signifies »n babitiwl
Gentile slaves are still detained ; a}id, be- course of action,
VOL. 2. 11
72 If the Scm made themfree^ they should be free indeed.
SECT, much less can you, who are the servants, not of but the son abtdetk
*^^^' God, but of sin, promise yourselves that you ^^'^^'
"T" shall still, on account of your descent from
viU.35 Abraham, continue in those privileges which,
by undeserved mercy, you hitherto enjoy :
[but"] the eldest son and heir of the family con-
tinually abides in his father's house, and his
power and influence [there'] are always increas-
36 ing.^ Thus do I ever continue, and have 36 If the Soa
power of receiving whom I will into the fam- therefore shall make
ily : if therefore I, who am the Only begotten ^rTeSe^^ '^''" ^^
So7i of God, and the Heir of all things, 7nake
you free^ you^ claiming in virtue of my right
gjid authority, will be free indeed^ and will not
only be delivered from the bondage of corrup-
tion and the tyranny of Satan, but be entitled
to those immunities and blessings here, and to
that future inheritance of eternal glory, to
which at present you have no claim.
37' And as to what you say, that you are Abra- S?' I knew tliat ye
ham's seed, / knoxv that you indeed are^ in a are Abraham's seed;"
natural way, the posterity of Abraham,^ as Ish- "^^l ^W^LT my
mael also was ; but what can that avail you, word hath no place
while you are so unlike Abraham in your tem- in you.
per, and are so far from being of a disposition
suitable to your descent from him, that you
not only deride, but seek to kill me^ because my
xuord has no place in your hearts, and has not
any weight or influence upon you^ but is of a
tenor directly contrary to your prejudices and
38 lusts. And, on the whole, there is so great a 38 I speak that
diff'erence between us, that it is reallv impos- "^^J^J^^^ ^J^^^'^ ^^^'^
.,1 ^ •! ^' -^1 ' 1 with my Father : and
sible to reconcile your practice with my doc- ^
trine : for I speak that which I have seen with
my Father^ and which I know to be agreeable
^ The servant does not alioays abide in the ^ If the Son make you free, ^c.'\ Archbishop
fa')nily ; but the son abides {there'] alinays.'] Tillotson (Vol. III. p. 578) tlunks that this
I thhik Dr. Guyse'^s ingenious and pious alludes to a custom in some of the cities
^arrt/j/zra^c and jiofe on these words contain of Greece, and elsewhere, whereby f Ac
an excellent illustration of them. The son and heir had a liberty to adopt bx'eth-
main sense of what he says on this passage ren, and g-ive them the privileges of the
is much the same with what I have given family,
above (much as I had writ it several years
ago) : the casting out Ishmacl, though a ^ I inoiv that you are the posterity rf
son of Abraham by the bondwom.m, beau- Abraha'in.'] It seems probable that mir Lord
tifuUy illustrates the remark and tlie con- speaks this, not to those who believed in
ncction. Itis strange that Dr. Claget should hiiUi but to some others in the company ;
think that Moses was the servant here and that the phrase, They annrcered him^
meant ; and stranger yet that Dr. Clarke ver. ^3, only signifies that some of these
should adopt so unnatural an interpreta- who were present inude such u replj^
tlon. See hi,s Sermons^ Vol. III. p. 4, -5,
I
They boast of being Abrahani^s seed^ yet do not his works; 7^
ye do that which ye to his mind and will ; and you do that which sect.
faTer^^"^ ^^'^^^^^"^ ^''^ ^^^""^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^°^^ fi^^^^^' ^"^ ^^^^ ^ ''''''
visible conformity in your works to him : by "~"
which he intimated that their works as much J-\- -!]>
resembled the nature of the devil, as his doc-
trine answered to that of God.
39 They answered But they replied with some warmth, and said 39
and said unto him, to him, Take heed on whom this reflection may
f^the?''"' '' '''''* ^^^^ ' ^^^ Abraham is our father, and surely
thou wouldest not insinuate any thing to the
injury of that holy patriarch's memory, who
was expressly called the friend of God.
— Jesus saith unto Jesus says to them. If you were indeed, and
^ak"^1 ^^. ^SiT^^'^ in the most important sense, the children of
Abraham's chddren, ., , i i r i ? r ai i ^
ye would do the Abraham, you would do the works oj Abraham^
works of Abraham, and would make it the great business of your
life to imitate so wise and holy an example.
40 But now ye But now you seek and contrive to slay me, a 40
seek to kill me, a blameless and innocent Man, for no other rea-
you'the truth wWch ^^" ^^^ because I am one. xvho has faithfully
I have heard of told yoii the truth, which I have heard and re-
God : this did not ceived in commission yro7;i God: Abraham,
ra am. your boasted ancestor, did not any thing like
this ; but gave the readiest credit, and the most
joyful welcome, to all the messages which God
41 Ye do the sent him. Nevertheless, though you are so 41
deeds of your fa- far from doing the works of Abraham, I may
* ^^' well say, as I have just now intimated (ver.
38), that you do the xvorks of him who is in-
deed your father.
—Then said they Then said they to him. We would have thee
to him. We be not ^q know that we are not born of fornication y
we have one rSr; '^^ ^^^ not bastard Jews, whose blood has been
eveti God. contaminated with idolatrous alliances ; but, by
virtue of our descent from his people, and our
profession of his religion, xve have all one great
and common Father, [which is] God,
42 Jesus said unto Jesus said to the^n. If God were indeed your 42
them, If God were i^^^A^r as vou pretend, instead of attemptine: to
your Father, ye ^ , ' -^ Vr ' ,,1 j T
would love me • for ^^^^ away my lite, you xuould honour and love
I proceeded forth, 71X6 : for, to speak without any reserve on this
and came from God; important head, I renew the declaration, That
I proceeded originally, and do come from God^
g X proceeded originally, and do come from served) use the first of these words to ex-
Gof/.] This seems to be the proper dis- press the descent of children from their
tinction between i^ny^ov and xk*. The parents ; (compare Gen. xv. 4 ; xxxv. 11 ;
seventy {2^^ q^yqvsX commentators have ob- and Isa. xi. 1.) The form in which the
74 But imitate the deviiy and he therefore is their father,
SECT, and appear among you as his Messenger ; y^r neither came lofmy*
"^- Ica?ne not of myself hit He has sent me, and I '^^^' ^^^ ^^ '^"^ "^^-
*• constantly keep his commission in view. And 43 why do ye not un-
M 4!^. ^^'fiy do you not understand this mii lauFua^e, and ^-ei stand my speech ?
viu/ij J .1 ^ ^ ^ ^ J b h •) e^f» because ye can-
acknowledge It, Simple as it is, to be indeed di- not hear my word..
vine ? \^Is it'\ because you cannot hear my word P^
Can you pretend to say that I decline giving
you the most public and frequent instructions,
or that those instructions are unintelligible and
obscure ? Your consciences in general know
the contrary as to the main series of them.
44 The case indeed is sufficiently plain, nor do 44 Ye are of your
I fear to represent it in the most express terms : father the devil, and
I tell you therefore. Ton are the genuine chil- f^, ^'''^^ ^.^, ^^""^
J V y / 7 7 7 • 7 7 T lather ye will do :
dren oj your jatfier the devil ;^ ana tne mali- he was a murderer
cious and abominable lusts o/'that accursed spir- from the beginning-,
it, whom I justly call your father, you xvill reso- a" ^1 abode not in the
, ^ , 1 1 • . 1 • '71. 1 truth, because there
lutely and obstinately persist to do :^ and even jg ^o truth in hi
iim.
now there is the plainest evidence of your re- When he speaketh
semblance to him, in your design to murder ^ ^*^' ^^ ^P*^^^^^'^ °^
me, and in your opposition to the truth that I Z°Zi the fathe?
deliver to you ; for he has always acted as the of it.
enemy of mankind, and was a murderer from
the beginning, in his attempt to bring destruc-
tion on the world by sin : (compare 1 John iii.
8). And to accomplish his destructive pur-
pose, as his original integrity was lost by his
apostacy from God, he threw off all regard to
what was right, and continued not in the truth^
but, by an audacious and most pernicious lie,
ruined the first parents of the human race, be^
cause there was and is no truth in him : and, in-
deed, when he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own,
and indulges the bias of his own fraudulent and
perfidious nature ; for he is himself a liar, and
was the father of it, or the first forger of that
other stands favours the rendering I have > Tou are of your father the dcvii.'] The
given fdo coviefrom God J, and may inti- account jfosefihus gives of the wickedness
mate not only his^rs^wiM^/o;?, but his exact of the Jews about this time, abundantly
attendance io every particular message. vindicates this assertion of o«r Lord from
^ \s\X. because you cannot hear tnyword ?'\ any appearance of undue severity. See
I choose to place a mark of interrogation Joseph. Bell. Jud. lib. v. cap. 10 (al. vi. 11),
after this clause, 07/ a ^v^c/a^t anauv tov § 5 ; cap. 13 (al. 16), § 6. Edit. Havercatnpy
xcyov rov s^ov f, and SwctaSi nKHitv may re- and Dr. Lardner^s Credibility, part i. book
fer either to their oppc.rtunity of heari?ig, i. chap. 6, Vol. I. p. 304 — 310,
which is tlie most common sense of the
word, or to their capacity of ji«c^er^Wnc/in^.- ^ Tou luill resolutely and obstinately
I have therefore included both. The word persist fo c!'&.] This is plainly the sense
yivcL^o-itiiVy in the preceding clause, evi- of the words, ^ix{]i ^nromv. See 7iote » QU
dently signifies to understand. Acts viii. 30, John i. 43, Vol. I. p. Ill-
and to distinguish, John x. 14.
Reflections on the regard due to the ivords of Christ, 7S
45 And because I detestable and pernicious crime. And, as you sect.
ieWyou the truth, ye ^re of such a disposition, if I would flatter your civ.
believe me not. . j- , '. , , , -^ . , ___
prejudices and vices, you would hear me with ^^^
pleasure ; but because I plainly and faithfully y-^^"^^
speak the truths without desire of favour, or
fear of offence, you^ being under the influence*
46 Which of you of this false spirit, do not believe vie. If you 46
convinceth me of ^^j-g ^pon you to denv this, and accuse me of
sni ? And if I say the r i v i ' i •' .• • j i
truth, why do' you falsehood and prevarication in any degree, how
not believe me ? will you prove your charge ? Which of you cor^
vinces me of that, or any other, sin P But, on
the other hand, if it be evident that I speak the
47 He that is of truth, why do ye not believe me P He that is of^*^
God heareth God's gr^^^ or that is r,eally a child of God, and a par-
fbre hear Mem not,' ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ Spirit, hears, wnth an affectionate
because ye are not and- obedient regard, the words of God, his
of God, heavenly Father, and receives then* with
reverence, by whomsoever they are brought :
the reason therefore, why you do not hear mine,
is because, as I have often said, you are not the
children of God,
IMPROVEMENT.
May we approve ourselves the sincere disciples of Jesus, by ver.32
continuing in his xvord, and h^m'^ faithful even unto death, as ever
we expect a crown of life I (Rev. ii. 10.) Without this, exter- 37, 38
nal privileges will turn to but little account. The children of
Abraham may be the children of Satan ; and they are so, if they 44
imitate the temper and works of the accursed j^^?2</, rather than
of the hoXy patriarch. The devil was from the begirming a liar^
and a murderer ; and all falsehood and malice are from him.
Let us earnestly pray that we may be freed from them, and from
the tyranny of every other sin to which we have been enslaved ;
that Christy the Son^ may make us free of his Father's family, and 36
of his heavenly kingdom ! Then we shall be free indeed, and no
more be reduced to bondage.
May we prove that we are the children of God by owr readiness 4?
to hear and receive the words of our hX^ss^di Redeemer , the words
of incarnate truth, and wisdom, and love ; whom none of his
enemies could ever convict of sin, nor ever accused him of it, 46
but to their own confusion ! May we resemble him in the inno-
cence and holiness of his life ; that we may the more easily and
gracefully imitate that courage and zeal w^th which he reproved
the haughtiest sinners, and bore his testimony against the errors
and vices of that degenerate age and nation in which he lived !
T6 They call him a Samaritan^ and say he is possessed.
SECT. CV.
Jesus promising immortality to his followers^ and speaking of his
own existence as prior to that of Abraham^ the Jews in the tem-
ple attempt to stone him ; but he miraculously escapes from their
hands. John VIII. 48, to the end.
John VIII. 48. jo„:, Vlli. 48.
^^CT. "^jOW when the Jews heard Jesus so ex- nn HEN answered
*^^* -i-^ pressly declaring that they were ignorant ■■" ^^^ J^ws, and
— of God, and were the children, not of Abra- ^f ,r\veS:' tS
viii.48 ham, but of the devil, they answered mm. there- thou art aSamaritan,
fore with great rage and contempt, and ^az^ and hast a devil ?
unto him, Do we not ivell say^ that thou, who
speakest of Israelites in such language as this,
art a Samaritan, rather than one of the holy
seed, and art possessed by a demon, who hurries
thee on to such outrage and madness ?*
49 But to this insolent charge y^^w^ meekly 49 Jesus answered
ansrvered. It is plain, from the whole series of J^^J-^ "honoufmy
my discourses and actions, that I am not a de- Father, and ye do
moniac nor can any of you produce any thing dishonour me'
in all that I have said or done which looks like
lunacy or impiety ; but the truth is, / honour
my Father, by bearing a steady and consistent
testimony to the doctrine he sent me to reveal
to the world ; a?id, because this is contrary to
your corrupt prejudices and passions, there-
fore you dishonour me by such opprobrious re-
flections, in hope of discrediting my message.
50 But as for what personally relates to me I am 50 And I seek not
little affected with it ; for I seek not my own n^i"^ ?wn glory :
, , , T 1 ^1 • *i * there IS one that
glory ; nevertheless, I know there zs o?ie tfiat seekelhandjudgethi
seeketh, and will secure it, and who nowjudgeth
of all that passes, and will at length evidently
shew the exact notice he has taken of it, to my
5 1 honour and to your confusion. For God will 51 Verily, verily,
not only finally glorify me, but will confer the ^J^^^ ""^"^ >'^"' ^^ ^
highest honours and rewards on all my faithful [JJ^" he ThaU never
servants ; and therefore, verily, verily, I say see death.
U7ito you. If any one keep my zvord, he shall
never see death,^ iDut shall assuredly be entitled
» Possessed by a demon, yN\\o\Yavv\es\heei accounts, not only for this passaj^e, and
on to such outrage and madness.] See that in John xi. 26 {sect, cxl.) but for what
'lote^ on John vii. 20, sect. xcix. is said of Christ's having abolished death (2
^ He shall never see death.'] Tlie turn Tim. i. 10), having destroyed the devil
jriven to this expression in the />araj&Arflje (Hcb. ii. 14), ai^d raised up Christians
He that keeps his -word shall never see death. 77
to eternal life, and shall immediately be sect.
advanced to so glorious and happy a state, that ^^'
the dissolution of this mortal nature shall, with r^^^
respect to him,hardlydeserv^e to be called death. viii.Sl
52 Then said the Then the Jews^ thinking he had asserted that 52
Jews unto him, Now }^is disciples should be exempted from the com-
we know that thou j^^ ^f n^Qrtalitv, 5flzV again to him in a re-
hast a devil. Abra- -kt n ; 7 ,
ham is dead, and the proachtul way, Now we assuredly know that thou
prophets ; and thou hast a demon dwelling in thee, which hurrie*
sayest. If a man ^^^qq on to this madness and pride, otherwise
keep my saying-, he . *^i.
shall never taste of thou couldest never talk at this extravagant
death> rate : for Abraham^ the friend of God, and the
great founder of our nation, is dead ; and all
the holy prophets^ whom God raised up in sue*
ceeding ages, were so far from being able to
bestow immortality on their followers, that
even they themselves are long since dead ; and
yet thou presumptuously sayest^ ff^^'^y ^^^ keep
55 Art thou greater my word^ he shall never taste ofdeath,^ What, 53
a'k" h ^"^ , ?^f ^^^ ^^^ thou greater than that venerable patriarch
dea'd'an^dtlTepJoVv our father Abraham, who is dead, and th^n all
ets are dead : whom the most iUustrious j^rc'/j/^e^i', who are also dead^
makesth thou thy Whom dost thou then pretefid thyself to be, that
*^ ■ thoushouldest thus assume such a distinguish-
ing glory to thyself ?
54 Jesus answered, ^esus replied, If I only glorify myself, by high 54
If I honour myself, encomiums on my own dignity and excellence,
my honour is noth- j^-j^ j neglect the honour and service of mv
mg : It IS my Father ^ . o , . , . , •
that honoureth me, leather, my glory zs nothing but a mere empty
of whom ye say, that sound ; [but] it evidently appears by all the
he IS your God : series of my converse and miracles, compared
with each other, that it is ?ny Father himself
that efftctually glorifies ?}ie, even he, of xvhom
you confidently say, that he is your God, though
in this respect you pay so little regard to his
tjjith himself, and made them, sit ixith hiTn improper it would be to interpret the pre-
in heavenly places (Eph. ii. 6). Death is as ceding words, ©avoJovu //» d-iapua- » n; rev
nothing, compared to what it would other- en ccvsl. He shall 7iot see death for ever ,• as
wise have been to the sinner ; and the fe- if they signified, He shgll not die eter-
licityof heaven is so sure and so near, that, nally : for on this interpretation of the
by an easy and common figure, true Christ- words there could have been no shadow
ians are spoken of as already there. See of force in the argument they use, unless
the following note. they had meant to assert XXx^l Abraham and
the prophets ivere dead, etc tcv ana^vsi, for
*= Tet thou sayest. If any one keep iny vjord, ever ; than which nothing could be fiirther
he shall never taste of death.'] This is not from the thoughts of any of the Jews, ex-
the phrase which our Lord used, ver. 51, cept the Sadducees, who do not seem to
though perhaps its signification is nearly have been the persons speaking here. See
equivalent. But I think it shews how note^ oa John iv. 14, Vol. I. p. 170.
^8 Abrahmi desired to see his day^ and saw it^ and rejoiced.
SECT, testimony. And, notwithstanding all your 55 Yet ye have
-. boasts, yet nevertheless yot,. have not tr^Xy-^^^^^^^^-',^^^^
known him ; hut I well kn9W him : and rf 1 i should say, 1 know
•?-^r;r should deny it, and say that I know him not, or him not, I shall be
""•^ retract my pretensions to that peculiar and inti- a Uaj '*-- you :
mate knowledge of him which 1 have so otten teephis saying,
professed, / should be a liar like you : but /re-
peat it again, notwithstanding all your enmity
and vour scorn, that I perfectly know him^ and
continually keep his xvord in its fullest extent
55 and exactest purity. And I will tell you far- 56 Your father
ther that though vou despise me, as unworthy Abraham rejoiced to
of your notice, your father Abraham himself- -y,^ay_- -^
was even transported with a joytul desire that giad.
he 7?iight see my day,^ or the time of my appear-
ance and glory ; and in some degree he saw [z^]
by faith, and rejoiced in the distant and imper-
fect view,^ thankfully receiving every intima-
tion of the purposes of my coming which God
was pleased to give him.
57 Then the Jexvs said unto him. Thou artnot yet 57 Then said the-
fiftu years old,^ and hast thou, who but half a Jews unto him. Thou
J J V r) ' . , . ^ art not yet fifty years
century ago was not in being, any room to ^^^^ ^^^ hast thou
pretend that thou hast6'^c/2 and conversed with seen Abraliam ?
d Was^\^x\ transported ixnth a ),o^'^vXde' assistance. Compare Psalm xxv. 14, and
sire that he might see 7ny day : JiynKKixirxlQ see Br. Scot's Christian Life, Vol. V. p. 194.
ivai tS'ri ri)v itjuio*.]' rm iy.iiv.'] It is necessary Since I drew up this 72o?e, the reverend
to translate tile word /)'>'«.x>./A3-ci7o thus, not and learned Dr. Warburton has shewn.
only to avoid the fat<fo/o^j^ which oz^r ?;-a«5- tliat tliere is gi-eat reason to believe our
lation occasions, but also to preserve the Lord here particularly refers to a special
force of the words /v* iS'-u And indeed revelation made to Abraham, when he re-
the expression may with the strictest pro- ceived that command from God to offer up
priety signify leaping forward ivith joy to Isaac ; by which he was informed that the
meet the object of our wishes, as well as sacrifice then enjoined him was a symbol of
cv2</?/»5- in the possession of it. SeeBlacitvc. the method which God would really take
Sacred Classics, Vol. I. p. 46—48. for the redemption of sinful men, by the
e He saiv it by faith, ajid rejoiced in the death and resurrection oHiis ov:n Son. See
view.] I cannot think with Mr. Fleming Diiinc Legatio?i, Vol. II. p. 589 — 627, and
CChristolo'n'i Vol. I. p. 221), that the ap- the vindication of it, in the second volume
pearance of Christ to Abraham (Gen. of Occasional Remarks.
xvlii. 1) could with any propriety be here ^ Thou art not yet fifty years old.'] Christ
referred to as Chnsfs day. It seems much was not now/re and thirty ; but Erasmus
more reasonable to conclude with Dr. Scot thinks that, worn witli labours, he mig-ht
and Mr. Henrv, that it intimates some pe- appear older than he was. Lightfoot im-
culiar discoveries which the Spirit of God agines,thatasthe Levites were discharged
might make to Abraham for his own pri- from tlie temple service at 7?/^)/ (compare
vate consolation, though not expressly Numb. iv. 3, 23), that age was /?70TerZ»/<7//y
recorded in scripture. And thus, with used ; as I think it might have been, with-
regard ta]iim,as well as many other saints out any such institution relating to them.
mider that dispensation, the secret of the It is little to the credit of Ireneus's judg-
Lord might in an extraorditiary manner be ment to have inferred from hence, or ad-
viith them, and he might she%u them much mittcd on an uncertain traditioJi, fathered
more of his covenant than they could iiave on St. Luke, that Christ was now turned
discovered without such extraorduiary o^ forty. See Iren. lib. ii. cap. 39, 40.
He miracidoitshj escapes zvhe?i they would have stoned him* 79
Abraham^ who has been dead more than two sect.
thousand years ? *^^-
58 Jesus said unto yesus saidinito them^ Verilij^ verily^ I say unto
them, Verily, verily, you^ and solemnly affirm it as a most certain v^^5g
Ir-^ iK^V"^' ^^" truth, how incredible soever it may seem, that
lore Abraham was, ,«'.,, , „ti-j i-
I am. before Abraham was born^ 1 had a glorious
existence with the Father, and I am still inva-
riably the same, and one with him.^
59 Then took they This appeared to them so direct a claim to the 59
up stones to cast at name and properties of the eternal Jehovah,
him: but Jesus hid ^w bgi ignorant of the divine nature of
himself, and went ^, ? i i i • • i i i i i i
out of the temple, Christ, they thought it intolerable blasphemy;
goint^ through the and though he was then discoursing in so sacred
midst oyjjem, and ^ pj^ce as the temple, they immediately tookup
some loose stones^ with which they were repair-
ing either the pavement or the building/ that
■ they might cast them at him to destroy him :
but Jesus in a miraculous manner concealed
himself from their sight, and went out of the
temple^ going through the midst of them un-
known,'' and so passed on to another place till
their fury was a little appeased.
IMPROVEMENT.
With what patience did our blessed Redeemer hear ^ and with ver.
what meekness of xvisdom did he answer, the most virulent and 48, 49
opprobrious language ? When he was rudely charged with
being a Samaritan^ and having a demon^ he endured the contra-
diction of sinners against himself (Heb. xii. 3) ; and being thus
reviled^ he reviled not again (1 Pet. ii. 23). And shall we too
keenly resent the reflections which are thrown upon us ! May
but our conscience witness for us, and we need not fear all that
are against us !
g Before Abraham loas born.'} Erasmus so nearly bordering' on blasphemy, of
observes, that this is the meaning of have permitted his beloved disciple so
yivi<r^cLt ; and i?a/>/2e//t/i abundantly justifies dangerously to disguise his meaning,
the interpretation. Annot. ex. Xen. p. 133. • Took up some loose stones, with which.
^' /a7w, invariably the same, cJT'c.] Com- they were repairing, SiJ'c.]) See Lig/itfoot,
pnre Heb. xiii. 8. I have long (with Sor. Hebr. on this place ; and note ^ on
Clirysostom and many others) looked on John ii. 20, Vol. I. p. 144.
diis text as at least a strong intimation of ^ Going through the midst of them.'] The
i^ie Betty of Christ , neaily parallel to Heb. omission of these words in this passage,
i. 12, o-y cTs 0 Ay7cc it, thou art the same. I as quoted by Chrysostora and Augustin,
cannot apprehend that sT/ft) s//// is ever used as well as in some m.anvscripts, has led
for / ivas ; nor imagine that if our Lord some to suspect they were added from
had been a mere creature, he would have Luke iv. 30. See Vol I. sect, xxxjd.
ventured to express himself in a manner note ?, p 188,
vol.. 2. 12
80 Reflections on Chrisfs promise to deliver us from death,
SECT. Christ honoured his Father^ and sought not his own glory. So
«^' may we be careful of the honour of God, and cheerfully commit
•"""^ to him the guardianship and care of our reputation ! And we
49^50 ^^^^^ ^"^ there is one that seeketh^ andjudgeth in our favour.
51 It is a great and important promise which our Lord here
makes, If any one keep my word^ he shall never see death. Sense
seems to plead against it ; but he is the resurrection and the lifey
and hath assured us he will make it good. Let us therefore be
52 strong infaith^ giving glory to God ; (Rom. iv. 20.) Though
not only Abraham 2ind the prophets ^ but Peter and Paul^ and the
*" other apostles^ are dead^ yet this word shall be gloriously accom-
plished. Still they live to him, and shortly shall they be for ever
recovered from the power of the grave ; so that death is to them
comparatively as nothing. With them may our final portion be,
and we may set light by the reproaches, clamours, and accusa-
tions of prejudiced, ignorant, and sinful men !
Adored be that gracious Providence that determined our
existence to begin in that happy day which prophets and/?«?ri-
56 archs desired to see, and in the distant view of which Abraham
rejoiced ! Let it be also our joy ; for Jesus Christ is the same
58 yesterday^ today, and for ever ; nor could the heart of those holy
men fully conceive those things which God had prepared for them
that love him, and which he has now revealed unto us by his
Spirit. (1 Cor. ii. 9, 10.)
SECT. CVL
The seventy disciples return with joy : Christ foretells the greater
success of his gospel, and praises his heavenly Father for the
wise, though mysterious dispensation of it* Luke X. 17 — 24.
Luke X. 17. Lvke X. 17.
3KCT. A FTER these things, Jesus determined to A ND the seventy
cvi. JX take his last, and, as it seems, his most -^ '^-iT^i'XT
' successrul, circuit through Galilee ;* and, be-
Z^ fore he set out upon it, the seventy disciples, who
had been sent before him as his harbingers
(sect. '^cvii. p. Z7^, returned to him again^with
* His last circuit through Galilee.] St. before his ci-ucifixion. (See Luke xiii.
Luke has given us a large account of sev- 31 — 33^ and John x. 40 — 42 — Quickly after
eral occurrences in it, omitted by all the his resurrection, which was the next
other evangelists t and I think there can spring, we find Jive hundred brethren in
be no doubt but it must come in here. It Galilee. (1 Cor. xv. 6 ) It is probable
was dispatched between iht feast of taber- most of them might be converted in this
nades and the dedication (mentioned John jouniey ; for we never find him attended
X. 22, ^ec^.cxxxiv), or between the months by greater multitudes, nor his enemies
of September and December. I call it more alarmed, than about this time,
his last circuit through Galilee, because it
is strongly intimated, that after the con- ^ The seventy disciples rf^wrwec^ to him
elusion of it he returned thither no more again."] 1 presume not to determine where
They should rejoice that their natiies are written in heaven, 81
Lord, even the <ie- great joif^ attended with some mixture of sur- sect.
vils are subject unto prise, sayitiq^, Lord^ we have not only cured «^v^-
usthroughthyname. jj3^,^g^3^ according to the power thou wast
pleased to give us (ver. 9, p. 39), but, though thy ^!if
commission did not directly express so much,
yet it appears that even the demons themselves
are subject to us^ when in thy namewt command
them to go out of such as fhey had possessed.
18 And he said And he said to them^ I know that it is and 18
unto them, I beheld must be SO : for I mwstM saxv Satan^ the great
fXfrom Lafe'n"'"^ P""'^<^ "^ *^. demons;/,//^^ like lightning from
heaven on his first transgression, and well re-
member how immediate and dreadful his ruin
was ;<= and I foresee in spirit that renewed,
swift, and irresistible victory, of which this
present success of yours is an earnest, which
the preaching of the gospel shall shortly gain
over all these rebel powers, which even in their
highest strength and glory were so incapable of
19 Behold, I give Opposing the arm of God. And, that you may 19
unto you power to more successfully pursue this conquest, behold^
^nd^scorViorsrund ^^ow^zV^ z/^w a miraculous /;^T(;^r, securely to
over all the power tread Upon serpents and scorfiions^ those venom-
of the enemy ; and ous and hurtful creatures (compare Mark
m^^shun^ou^ ^'^ ^^^' ^^' ^"^ ^^^^ xxviii. 5), in token of your
triumph over the infernal spirits, and over all
the might of Satan the great enemy ^ which he
may set in array -against you ; and I will so
effectually support you in all the trials you
, shall meet with, that nothing shall by any means
be able to ijijure yoii^ while you continue faith-
ful in your adherence to my service. (Compare
20 Notwithstand- Psal. xci. 13, and Gen. iii. 15.) Nevertheless^ 20
ing, in this rejoice rejoice not SO much in this^ that the evil spirits
not, that the spmts ^^^ ^j^^g subject to vou. and that you are enabled
are subiect unto you: . , f ^ii » .,
but rather rejoice, rniraculously to controul them ; but rather re^
because your names jozce that your names are written in heaven^ and
are wiitten in hea- that you stand enrolled among the heirs of that
^^"' glorious world, as the peculiar objects of the
Divine favour and love.
or when they met him ; but considering of, and also allow the reference hinted at
they were by the law obliged to attend in the paraphrase to the Jirst fall of that
this feast at Jerusalem, it seems most rebellious spirit. Compare 2 Pet. ii. 4,
probable that was the time and place. and Jude, ver. 6. For the remainder of
^ I Sana Satauy 8ic.] I think this answer this section, and some of the folloruing, the
to the seventy loses much of its beauty and reader may consult the notes in the parallel
propriety,unless we suppose 5'afrt;i to have passages referred to, which have been
been the prince of the demons they spoke considered in their proper places above*
82 They were much happier than the a7iclent kings and prophets.
SECT. Jti that remarkable honr^ Jesus^ in a pleasing 21 In that hour,
""''• contemplation of the success that should attend J^.^^f I'ejoiced in
. , . 'ill. 1 11 spirit, and said, I
Lakie ^^^ gospel, though it was to be propagated by thank thee, O Fa-
X.21 such weak instruments, exceedingly rejoiced in ther. Lord of heaven
his spirit, and said in the words he had used on and earth that thou
r 'A /A/r • c^- r>/? -17- 1 T hast hid these things
a former occasion^ (Mat. xi. 2a, 26, Vol. 1. p. f^.^^ ^lie wise and
325), I ascribe glorif to thee, 0 Almighty Father, prudent, and hast
the Creator and Lord hoxh of heaven and earth, revealed them unto
that while thou hast hid these things from the ti^er.^forsoltseemed
-ivise philosophers and prudent politicians of the good in thy sight,
age, thou hast discovered them in the mean
time to others of an inferior character, and hast
graciously revealed them to the weak, the igno-
rant, and the poor, who are but as infants in
the eyes of the world, and in their own appre-
hension : be it so, 0 Father I I cheerfully
acquiesce in it, since such is My sovereign, wise,
and holy pleasure, to humble human pride, and
to display the glory of thy name.
22 Then likewise did Jesus repeat the declaration 22 All things are
of his own extensive authority, and said (as c^elivered to me of
before, Vol. I. p. 326), All things in the king. j^ll/tTweth who
dom of Providence and grace are delivered to the Son is, but the
me by my Father ; and no one perfectly knows Faiher ; and who
tiyho the Son is, except the Father; nor xvho the ^^^ l^'^^'' \\ ^f
. t rr 1 t t t r< ^'"'^ bon, and he to
Father is, except the oon, ana he to whom the oon whom the Son will
rvillhe pleased to reveal[him'\ : so that from me reveal hiin.
you must learn the saving knowledge of God,
and the way to secure his favour.
23 ^/z<^then, turning to his disciples, he said [to 23 And he turned
them^ apart. Blessed are the eyes which do, or ^j"^ unto A/, disci-
-i„ ^ , ' ,, F 1 • , 1 pies, and said pri-
hereaiter shall, see the things that you see ; and vately, Blessed are
(I mav add) the ears which do, or hereafter the eyes v^^hich see
shall, hear the things that } ou daily and famil- <^'^^ /'^"^^^ that ye
24 iarly hear. In the midst of all your poverty, 24 For I tell you,
fatigue, and danger, you have reason to think that many prophets
yourselves exceeding happy ifor I say unto you, a."d kings have de-
and very solemnly assure you of it, That many ^'""^^ ^"^ ^^^ "''''^
of the most eminent prophets of the Old Test-
ament dispensation, andtven of the most pious
and illustrious Aings whom God raised up to
reign over his people, desired earnestly to have
* And said in the words he had used on tend these his despised servants, as the
a former occasion.] They are here re- destined conquerors of the infernal le-
peated with evident propriety, in the view gions, by whom thousands of the poor
©f that glorious success which should at- should be brought to receive the gospel.
' Reflections on the joy arising from a title to heaven. 83
thine-s which ye see* seen the things which you see^ and did not see sect.
and have not seen them ; and to have heard the things which you c^^*
tliein : and to hear j^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ /^^^^ ^j^g^^ : remember then — —
those things which , , • i i * j * ^u i^- • Luke
ye hear, and have ^ow much you are mdebted to the Divme ^,34
not heard thevi. goodness, and let it be your care to make a
suitable improvement of them. (Compare
Mat. xiii. 16, 17, Vol. I. p. 360.)
IMPROVEMENT.
And are not oiir obligations in some measure proportionable to verse
theirs^ while these glorious sights are reflected to our eyes from ^^' ^^
the mirror of his word, and these glad tidings are echoed back
to our ears I Have not we also reason to adore the peculiar favour 2I
of God to us, and to admire the sovereignty of his love, that he
has been pleased to reveal his Son in us, and has given to such
hahes^ as we must own ourselves to be, that spiritual knowledge
of hrm, which he has suff"ered to remain hidden from the great,
the learned, and the wise ! Even so^ Father^ must we also say,
for so it seemed good in thy sight : thou hast 7nercy on xvhom thou
xvilt have mercy ^ and often exaltest the riches of thy grace by the
meanness and unworthiness of those on whom it is bestowed.
Have we reason to hope that our worthless names are written 20
U?i heaven P let us often think of that glorious society amongst
whom we are enrolled as members, and rejoice in the thought of
those privileges which result from such a relation to it ; privileges^
in comparison of which, a power to heal diseases^ and eject demons
with a word, would hardly deserve our joy. In a grateful sense
of them, let us adore the grace which gave us a place in the
Lamh^s book of life^ and be ever solicitous to behave in a manner
worthy of so illustrious a hope.
We have great encouragement to expect that hp, before whom 18, ly
Satan fell like lightning from heaven^ w^ill enable us finally to
trample on his potuer. Let us not servilely fear that condemned
criminal, already marked with the scars of the Divine vengeance ;
but let us cheerfully hope that the triumph over him will be
renewed by the preaching of the gospel. Quickened by that hope,
let us more earnestly pray, that the rum of his gloomy kingdom
may be daily more and more apparent, especially among us ; that
our gracious Redeemer, who reckons the interest of souls his
own, may have renewed reason of joy and praise on that account. 21
Exert, O blessed Jesus^ thine own almighty arm for that great
purpose ; and, as thou alone canst do it, reveal thine heavenly 22
Father to those who, by neglecting thee^ shew that they knoxv
not him !
84 A laxvyer ash xvhat he must do to inherit eternal life.
SECT. CVII.
Christ ansxvers the scribe who asked rvhat he should do to inherit
eternal life ; and illustrates his answer by the parable of the g'otd
Samaritan, Luke X. 25 — 37.
Luke X. 25. Luke X. 25.
sicT. TTTHILE our Lord was discoursing in this A ^ ^ behold, a
*=''"• V V manner with his seventy disciples, an -^^ certain la^vjer
■ ,tr 1 1 1 1 ^ 1 Stood up, aiid tempt-
j^yj,^ assembly of people gathered round them ; «?2^ed him, saying, Mas,
X. 25 behold^ among the rest, a certain man who was ter, what shall 1 do
^lanvijer^ or one of those scribes who made it^o ^inherit eternal
their profession to study and teach the law of ^ ^ '
Moses, and to resolve many curious questions
relating to it, rose up with a design to try him;^
and^ to judge of the 'skill of Jesus in divine
matters, said^ O thou great Master and Teacher
in Israel, what 7nust I do that I may inherit
that eternal life which thou so frequently
pofessest as the main object of our pursuits,
and which is indeed most worthy of them t
2^ ^wr/ Jesus, as he knew with what design he 26 He said unto
had proposed the question, wisely returned it J™,. ^ WhaUs_ writ^
on himseli, and satd to nim^ What ts written in readest thou ?
the laxv^ which thy profession must engage thee
to have made thy study ? how dost thou find
the case to be determined there ? and what is
it thou dost so frequently read there ?**
27 And he ret)lying^ said^ It is there written as 27 And he an-
' the sum of all the commandments (Deut. vi. ^j^^^jf "q^:^'^^!^^* l^J^
5. Lev. xix. 18), " Thou shah love the Lord thy [^^ God with\ll thy
God with all thine hearty and with all thy soul, heart, and with all
and with all thy strength, and zvith all thine thy soul, and with
^understanding ; thou shalt^ unite all the facul- ^^f^J^^^J^^^^^^^^^^
ties of thy soid to render him the most intelli- and thy neighbour
gent and sincere, the most affectionate and as thyself,
resolute service f and thou shalt also love thy
"With a design to try hitn.'] Dr. Barrow p 1060.) And that this passage of scrip-
concludes, it was with an intent to insnare ture is still read by the whole assembly,
him ,' the qviestion being so determined both in their mornivg and evening prayers,
by the ^eiuish doctors, that for a different and is called, from the first word of it,
answer he might have been accused of the Shemah, may be seen in Fedahzur^s
heresy ; (see Barrow's Works, Vol. I. p. Ceremonies of the modern Jeius, p. 49 and
221) : but I see no certain proof of so 115; only it is observable they leave out
bad an intention. that clause, Thou shalt love thy neighbour
^ Hovi dost thou so frequently read there ?] as thyself. See Wotton's Miscell. Vol. I. p.
Vitringa with great pertinency observes, 171 — 194
that what the scribe replies, Thoti shalt « Thou shalt unite all the faculties ot
iove the Lord thy God, &c. was daily read in thy soul, ^c] I apprehend, with Arch-
their synagogues, which made the answer bishop Tillotson, we may acquiesce in this
more apparently proper. fVitring. Synag. general sense of the passage, without being
ATid is toldj If he love God and his neighbour^ he shall live, 85
neighbour as sincerely and impartially as thou sect.
lovest thyself."^ cvn.
28 And he said Jesus readily approved his answer ; but was
unto him, Thou hast desirous to convince him at the same timQ,how ^r'^||
answered right: this f^^. j^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ coming up to what the law ""
do, and thou shalt . , j • ^u- • l • j ^ i •
^y^ required : and^ m this view, he send to him^
Thou hast answered right : do this^ and thou
shalt live ; do it perfectly, and thou wilt have a
legal claim to life ; or cultivate this temper sin-
cerely, and God will not leave thee finally to
perish, but will give thee all necessary discov-
eries of his will in order to thine eternal sal-
vation.
29 But he, willing But he^ willing to justify hiniself2iS to the in- 29
to justify himself, tegrity of his inquiry, and to display the virtue
wht""s''m"''nef h^ ^^ ^^^ character, not at all doubting but he suf-
j^ur? ficiently understood his duty to God, said unto
Jesus ^ And who is my neighbour ^whovo-hy this
latter pircept I am obliged to love ? for I
would fain know the whole of my duty, that I
may practise it in all its extent.
30 And Jesus an- And Jesus replying^ spake the following par- 3Q
swenng, said, Acer- ^^j^ which was intended to shew, in the most
tarn man went down .. / , , ^ ^
from Jerusalem to hvely manner, that every human creature, who
Jericho, and fell a- needs our assistance, is to be considered by us
mong thieves, wliich ^g our neighbour, of whatever nation,or faith, or
rIIZ:„t,a;.dw"o«nt profession he may be : and he said, A certain
ed himy and depart- man of our own country xvent down from Jeru-
ed, leaving him half salem to Jericho j and^ passing through those
^^*^' wild deserts and dangerous roads,*^ he fell
among some of those cruel robbers who so often
assault such as travel that way : and these ruf-
fians, having both plundered, stripped^ and
bound him, and having also wounded him in a
31 And by chance c^'uel and dangerous manner,^ xvent off^ leaving
xhere came down a him half dead. And it happened^ that while he 31
solicitous to seek a particular distinct idea is justly translated Understandings Eph. i,
to each of the words used here. Other- 18 ; iv. 18 ; and 1 John v. 20.
wise I should think xstgcT;*, the heart., % ** Passing through those wild deserts and
general expression, illustrated by the three dangerous roads.] This circumstance is
following words ; even -jaith all thy soul, well chosen ; for so many robberies and
(^i^X^f*) t^^t is, with the warmest affec- murders were committed on this road,
tion ; and luitit all thy strength^ (ta-^voc^) which lay through a kind of 'v:ildemess
that is, with the most vigorous resolution that Jerom tells us it was called a*CT^.
of the will ; a7id loith all thine understand- ihe bloody luay. Jericho is said to have^
ingy (J'lAvoist.c,) that is, taking care to form been seated in a valley, and tlience is tlie
rational ideas of him, as a guide to tl\e phrase of going dou-n to it.
affections and resolutions. Accordingly « Wounded hivv in a cruel and dano'er-
we may observe tliat, in a parallel place ous manner.] This is strongly implied
(Mark xii. 33), the word cwta-ti is used in the expres'sioo. Trxrync *TtS(r';(T, havin-^
Instead of //«v#/ee. And this very word laid on mound f
86 Christ delivers the parable of the good Samaritan ;
SECT, was in these deplorable circumstances, a certain certain priest that
cviT. pylc^^t went doivn that wai/^ who was going to way ; and when he
-— Jericho, where so many of that profession were T'^^n^ih: if "^^^^f
Luke "^ ^,1 J f t 1 , ; . ^ r • • , by on the other side.
X. 31. settled ;' rt/z<2 though by virtue oi his sacred
office he ought to have been a peculiar exam-
ple of humanity to the afflicted, yet seeiiig Imn
lie at some little distance, and being willing to
avoid the trouble or expense which a more
particular inquirv might have occasioned, he
crossed [the road^l and xvent on^ proceeding in
32 his journey without any farther notice. And 32 And likewise a
in like manner too, a Levite going that way, Levite,\vhenhe was
rvhen he was at the place, iust ca?}ie and looked on fj^^t f^^T' ^f-"^^
■'^'J and looked on Az77i,
this miserable object,* fl'/z*^ immediately crossed and passed by «n the
and passed by, without doing any thing at all for other side.
Z3 his relief. And thus the distressed creature 33 But a certain
might have lain and perished, but for a certain Sa7naritan,ashejour-
Samaritan^ who, as he xuas travelling the same hg^^^asT^d ^when
way, came to the place where he rvas, and seeing he saw him, he had
him in this sad condition, though he might compassion on him,
easily know, or at least guess, him to be a Jew,
yet, notwithstanding the general hatred of
these two nations to each other,* he xvas
moved rvith very tender compassion to-
34 wards him: And going to him, he bound 34 j^d went to
up his xvomids in the best manner he could,^ him, and bound up
»Wlicre so many of that profession were ' Notwithstanding the hatred of these,
settled,] See Lightfoot's Hor. Hebr. in loc. two nations to each other.] See note s on
wliere he produces a passage from h. con- John iv. 9, Vol. I. sect. xxix. p. 169.
siderableycu'/i/i ivn'terio prove th at f ^:fe/<i;e Some writers tell us this hatred arose so
thousand priests and Lcvites dwelt vXjeri- high, that if a Jew and a Samaritan met
cho ; which, if it had any shadow and de- in a narrow way, they w^ei-e exceedingly
gree of truth, vindicates the paraphrase^ solicitous that they might pass without
and shews how naturally the priest and touching each other, for fear of pollution
Levite were here introduced, without any on each side. If this was fact, it is a
reflection on their office. beautiful illustration of the humanity of
this good Samaritan, who would not onlj
P. Came and lool-ed on this miserable ob- ^^^,^1^ ^j^jg j^.^^ j^^^ took so much pains to
jrct.] This IS the /mport of sa6«v nti ^^^^^ ;^ -^ ^:,.unds, and to stt him on his ovm
am, as Raphelnis nas shewn m his Notes ^^^^^^ supporting him in his arms as he
frovi Xcnophon, p. 91. toClq, as well as mr.king such generous.
'' A certain Sajnaritan.'] It is admirably provision for him at the inn.
well judged to represent the distress on ^ BotjiJ up his wounds, Sec] As the
the side of the Jew, and the mercy on Jew was stripped by the robbers, ver. 30,
tliat of the Samaritan ; for selfinterest we may probably suppose the Samaritan
would make them see how amiable such used some of his oivn garments for this
a conduct was, and la}- them open to our purpose ; which wvas a fartlier instance of
/-(W* inference, ver. 37^ Had it been wonderful goodness, perliaps tearing them
put the other way, prejudices might more to make a more convenient bandage. Of
easily have interposed, before the heart the use the ancients made of u-Z/ie and o//,
could have been struck with these tender in dressing fresh wounds, see Bos, Exerc,
circumstances. p. 24, and Woijius on this text.
and shezvs him zvhom he should consider as his neighbour. %t
his wounds, pouiing when^ as the only means he had to cure them, sect.
in oil and wine, and fig had pourcd ill ?>on\G, of the Oil and wine VfhXch. *^vii.
set him on his own ^ j^ ^ ^^^j,^^ ^.j^l^ Y{im as a part of the provi- 7—
beast, and brought . ^ , . . , '^ ^, ^ ... Luke
him to an inn, and sions for his joumey (compare Gen. xxviii. ^ 34
took care of him. 18) ; and setting him on his own beast ^ because
he was incapable of walking, he held him up
as he rode, and with the tenderest care brought
him safely to an inn., where he had some ac-
quaintance ; fl??^ there took farther care ofhim^
that he should be lodged and accommodated
35 And on the in a proper manner that night. ^ And the next 35
morrow when he mornings as he departed from the inn, he took out
departed, he took qj[ \^\^ purse two denarii, or Roman /^erzce,^ a?id
lt-eZ,fZ:i^::t ^«"- ^A^- *» ^^^ /«n^/.r^ of the house ; and^t
and said unto him, the same time said to him, fake all possible
Take care of him ; ^^.^^^ qT this poor wounded stranger, and let
and vvhatsoever thou ^. for nothing ; and whatsoever more
spendestmore,wnen ,1? 7- •;; ^
I come ag-ain, I will thou shalt Spend on his account, / will repay
repay thee. thee as I come back*
36 Which now of ^oxv, said our Lord to the lawyer he was 36
these three, thinkest discoursing with, which of these ?/ir^^ persons,
tliou, was neighbour ^he priest, the Levite, or the compassionate
am'^U' the thieve J'' ^ Samaritan,^..? thou think was theneighbour of
3r And he said, this poor man that fell among the robbers f And ^7
He that shewed he said., Undoubtedly it was he that had mercy
mercy on him. Then ^^ f^- notwithstanding he was a person of
Jesus said unto him, ^ . ' . it- T-t -^ <y .^
Go, and do thou another nation and religion. Fhen said Jesus
fikewise. to him. If this seem so amiable an example to
thee, go, and do thou likewise; and if thou
findest even a Samaritan in the like distress,
consider him as thy neighbour, and as cheer-
fully perform all these beneficent and friendly
offices to him : for those pretensions to
religion are but vain which do not inspire
men with such universal humanity and benev-
olence.
i Two denarii, or Roman pence.'] Tliese would have been very imprudent to charge
were in value about ffteen pence of our himself with much more money than he
money. It is a very probable circumstance was like lo want in his journey ; which
that a man travelling without any attend- woi Id be the /essy as it was usual for trav-
ants, and now going out to a considerable ellers in those parts to carry thea provision
distance from home, should not have more with them. Compare Gen. xxvUi. X8, and
to spare, especially as he was to travel Josh. ix. 12, 13.
through so dangerous a road ; and so it
VOL. 2. 13
88 Rejiecti07is on the exercise ofcharitij and benevolence*
IMPROVEMENT.
SECT
CVII.
Of how great importance is it that we should tv^ry one of
us be in good earnest making this inquiry which the scribe
v'er25 addressed to our Lord^ What shall I do that I maij inherit eternal
life I What ought we not willingly to do, and to bear, that we
26 may secure so great a felicity ? Still will our Lord9.ns\ver us from
his word, that we must keep the comma?idments of God^ while we
are looking to him as the end of the law for righteousness (Rom.
X. 4). Happy are they that faithfully do it, that through the
grace manifested in the gospel they may have a right to eat of the
tree of life 1 (Rev. xxii. 14.)
May this abstract and summaiy of the commandments be
written, as it were in golden characters, on the table of each of
27 our hearts I May we love the Lord our God with all the united
powers and faculties of our souls, and our neighbour as sincerely
and fervently as ourselves ! And may we learn, from this beau-
tiful/^«r«/^/^ of the good Samaritan, to exercise our charity to our
fellowcreatures in the most amiable manner !
31j 32 The Jewish priest and Levite had, no doubt, the ingenuity to
find out some excuse or other £or passing over to the other side ;
and might, perhaps, formally thank God for their own deliver-
ance, while they left their brother to bleed to death for want of
their assistance. Is it not an emblem of many living charac-
ters, perhaps of some whose sacred office lays them under the
strongest obligations to distinguished benevolence and generos-
33 ity ? But the good Samaritan acted the part of a brother to this
expiring feiv, 0 seed of Israel, 0 house of Levi and of Aaron !
will not the day come when the humane virtues of heathens shall
rise up in judgment against thee !
34, 35 Let us reflect with shame what are the differences between one
Christian and another when compared with those between a
Samaritan and a few I Yet here the benevolence of a good heart
overcame even these ; and, on the view of a wounded dymg
man, forgot that he was by nation an enemy. Whose heart does
not burn zvithin him, whose eyes do not overflow with tears of
S7 delight, while he reads such a story ? Let us go and do likewise,
regarding every man as our neighbour who needs our assistance.
Let us exclude every malignant sentiment of bigotry and party
z^f^/ which would contract our hearts into an insensibility for all
the human race, but a little select number, whose sentiments
anil practices are so much our own, that our love to them is but
selfove reflected. With an honest openness of mind let us
always remember the relation between man and man, and feel
and cultivate that happy instinct by which God, who has formed
our hearts in many instances alike, has in the original consti-
tution of our nature strongly and graciously bound them to
each other.
Christ comes to Bethany^ and is entertained there, 89
SECT, cviir.
Christ visits his friends at Bethany^ and commends the diligence
with Tvhich Mary attends his preachings rvhik her sister Mar-
tha was too anxious about the entertainment of her guests.
Luke X. 38, to the end.
Luke X. 28. LuKE X. 58.
'^;jW it came to 4 BOUT this time^ our Lord quitted Je- sect.
tl,,E;:,Wl A '■"?=''''"' »"5>-'°"'-"l' hlsdisciples.on ^_^-
into a certain village: "IS last journev irom thence to Galilee, the r^^^^
and a certain wo- feast of tabernacles (as was observed above) ^ 38
man,namecl Martha, i^^- f^^^ concluded, ^'o^w it came to pass,
received lum into ^p • ./ • • / ^ 7 • i
her house. ^^ ^'^^V ^'-'^^^ on their journey, he entered, with
many of his attendants, into a certain neigh-
bouring village called Bethany (compare John
/ xi. 1, sect, cxxxix) i and a certain pious wO'
man, whose name was Martha, with the most
cheerful hospitality received him into her house,
thinking herself greatly honoured -by such a
visit.
39 And she had a And she had a sister called Mary, who, being 39
sister called Mary, earnestly desirous to improve this happy op-
which alsosat at Je- ,j.^j^-^ £ ^j^^jj^-j^ j^^ divine knowledge
siis' feet, and heard * , •;. . ^ , .inn
his word. ^^^ ^ religious temper, sat down at the jeet oj
Jesus, as an humble disciple -^ a?id heard with
most diligent and pleasing attention his wise
and gracious discourse, which, as his usual
practice was, he began as soon as he came in
to address to those that were about him.
40 But Martha But Martha, too solicitous about the variety 40
was cumbered about and elegance of the entertainment she intended
for her sacred Guest and the company with him,
was exceedingly hurried^ and perplexed about
» About this time.] I express myself in g-ent attention. See the authors cited by
this indeterminate manner as to the date JVo/Jius, vi toe. and especially Vitringaf
of this little, but very instructive story, Synag. lib. i. part 2, cap. 6.
because I apprehend the evangelist has not = rr^* exceedingly hurried.'^ 'Jhe word
exactly determined when it happened, ts-i^nTTTAlo properly sigiiifies to be draivn
which it was of no importance for us ex- (as it were) different 'ways at the same
actly to know. It might very possibly be time, and admirably expresses the situa-
just at this time ; at least, the want of any tion of a mind surrounded with so many
suflicient reason for transposing it, obliges objects of care that it hardly knows which
me, on the rules I have laid down to my- to attend to first. She had probably her-
self, to introduce it here. <va?its to whom she might have committed
'' Sat dovj7i at the feet of ^esus, as an these aftairs ; and the humility and mod-
humble disciple.] It is well known that eration of our blessed Redeemer would
this was the posture in whicli learners have taken up with what had been less
attended on their teachers (conijjare Luke exactly prepared ; especially as she had
viii. 35, and Acts xxii. 3), and likewise so valuable and so signal an opportunity of
grew into a proverb for humble and dili- improving her mind in diviae knowledge.
90 Mary's attention to his xvord is better than Marthc^s care,
SECT, iwich serving ; and coming in io\\\QrooTCi vjhtYQ: m\\c\\ serving, and
CM II. Tj.sus ^^,as, she^ not without some warmth and came to him, and
*•,. ' , , 11 c sa\<l, Lord, dost thou
discontent, expressed how much she was ot- ^^^ ^^^.^^ ^^^^^ ^^. gjg_
fended at her sister's sitting still, and said^ ter huth left me to
Lord, dost thou not mind that my sister has lejt serve alone? bid her
vie to provide and serve up the entertainment }J|,^7me^ ^'""^
alone^ which is more than I can well manage ;
while she sits here as calmly as if she had no
concern in it ? I would not take upon me to
call her awav from thy presence m\self ; but
I beg that thou wouidest interpose in the mat-
ter ; speak to her therefore, that she may lend
her helping hand zvith 7nine,^ and let her then
sit down to hear thee discourse when the en-
41 tertainment is over.
And yesus in reply said to her, O Martha, 41 And Jesus an-
Martha, thou art over anxious and disturbed swered, and savd
. , ' 1 . . c • •. P ; X unto her, Martha,
with restless agitation ot spirit^ ^'^''^'^ ^'^^'.V Martha, thou art
things which are not worth so much solicitude, careful and troubled
42 and might well have been spared on such an about many things :
occasion as this : But let me tell thee, my 42 But one thing
dear friend, that there is one thing absolutel'v is needful. And Ma-
necessary,^ and of infinitely greater import- ^yha.h^chosen^that
ance than any of these domestic and secular
cares ; even the care to have the soul in-
structed in the saving knowledge of the way
that leads to eternal life, and to secure a title
to it : and Alary is wisely attending to that ;
therefore, instead of reproving her, I must
rather declare, that she has chosen what may
eminently be called the good part^ xvliich^ as it
^ Lend her helping hand ivith mine. 1 This and Basil, who explain It as if he only
is the exact import of a-jv^vliKciQyflcLi, which meant. One dish of ineat is enough.
is also with the utmost propriety used for r The good part."] That ^s^/? signifies
the assistance which the Spirit of God a portion thera can be no reasonable
gives to ihe infirmities of our frail nature, doubt ; but that here is any allusion to
Rom. viii. 26. the custom of sending the best portion of
« Disturbed with restless agitation of an entertainment to a guest to whom
spirit.] iThe word ti/^C^^ji is no where else peculiar honour was intended, seems too
used in the JVeiu Testament. It seems to great a refinement, and not exactly suita-
cxpress the restless situation of a person in ble to the occasion ; though some consid-
a tumultuous cru^od, where so many are erable critics have defended it. (See
pressing upon him that be can hardly Wo{/iusy in loc. and Eisner, Observ. Vol. I.
stand his groimd ; or of 'mater in great p. 225, 226.) I tlunk, rendering t»u
agitation. ayct'i;n< y.iz,^^a., the good part, is more forci-
f There is one thing absolutely necessary : ble, as well as more literal, than our
ivof (Ts «r< ;^§«<3t.] This is one of the gravest translation,- as it intimates nothing else
and most important apophthegms that ever to deserve the name of a good part when
was uttered : and one can scarce pardon compared with this. Compare Mat. xix.
the frigid impertinence of Theopbylact 17, sect, cxxxvii.
Reflections on the regard due to the one thing- needfuL 91
shall not be taken shall Tzof Z»e finally taken axvay from her^ I would sect.
away from her. not now hinder her from pursuing ; but rather '
invite thee to join with her in her attention to L„ke
it, though the circumstances of our intended x. 21
meal should not be so exactly adjusted as thy
fond friendship could desire.
IMPROVEMENT.
So steadily and zealously did our blessed Lord pursue his work, verse
with such unwearied diligence and constant affection! No sooner ^^» ^^
is he entered into the house of this pious friend, but he sets him-
self to preach the word of salvation, and is the same in the
parlour which he had been in the temple. O 3Iary^ how de-
lightful was thy situation ! Who would not rather have sat with
thee at the feet of Jesus^ to hear his wisdom, than have filled the
throne of the greatest prince upon earth ! Blessed were thine eyes
in what thev saw, thine ears in what they heard, and thine heart
in what it received and embraced, and treasured up as food which
would endure to everlasting life !
How unhappily was her good sister deprived of the entertain- 40
ment of these golden moments, while hurried about meats and
drinks, and tables with their furniture, till she lost, not only her
opportunity , but her temper too ; as it is indeed hard to preserve
it, without a resolute guard, amidst the crowd and clamour of
domestic cares ! Happy that mistress of a numerous family, who
can manage its concerns with the meekness and composure of
wisdom^ and adjust its affairs in such a manner as that it may
not exclude the pleasures of devotion^ and cut her off from the
means of religious improvement ! Happy the man who, in a pres-
sing variety of secular business, is not so cumbered and careful
as to forget that one thing which is absolutely needful ; but
resolutely chooses this better part^ and retains it as the only 41, 42
secure and everlasting treasure ! Oh that this comprehensive
and important sentence were ever before otir eyes ! Oh that it
were inscribed deep upon our hearts ! One thing is needfuL
And what is this one things but the care of the soul ? what, but
an humble attention to the voice and the gospel of Christ ?• Yet,
as if this were of all things the most unnecessary, for what poor
trifling care is it not commonly forgot ? yea, to what worthless
vanity is it not daily sacrificed ?
Let the ministers of Christ, let the friends of souls in every
station, exert themselves, that all about them may be awakened
duly to regard this great interest ; accoimting it their meat and
their drink to promote it. Let them be always solicitous that
neither they nor others may neglect it for the hurries of too
92 Christ beiJig' asked by his disciples to teach, them to pray^
SECT. busy a life, or even for the services of an over officious
cviTi. friendship.
SECT. CIX.
Christ being entreated by his disciples to teach them to pray^ re-
peats^ rvith some additions^ the instructions and encouragements
^ relating to that duty which he had formerly given in his sermon
on the mount » Luke XL 1 — 13.
OTTO T ^ y'"".'' ^•^- ^^ 1. LtTKEXI.l.
UK Lord then leaving Bethany, went on A nd it came to
his way ; dividing his time, as usual, be- -^ pass, that as he
-— " tween the care of teachin;^ his numerous fol- ^^as praying in a cer-
Luke 1 ^ ^ ' r i • ^aui place, when he
xi. 1 ^O'-^'ei's and the exercises or secret devotion, ceased, one of his
And as he -was one day praying in a certain disciples said unto
retired /?/rtC^, when he had ended ^ one of his dis^ ^^^\ Lord, teach us
ciples said to him^ Lord, we desire thou would- tailj^M hil cUscVks^
est teach us to pray, and give us some short
form which may be proper for our frequent use,
as John also taught his disciples^ and other
leading men of the several religious sects
among us have taught theirs.
2 And he said to them, When you pray, you may 2 And he said un-
use that form which I before have given as a to them, when ye
comprehensive model and directory for prayer, pray, say, Our Father
(see Mat. vi. 9—13, Vol. I. p. 231, £if seq.J
and say in your addresses to God, " O God of
the spirits of all flesh,'' who dwellest in the
high and holy place, with humble reverence
we bow before thee, and with a filial confidence
in thy mercy, and mutual love unto each other,
we would look up to thee as to our God and
Father, zvho with the most amazing grace
and condescension art ready to attend unto ^
the supplications of thy children from thy
^ As yahn also taught Jus disciples.'] Many the rer/uest and ansv:er before us ; and I
learned men suppose that the ^fzt'wA^/ifrj- have iie\'er met with any thing upon it
fer^ used to give their followers some sliort which has given me more satisfaction.
form of prayer, as a jieculiar badge of their See Mede's JVorh, p. 1, 2, and Lightfoot^s
relation to them. Tliis Joiui the Baptist Hor. Hebr. in lac
had probably done, thougli wc know not
nDw what it was. And in this view only '' O God, ^c] I think it but justice
can we suppose the f/Z^cZ/j/c?* could now ask to the reverend Mr. Godwin to let the
Jesus to teach them lo pray ,- for it is not reader know tliat this paraphrase on the
to be thought tliat in the tliree preceding 2'', o'', and 4"^'' x^erses was written by him.
j;ea/-i-of his ministry he had not often given I had here only given a translation, having
them instructions both as to the matter paraphrased this excellent prayer before iu
and manner of prayer. In this sense Jfr. Vol. I. sect. xl. the ?ioteson which may be
Joseph Mede and Dr. TJghtfuot understand consulted here.
repeats the form of prayer he had given them before* 93
which art in heaven, throne in heaven : we adore thee as possessed sect.
hallowed be thy q£ infinite perfections ; and as our first concern ^^^'
name : thy kingdom .
come
thv wiU be i^ forlhy glory, we offer it as our first request,
done, as in heaven, May thy na??ie be every where sanctifed ; may ^ 2
so in earth: thy perfections be displayed through all the
world, and be regarded with the highest ven-
eration ! And, that the honour of thv Majesty
may be thus exalted, 3Iay thy kingdom come
which thou hast promised to establish under
the Messiah ; may thy victorious grace be un-
iversally triumphant over all thine enemies,
and thy people be willing in the day of thy
power ! And, as an evidence of its efficacy on
the hearts of men, May thy holy xvill be done^
as it is constantly in heaven^ so likewise upon
earth ; and be as cheerfully submitted to, as
fully acquiesced in, and readily obeyed in all
things, as it is possible for us, in this imper-
fect state, to imitate those heavenly spirits
who delight in doing thy commandments, and
, Give us day by hearkening to the voice of thy word ! During 3
day our daily bread : ^m- continuance here on earth v/e would not
be solicitous to seek great things for ourselves,
but humbly beg that thou wouldest^ztJ^ us day
by day cur daily breads and wouldest supply us,
as our wants return upon us, with such a com-
petent provision of the necessaries of life as
may enable us to serve thee acceptably, and to
attend without distraction and uneasiness to
4 And forgive us the performance of our duty. And^ though 4
our sins, for we also ^^iq guilt ofour iniquities might justly separate
thaT^is indeSted to between thee and us, and withhold good things
us : and lead us not from US, we earnestly entreat thee to extend
into temptation, but ^\^y mercy to US, and to forgive us all our sijis ;
deUver us from evily^;. ^^^^^ ,^^,^^ ^^^ ^^^^,^-^^ of whose mercy cannot
be compared with thine, are willing to forgive
every one that is iiidebted to us^ and desire to
pardon all that have injured us : and^ to pre-
vent US for the time to come from falling into
sin, bring us not into circumstances that will
expose US to the danger of temptation^ nor
suffer US to be tempted above what we are
able to bear ; but keep us by thy grace from
all iniquity, and rescue us from the power of
the evil one, that he may never triumph in our
94 He encourages them to importunity in prayer •
SECT, fall, and we may finally be saved from all the
^^^- ruinous effects of sin."
And when he thus had taught them what they 5 And he said im-
\- t were to pray for, in order to excite and encour- ^° them, Which of
**•»' 111'' • •^' vou shall have a
age them to a believing importunity m prayer, f,|^„(j^ .^^^ s^^ij ^^
he said to thern^ Who is there of you that has not unto him at mid-
observed the efficacy of importunate requests ?« "ig'it, and say unto
If, for instance, he 'shall have a friend, and shall ^{Jj^l^^^J^'^^
go to him at midnight, and knock at his door,
and say to him. Friend, I desire thou wouldest
6 lend me three loaves ; For a friend of mine, who 6 For a friend of
was benighted on his journey, is\\i^\.come to my mine in his journey
home, and, being altogether unprovided, I have '^ ^Z\ZZs\o^^t
nothing to set before hi?n for his refreshment : before him :
7 And he from tvithin, instead of granting his 7 And he from
request immediatelv, shall at first be unwilling ^^*^^" sliall answer,
^, . , ' , . , y^ , ,. ° and say. Trouble me
to do It, and answer him, and say. Do not dis- ^^^ . \y^^ ^jqqj. jg
turh me at so late an hour ; for the door is now now shut, and my
shut and fastened, and mii children are xvith me children are with me
. i » 1 1 ^T_ ^ r ^ • ^ • i» had ; I cannot rise
171 bed and asleep ; so that / cannot rise to ^ive ^^^ -^ ^.j^^^
8 thee what thou askest. Yet if he still go on to 8 I say unto you,
press him that he would consider his necessity, Thovigh he will not
and comply with his request, Itellyou, Though ^H^^^f ^J^Xs
he would not rise and give him the loaves that he fnend ; yet because
desired, ^^ca?^9fAe7^(7*/^i5 neighbour andyrz^w</, of his importunity,
yet on account of his importunity ^2i?, he continues J\^ ^'^^ ^'^^ ^"^ ^^1^
\ t ' J -n 1 1 ' 1 , .»/ . him as many as he
knocking, and will take no denial, he will at needeth.
length get up and give him as many as he wants.
9 Now then, if one who was at first unwilling to 9 And I say unto
rccjard his friend was overcome at last by his you, Ask, and it shall
^ • J , 1 ' 1 1 1 1 ' • be ffiven you ; seek,
continued earnestness, and yielded to his im- ^^^^ y^ gi^ find ;
portunity, much more will God, who is in-
finitely good and rich in mercy, though he may
not see fit to answer you immediately, be cer-
tainly prevailed upon at length to give you
what you stand in need of, if you continue to
be earnest and importunate in your prayers to
him : and J say therefore to you. Whatever
mercy you desire to obtain, ask it of God with
a continued fervency, and it shall assuredly be
givenyou : seek it with diligence, and you shall
find it ; and if it be a while delayed, knock with
= Who is there of you that has not ob- tence : but such accidental inaccuracies
served the efficacy of importunate re- are sometimes to be found in the most
quests ?] The words in the original do approved authors. The sense is not the
riot make a complete grammatical sen- less plain.
God is much readier to give good things than men are*
95
knock, and it shall be an earnest importunity at the door of Divine sect.
opened unto you. mercy, and it shall at length be opened to you, "^'
10 For every one And the success of Others may encourage you ,
that asketh, receiv. jq ^\^\^^ ^s what indeed has been confirmed by ^ iq
slekethT'^findet'h'- ^^ppy and constant experience : for every one
and to him that M«3? «5i.y, with an unwearied fervency, ftcez?;e*;
knocketh, it shall and he that diligently seeketh^ fndeth ; and to
be opened. ^^^ ^^^^^ knocks again and again, though for a
while there may be some delay, it shall at length
be opened, (Compare Mat. vii. 7, 8, sect, xlii.)
11 If a son shall -^nd^ further to assist your faith on these 11
ask bread of any of occasions, reflect upon the workings of your
you that is a father, ^^^^ hearts towards your ofFsprincr, and con-
will he erive him a . - -m n ? • j i -r
stone ? orif/ze asi a sider. What father zs there a?7iong you, who, if a
fish, will he for a fish son of his shall ask him y^pr bread, zvill give him
give him a serpent ? ^ ^^^^^^ ? or if [he ask'] him. for a fish, instead of
12 Or if he shall a fish will give him a serpent ? Or if he a^^him Ig
ask an egg-, will he f-Qy ^n ep-p; will be SO unnatural as to give him
offerhim a scorpion }'^^ .^^^p,^^ f and, in the room of what is neces-
sary for the support of life, will offer him a
thing that would be useless or injurious to him.
13 If ye then, be- If you then, zvho are, at least comparatively, IS
ing evil, know how ^vil, and perhaps some of you inclined to a
untf Toufchtldfen ' penurious and morose temper, yet know hoi¥
how much more' to give good gifts to your children, and find your
shall your heavenly hearts disposed to relieve their returning ne-
Father give the Holy cessities by a variety of daily provisions ; how
bpirit to them that , l nr tz. i t? .i t.*
ask him ? much more shall [your] heavenly Jtather, who is
infinitely powerful and gracious, and who him-
self has wrought these dispositions in you, be
ready to bestow every necessary good, and
even to give the best and the most excellent
gift of all, his Holy Spirit, to them that smc^reXy
and earnestly ask him for it j to produce and
cherish in their hearts those graces which may
fit them for the services of life, and for the joys
of an happy immortality ? (Compare Mat. vii»
9, 10, 11, Vol. I. p. 244.)
IMPROVEMENT,
Well does this petition become every disciple of Christ, Lord^ ver. 1
teach us to pray ! Thou hast taught us by thine example, and by
the precepts of thy word ; teach us also by thine Holy Spirit !
Excellent is this form of sound and Divine words, which our
great Master here recommends. God forbid, that any of his
followers should censure their brethren, who think it still proper
>o use it, not only sis a directory^ but as a form too, though per-
"C^OL. 2. 14
O'G Reflections on the prayer Christ taught his disciples*
rfECT. haps with some little variation from the original sense of some
^'^^- clauses of it.^ Let us attentively study it, that, concise and
"^^ expressive as it is, our thoughts may go along with its severv^l
petitions,
ver. 2, Let us learn to reverence and love God^ and to consider our-
3, 4 selves as brethren In his family. Let the glory of hisname^ and
the prosperity of his kingdom^ be much dearer to us than any
separate interest of our own. Let it be our cordial desire that
his zvill may be universally obeyed, and with the most entire
consent of soul acquiesced in, by all his creatures, both in heaven
and on earth. Let our appetites and passions be so moderated,
that having even the i^Xmntstfood a?id raiment zve may be there'
with content : and, on the other hand, how plentiful soever our
circumstances may be, let us remember, that day by day we
depend on God for our daily bread. Nor do we need even the
most necessary supplies of life more than we need daily pardon ;
to which therefore we should be putting in our constant claim,
he:irti\y forgivitig all our brethren^ as we desire to he forgiven by
God, Conscious of our own weakness, let us, as far as we can,
endeavour to avoid circumstances of temptation ; and when
necessarily led into them, let us be looking up to heaven for
support ; labouring above all things to preserve our integrity,
and to maintain a conscience void of offence,
9, 10 Depending on the certainty of these gracious pro?7iises^ and
encouraged by the experience of so many thousands, who have
on asking received^ and on seeking founds let us renew our im-
portunate addresses to the throne of Divine grace : and, remem-
bering the compassion of our heavenly Father^ let us be embold-
ened, in ^htfidl assurance offaith^ to ask every necessary bless-
ing, especially the communication of that enlightening and
sanctifying Spirit^ without which our corrupt hearts will find
out a ready way to abuse the choicest of his providential favours
to the dishonour of his holy name, and the deeper wounding of
our own miserable souls.
^ With some little variation from the sense, and express what ought to be our
original sense, &c.] Dr. Guyse has excel- daily temper, and the breathing's of our
lently shewn in his note on Mat. vi. 13, heart before God. No doubt, thousands of
{.h^t this prayer m its original sense was Christians have daily refreshment and ed-
peculiarly suited to the dispensation then ification in the use of it ; and it is aston-
present, as introductory to the Messiah's ishing- that any should venture to condemn
kinvdoTTit and has given a just and very tlieir bretliren for it. But I would hope
expressive /jara/)Ara*e of it in that partic- there are few of any profession now re-
iilar view. But there is not a clause in it maining, who have so much of the spirit
wliich will not bear a more extensive of opposition and censoviou«ncss.
Christ di7ihig xvith a Plmrisee^ offends him by not xvashing. 95^
SECT. ex.
Our Lord dining at the house of a Pharisee^ seriously admonishes
him and his brethren of their guilt and danger ; by which they
are exasperated^ rather than reformed, Luke XL 37, to the
end,
Luke XI. 57. LuKE XL Z7,
A NDashespake, \T0W^ after our Lord had delivered these sect
-n. a certain Phar- 1\ thj^gs, it happened oiie day, that while he "•
isro besoug-ht him .7- V i i \
to dine with hrm : "^^^'* Speaking to the people about the great con
Luke
xi. 37
and he went in, and cerns of their eternal salvation,* a certain
sat down to meat. Pharisee then present invited him to dine with
him*^ and^ with whatever view he might do it,
Jesus, that he might not seem morose, or in-
sensible of a civility, accepting the offer, went
in to his house, and sat down to table.
38 And when the And xuhen the Pharisee who had invited him 38
Pharisee saw it, he saw that lie was regardless of the tradition of
irad",:!!tstt"shld the elders, ^r.A did not fr.t xvash before dinner,
before dinner. according to the constant custom ol their sect,
he wondered [at i?], considering the character
he had for an extraordinary degree of sanctity.
39 And the Lord But the Lord, perceiving his thoughts, and 39
said unto hira, Now knowing that in some circumstances a faithful
m^ake^ clean the' (Tut^ reproof is the most valuable token of friend-
8ide of the cup and ship and gratitude, said to him. As I see you
the platter ; but are noxv offended at my neglecting the cere-
wickedness. plamly tell you, that you Pharisees are too
much like those vain people that cleanse only
the outside of the cup and the dish, while the
inside, which is of much greater importance,
is left dirty and foul ; for with regard to many
of you, your inward part, even your very heart
and conscience, is defiled, being full of rapine,
and of all the foulest kinds of pollution and
a It happened one day, that 'vihile he and resemblance of those circumstance^j
nuas speaking, &c.j The attentive reader I thought it was better thus to transpose
will easily observe that I have here omit- Luke's story, than to take the repetition
ted what occurs from the end of the 13th for granted. The phrase ev S't ra KaKmni,
to the beginning of the 37th -verse. That 'ahile he taas speaking, will, I think, fairly
passage is inserted, sect. Ixi — Ixiv. as be- admit the turn I have given it in the /tar-
ing exactly parallel to Mat. xii. 22, ilf seq. aphrase ; but if any judge otherwise, it
and Mark iii. 23, kjf seq. Nor could I see will be easy to tui-n back to the passage
any proof that the same discourse, with as inserted before, Vol. I. p. 336, is^ seq,
just the very same circumstances, hap- and all I have said above to introduce the
pened again here ; and as this seemed, section before US will be tfue on that sup-
improbable, in proportion to the variety position.
98 The inward part is more to be regarded than the outwards
SECT, tvickedness. But let me seriously ask you, 0 40 Ye fools, did
«_ye thoughtless creature.,^ and let me charge ^.tuTl Ztt
you that ye ask yourselves, i^'?^ /2<?^/i^ ?/^'2? out, make that which
77iade the outside^ make also that which is rvith- is within also >
in ? Did not the same God that created the
body, create the soul too ? and must he not
intimatelv know his own work, and discern
and abhor all those secret abominations, which,
in contempt of his omniscience, you study so •
artfully to conceal from your fellowcreatures ?
(Compare Psal. xciv. 8, 9.)
41 I would therefore, from the sincerest con- 41 But rather give
cem for your true honour and happiness ex- f^ fj^^'Ufb?-
hort you, not only to purge yourselves .rom ^-^^{^^ ^^^ things arc
secret wickedness, but to abound in the exer- clean unto you.
cise of universal goodness, and particularly to
give alms with liberality in proportion to your
substance : <= and then, if it be done from a
right prmciple, behold^ God, the great Proprie-
tor of all, will accept and bless you ; and though
vou should not be so exact in this outward
washing, ail thing's are piire to you^ so that you
may use them with comfort ; whereas now you
do, as it were, pollute and profane every thing
you touch, and all the water in the world can-
not wash away the stain. (See Tit. i. 15.)
42 But alas, you seem little disposed to attend 42 But wo unto
to this kind and faithful advice ; and therefore
my character obliges me solemnly to warn you
of those approaching judgments, which, if
speedy repentance does not prevent, will
shortly overtake your whole sect, numerous
»> 0 ye thoughtless ere attires."] As ctcpgon? (Exercit. p. 26) has, I think, abundantly
is a milder word than //&)§&/, I chose to pi-oved the words ta ivo-/]'x (for Kctlet <rct
render it thus, rather than as in our fra;2^- ivovlit) will very justly admit this sense,
lation; (see note '" on Mat. v, 22, Vol. I. and are thus used by some of the best
J5. 217). The learned Eisner, (Observ. Greek classics. No other seems to ag-ree
Vol. I. p. 227) explains the latter part of so well with the conriection ; not even that
the verse as if it had been said, *' There is ingenious turn of jRaphelius fAnnot. ex
a great deal of difference bePiveen cleaning Xen. p. 93 — 96), who explains ta gvov?*,
the outs'ide, and cleaning that ivhich is Viith- by to iv1@' t» Trolii^ia Kcti T«f Tsrctgoj-tS'^',
in, xnd no such necessary connection be- Mat. xxiii. 26, or that ivJnch is zvithin the
tween them as you seem to suppose." To c:ip and diah, as if it had been said, " Give
justify this, he urges 2 Sam. xix. 24, and meat to the hungry, and drink to the
one passage in Aristophanes, where 'crs/s/v thirsty, and make a liberal distribution of
signifies to cleanse ; but tlie sense is so those things that are ivithin the cup and the
unusual, and that commonly received so dish.^' But the last view in which to
much more lively and important, that I lo-a^iv had been mentioned was as ex-
could not persuade mjself to deviate from pressing the temper of the heart (ver. 40),
eur transl' tion here. which is a strong objection against this
c /n proportion to your substance.'] Thus great man's interpretation,
Grotius tmderstands it. The learned Bos
Woes are denounced against the Pharisees. 99
you, Pharisees ! for and honoured as it is. Wo therefore unto you, sect.
ye tithe mint and Pharisees I for, to gain the admiration of the ^^'
rue, and all manner pj-j^g^g ^nd the people, you most scrupulously _ ,^
of herbs, and pass r ,../>•/> j r *a^Jt LuKe
over judgment, and /^«^ the tithe of 7mnt, and rue, and every {other \ ^_ 42
the love of God : trifling herb that grows in your gardens, and
these ought ye to expect to recommend yourselves to the Divine
ll^'TeavrUirotheUcceptance by such kind of observances ; but,
undone. at the same time, you shamefully j&a^^ by and
carelessly neglect the practice of righteous
judgment to your fellovvcreatures, and of the
love of God your Creator, as if they were mat-
ters of but little importance ; whereas indeed
these are the duties that you more especially
ought to have done ; and yet I own you ought
not to neglect the other, as even the least of
God's commands are to be revered and obey-
ed. (See Mat. v. 19.)
43 Wo unto you, Wo unto you, Pharisees, on account of your 43
Pharisees ! for ye pride, which appears on every occasion, and in
ieats^^in X^'^vnf- ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ' fi^ ^^" ^^^^ ^^^^ uppermost
gogues, and greet- seats in all assemblies, even in the very syna-
ings in the markets, gogues where you meet to humble yourselves
before God ; and mightily affect saJutatioiis in
the markets, and other public places, by titles
of distinguished respect, as the guides and
fathers of the people, the oracles of truth, and
the standards of holiness. (Compare Mat.
xxiii. 6 — 10, sect, clvii.)
44 Wo unto you, Wo unto you also, 0 ye scribes and Pharisees, 44
scribes and Phari- on account of your deceit, as under all those
sees, hypocrites ! for appearances of the strictest sanctity you are
ye are as graves rr ^ ^ r i_ 1^ y
which appear not, the most egregious hypocrites ol the age !^ Jor
and the men that I may truly say that you are like concealed
walk over them are rrraves^^ zvhich^ being: overgrown with grass,
not aware 0/ fAem. «^ ,, j ^ rr^L n *-ii
•^ men walk over, and are not azvare oj \tnem\, till
they stumble at them, and are hurt, or at least
defiled by the touch of them.
45 Then answer- And one of the doctors of the law,^ who hap- 45
ed one of the law- pened to be present, observing that in this last
^ 0 ye scribes and Pharisees ^ hypocrites.'] in very different circumstances. Our Lord
Though some copies want these words, there compares them to nuhited sepulchres^
and Grotius and Dr. Mill give them up, I ver. 27, adorned on the outside, but de-
think Dr. Whitby is right in retaining filed within ; but here to graves overgrcm-n
them ; especially because they so much miith grassy which might often happen to
illustrate verse 45. See Whitb. Exam, be by the ivaystde (compare Gen. xxxv.
Miii, p. 46. 19) , and so might occasion such acci-
« Are like concealed graves."] The dis- dents as are here referred to.
course against the J*harisees, which is ^ One of the doctors of the law.] I appre-
recorded Mat. xxiii. fsect. clvii. clviii.) hend that vc/*/jc@' may well be rendered a
was plainly delivered at another time, and doctor or interpreter of the Itm ; which I
100 A wo IS likewise added to the lawyers
SECT, "vvo Jesus mentioned the scribes, who were a vers, and »aid unto
ex- body of men to whom he and his brethren be- ^im, Master, thus
7^ longed, answered and said unto him. Master, in proachest uJ^^w!^^*
xi. 45 ^^l/^^S' if^^s^ things, thou reproachest not only
the sect of the Pharisees, but us too, in a man-
ner unbecoming the dignity of our holy pro-
fession, as the depositaries of the sacred
oracles.
46 But Jesus was so far from palliating the 46 and he said,
matter to ingratiate himself with them, that/z^ Wo unto you also,
plainly and courageously said,^ Nay, it is a [^^^/^^'^^^^^f ^^^"^^^^^^^^
righteous rebuke, and I intend it for you, and dens grievous to be
therefore particularly repeat it for your admo- borne, and ye your-
nition : Wo unto yon also, ye professed ^nter. ^llT:^,,:ilf'^
preters of the law ! Jor, by your rigorous de- your fingers,
cisions on the ceremonial parts of it, and the
human traditions which you have added to it,
you load other rnen with insupportable burdens,
and unmercifully lay them on, while you your-
selves will not touch the burdens with one of your
fingers,^ but suffer your lives to contradict
your precepts, even in some of the most im-
portant instances.
47 I also solemnly denounce a xvo unto ijou all, 47 Wo unto you !
for the malignity and cruelt}^ of your tempers ^"^ -^^ h\x\\^ the
under this mask of piety and devotion ! for at a p^-ophets? and yoip
great expense ijou build ^nd adorn the sepulchres fathers killed thenv.
of the prophets, as if you had a mighty venera-
tion and affection for them, though your fathers
48 slew them* But as you are regardless of the 48 Truly ye bear
instructions that the prophets gave, and appear witness that ye allow
in your conduct to imitate your fathers, truly f^their: for'^the^-Ti-
you bear xvitness to them, rather than against deed lulled them,
them, and in effect approve and vindicate tlie
zvorks of your fathers ;^ for as they indeed slexv
«fenerally choose, rather than the word s Will not touch the bitrdens m-'ith one of
^aii^ycr, because that naturally sug-g-ests ^o your fingers. 1^ Perhaps tlieir consciences
us a modern idea of an office which did might charge them with some private
not exist among the Jews at this time, contempt of the injunctions they most
and has strangely misled some interpret- rigorously imposed upon others in cere-
ers. These ^e^vish lainycrs (as our trans- nio7iial precepts as well as moral ; or it
lation calls them) were the most consid- may refer to the want of a due tenderness
erable species of scribes, who applied for the comfort of men's lives, which they
themselves peculiarly to study and explain imbittered by such rigour. This seems
the tau\ Probably many of them were to prove against Trigland (de Karais, p.
Pharisees; but it was no ways essential 58, l^ seq.) that these /aswyer^ were not
to their office tliat tliey should be so. Karaites; for these added not ^af/zVionary
What touched the person here speaking burdens to the law.
was, that our Lord, in his last "u-o, ver. 44, ^ And in effect approve and vindicate
iiad joined the scribes with the Pharisees, the 'ojorh of your fathers.'] Archbishop
The blood of all the prophets should he required of them, 101
and ye build their them^ and you build their sepulchres^ one would se«t.
sepulchres. imagine that you erected these monuments not ^^'
so much in honour of the slaughtered prophets "~—
us of the persecutors by whom they were so \\^^^
wickedly destroyed. (Compare Mat. xxiii. 29
— 32, sect, clviii.)
49 Therefore also Therefore^ also the wisdom of God hath said} 49
said the wisdom of and I am in his name commissioned to declare
God, I \vill send \^ ^^ j^jg determinate purpose, / zuill vet send
them prophets and ^. ^, ^ ^2. ^ j ^^ ^
apostles, and fowe of ^^^^'^^ othtY prophets <2/2<^ cxtraordmary messen-
tliem they shall slay gers, particularly the apostles^ who shall declare
and persecute c ^y gospel to them, as the last expedient for
their recovery and salvation : but such I know
to be the hardness of their hearts, that they
will generally despise and reject them ; nay,
[some'] of theyn they will kill^ and will persecute
50 That the blood the rest : So that by filling up the measure of 50
of all the prophets, their sins, they wilfbring such a terrible de-
which was shed irom . > -^ ^, , *=* ,, , w n r a- ,.
the foundation of struction upon themselves, that the blood of all
the world, may be the prophets and martyrs which has been cruelly
required of this gen- shed from the foundation of the worlds may seem /
^llTrom the blood ^^ ^' required^ of this generation ; Even from 51
of Abel, unto the the blood of righteous Abel^ who in those early
blood of Zacharias, ages for his distinguished piety was murdered
which perished be- ^y his inhuman brother, to the blood of Zecha-
tween the altar and • , v r t_ 1 r- i 1 *' .
the temple ; verily I ''^^/^ one oi the last ot the prophets, who was
say unto you, It shall slain betzueen the altar and the temple (2Chron.
xxiv. 20 — 22). Tea, in the strongest terms
Itellyou^ and repeat it again. The ruin God
will bring upon you in his righteous judgment
shall be so dreadful, that it shall seem as if the
guilt of all their blood had been laid up in store,
that it might be required at the hands of this
Tillotson (Vol. II. p. 195, 196) has set this not say, I send to joa, but to them. Yet
"text in a most strong- and beautiful light, I see no reason to conclude (with Mr.
and hinted the turn which I have given it Whiston^ in his Essay for restoring the Old
in the paraphrase. Testa-ment, p. 228) that tliis is a quotation
• Therefore also the naiidovi of God hath from any ancient writer. Christ was em-
^d."] Dr. Guyse (with Markius, Exerc. p. powered, without any such voucher, to
,669) paraphrases this clause as the words declare what the counsels of Divine ivisdovi
oi the historian, and supposes him here to had determined ; and Uiis manner of
apply tins character to Christ, and to de- speaking- strong-ly intimates that he was
clare that Christ, thevjisdom, of God, farther so ; in which view it has on this interpre-
said, Iviill send them prophets, &c. I doubt tation a peculiar beauty and propriety,
not but Christ might with great propriety
be spoken of by that phrase : but, with all k The blood of Zecharlah.'] What reason
due respect to that learned and pious in- there is to conclude the Zechariah here
terpreter, I cannot apprehend it to be the spoken of is that prophet of whose death
sense of this passage ; not only because we have an account in 2 Chron. xxiv. 20,
the phraseology is unexampled in the evdn- isfseq. will be shewn in notet on Mat. xxiii-
gelistSf butchiqfly because ©wr iori/ does 35, sect, clviii.
103 The scribes and Pharisees endeavour to insfiare him,
s^cr.getieratiofij and heap a^^^ravated ruin on their be required of this
ex. heads. (Compare Mat. xxiii. 34—36, sect, generation.
^~~ clviii.)
^"Jf And I will add, that the disguises thrown 52 Wo unto you,
''■'' on scripture, and the methods used to conceal [rrawfXX'
it from the people, have done a great deal to ^f knowledge : ye
bring on this terrible sentence : wo therefore entered not in your-
tinto 7/otu interpreters of the iaw, on this account ! selves, and them
1 ,-^ ,' /- J 1 ^^^^ ^^.gj.g entering
for by these unrighteous practices you have^ as .^^ ^^ hindered,
it were, taJ^en atvay the key of Divine knowledge;^
and instead of tracing out a spiritual Messiah
in scripture, and illustratingthe testimony which
the sacred oracles bear to him, you have rather
abetted the popular prejudices against him ;
and have been so perverse and obstinate in your
opposition to the gospel, as that you have not
entered 171 to the kingdom of heaven yourselves,
and even those that otherwise were disposed to
do it, and zvould have entered in^ you by your
wicked management have hindered,
53 But while he spake these severe and awful 53 And as he said
thing. w.th so muchfreedom to them, thescribcs .t^^.'^tfLstd'
and Pharisees were so exceedingly provoked ^\^^ piiarisees began
that they began fiercely to fasten upon him^ to urge hhn vehe-
and rudely endeavoured to iirge him to speak ^/"^ently, and to pro-
, y , ^ , ^ ^ ^- voke him to speak ot
many things that were the most exception- manythin^-s :
54 able topics : Thereby lay i)ig snares for him, 54 Laying wait for
and attemptinp-^ if possible, to start some un- ^^"tI' and seeking to
guarded word,'' which they hop^d might fall ^^^^^^ ^°"^^t^^^"^ «^^^
« The key of ino'aiiedge.'] Vitringa under- the words here used are metaphors taken
stands this o^ one fundamental truth, which from hunting. ATrog-ofA-itli^iiv might be ren-
wonld have led them into tlie knowledge dered to inouth or bear down with the
of the rest (Observ. Sacr. lib. i. p. 125) : violence of their words, as Theophylact
but all their endeavours to embarrass and excellently explains it : but the addition
bias the minds of men in their inquiries of ranpi 'WKnovm engaged me rather to
after trvith might be intended here ; as translate it as I have done. Grotius and
well as more especially their disguising Casaubon have shewn that it sometimes
the prophecies which related to the Mes- signifies to examine in a magisterial ivaj $
siah. If a iey was delivered to them as but Erasmus's note is, on the whole, the
the badge of their office (see Vol. I. p. best I have seen upon this word.
485, «o£e?, and Cameroon this place), there " To start some unguarded word.]
may be a beautiful allusion to that circum- Qnpiva-^ti in this connection has a most
stance ; as if \\e should have said, Tou take beautiful propriety, and signifies the eager-
thatkev, not to use, but to secrete it. (See ness whh v^h'ich sportsmen beat about for
Archbishop Tillutson, Vol. I. p. 208 ) Els- their game, to start it from its covert. _ It
jitrhas well .shewn on this text that the is very probable, as Mr. Cradock conjee-
heathen priests v,-eve called KKuS^axoh key- tures, that fAePAame^, who was master of
bearers. Observ. Vol. I. p 228, 229. the house, had invited a great many of his
'" Fiercelv to fasten upon him.'\ So (Ts/vac brethren and learned friends on purpose
?.'6;)(^s<v properly signifies (.see ?;o?e eon Mark to make a more formidable attack upon
vi. 19, Vol. I. p. 198). Several more of Christ, and by their coacurrent testimony
Reflections on the gjzih and danger of hypocrisy. 103
of his mouth, \.\\a.\.from his mouth in the warmth of natural resent-
they might accuse ment ; that they might t^ke occasion to accuse
^^^' him for it before the Roman governor, or the
Jewish sanhedrim : but the prudence of
Christ frustrated their malice, in the midst of
all the plainness of his faithful rebukes.
IMPROVEMENT.
Fait hfi^l are the wounds of a friend ; and such were the reproofs ver.39
of Christ on this occasion. How well had all the entertainments ^*«?-
of the Pharisee'' sX.2^\q been repaid, had he and his brethren heard
them with candour, humility, and obedience ! These men
despised them to their ruin : let us often review them for our 51
instruction, that none of these dreadful woes may come upon us.
This discourse of our Lord is a most just and severe rebuke 39, 42
to every hypocritical professor, who is scrupulous and exact in
matters ofceremony, while he neglects morality ; and is studious
to shine in the sight of men, while he forgets the allpenetrating
eye of God. It exposes the ostentation of those who pride them- 43
selves in empty titles of honour^ and eagerly affect precedence
and superiority. And it evidently chastises those who press on 46
others the duties they neglect themselves^ and so are most right-
eously y//aJ^e^ow? of their own mouth.
How melancholy it is to observe, in instances like these, the 44
hypocrisy and deceitfulness of the human heart, and its despe-
rate and unfathomable wickedness ! and to see how men impose
upon themselves with empty ^pearances, like these Pharisees ; 47, 49
who huilt the sepulchres of the former prophets^ while they were
persecuting those of their own day ; and, in contempt of all that
was said by the messengers of God, were filling up the measure 50, 51
of their iniquities^ till the cloud which had been so long gathering
burst on their heads, and poured forth a storm of aggravated
wrath and ruin !
May that God who has an immediate access to the hearts of
men deliver all Christian countries, and especially all protestant
churches, from such teachers as are here described : who take 52
away and secrete the key of knowledge instead of using it, and
obstruct^ rather than promote, men's entrance into the kingdom
of heaven ! How loud will the blood of the souls they have
betrayed cry against them in the awful day of accounts ! and
how little will the wages of unrighteousness^ and the rewards of
worldly policy, be able to warn them against destruction^ or to
support them under it !
to charge upon him any thing which proper, and the courage and zeal It ex-
i might render him obnoxious : and the pressed more remarkable. See CradQik^n
i presence of so many of them made the MaTTnonyy partii. p. 6.
discourse delivered at this time more
VOL. 9. 15
104» Christ charges his disciples to heivare of hypocrisy ;
CXL
Christ cautions his disciples agaiiist hypocrisy^ and aJiimates them
against the fear of men by the promise of extraordinary assistance
from his Spirit in their greatest trials. Luke XII. 1 — 12.
Luke XII. 1. Luke xti. 1.
JN the 7nean time, while Christ was thus dis- T N the meantime,
i coursing at the Pharisee's house, mam, ^^;:^Z^:Z
thousands of people were gathered together,^ innumerable multi-
and pressed with so much eagerness to hear tude of people, inso-
him, that they even trampled on each other : and much that they trode
r^v^n ' r ^ i 7 j. one upon another,
[Jesm] going forth among them, began to say ^^ began to say unto
to his disciples in the presence of them all, See his disciples first of
that you more especially beware, and above all all. Beware ye of the
thingstake heed to yourselves 0/ being corrupted g^/Jgf ^i^^^h is liy'
by the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypo- pocrisy.
crisy ; a vice which secretly puffs up their
minds, and strangely spreads itself through
their hearts and lives, so as to taint and spoil
2 the very best of their duties. But seriously 2 For there is
reflect upon the folly of it ; for vou may assure notlnngcovered, that
,' Ti^u r i/'A/T* shallnot be revealed;
yourselves, as I have told you formerly (Mat. neither hid,that shall
X. 26 ; Mark iv. 22 ; and Luke viii. 17), that not be known.
there is 7iothing now so secretly coficealedzvhich
shallnot be discovered, and be openly tmveiled
another day ; nor any thing im artfully dis-
guised or hidy zuhich shall not then at least be
made knoivn, if God does not more immedi-
ately expose those shallow artifices which he
3 now discerns and abhors. So that whatever 3 Therefore what -
you have spoken with the utmost caution, in the soever ye have spok-
X}a\c\est darkness, shall then 1^^ published and J^;"^^jt"ff'?H^^^
, , . , , rr -i r I- 7 , be heard m the lic-ht:
heard in the clearest eftulgence ot light : and and that which ye
what you have whispered in the most retired have spoken in the
chambers and closets, shall then be proclaimed ^ar i» closets, shall
aloud as/ri?m the housetops in the audience of all. ^^^ house^^ops. ^^°"
* Many thousands of people were gathered vast assemblage of people might be owing-
together.! It would be more exactly to an apprehension either that Christ
rendered 7na7iy onyriads ; but lest every might meet with some ill usage among so
English reader should not know that a many of his enemies, or that he would say
myriad is ten thousand, I render it tnany or do something peculiarly remarkable
thousands ; nor is it necessary to take the on the occasion- Compare Luke v. IT,
word in its strictest sense. Perhaps this 19, sect. xlv.
and encourages them against the fear of men. 105
4 And I say unto Jrz^ therefore let it be your care, not merely sect.
you, my friends, Be to save appearances, but to maintain a good ^^^'
that tlfV/ bod"; '°"'"'""' *°"Sh at the greatest expense :
and after that have for / say iinto you^ my dear friends^ with all
no more that they possible seriousness, and most tender concern
^^^ ^"' for your everlasting welfare, Fear not those who
at the worst can only kill the body^ and after
that have nothing more which they can do^ the
immortal soul being entirely out of their reach
5 But I will fore- as soon as it has quitted the body. But I will 5
warn you whom ye point out to yoii the great Object whom you
wWclt'afterTeha™; ^hallfiar while I exhort you most reverentially
killed, hath power ^ojear the great Almighty God, even him^ who^
to cast into hell ; after he has killed the body, has power to cast
yea, I say unto you, bo^^ that and the soul into hell ; yea, knowing
that I cannot too often inculcate it, I say unto
you again, Fear him, and rather choose to ven-
ture on the greatest dangers, and to sacrifice
your lives, than to do any thmg which may
offend his Divine Majesty. (Compare Mat.
X. 28, Vol. I. p. 416.)
6 Are not five In the mean time remember that your ene- 6
sparrows sold for mies cannot hurt even your bodies without his
two farthings, and j^^owledge and permission; for his Providence
notoneofthemisfor- \ • ^r i , n •
gotten before God ? extends itselt even to the meanest works oi his
hands : for instance, Are not five sparrows sold
for so inconsiderable a sum as two farthings ^^
and yet not one of them, minute and worthless
as they are, is forgotten before God ; but he
attends to all the circumstances of their lives
7 But even the and deaths. Surely then you will not be over- 7
very hairs of your locked by him ; but may "justly conclude that
head are all number- rr i -ii^-i r
ed. Fear not there- ^^ "^^ ?^xa\ a special and particular concern for
fore ; ye are of more you, as \}i\2X€ven the very hairs of your head are
value than many all numbered, SO that not one of them can perish
sparrows. without his notice. Fear not therefore ; for
as men, and much more as my servants and
friends, you are more valuable than 7nany spar"
rows, and will be more remarkably his care
S Also I say unto than they. But howsoever he may now permit 8
you to be persecuted by your enemies for your
fidelity to me, though he should even suffer
you to sacrifice your lives in so honourable a
cause, you will be far from being losers by it
in the end : for I say unto you, T\\2itifany one
* For tviofarthingSi A^Tctfim S'vo.'\ This Roman penny t in value about three farthings
was a ffoman coin that was then current of our money. Two sparrows might be
in Judea, called as, or anciently assarius, bought for one, and Jive for two of these .-
vvliich was the tenth part of the denarius or Compare Mat. x. 29, sect. Ixxvi.
106 Christ will at last own those who now own him before men.
szcr. shall freelv acknorvleJge his faith m me before yo\i,W\\osoevev s\\a\\
c^^' men,^ the Son of man himself .9/w//«/vo acknozvl- ^^"fess me before
'. . y . 1 11- men, him shall the
edge his complacency m such a person, and his g^,^ ^^ ,^^^^ ^^^^ ^^„_
••'^8 I'elation to him^ even before the angels of God^ fess before the an-
^^' when they come to attend on his final triumph, gels of God.
9 But as for him that basely and perfidiously 9 But he that de-
renoiinces me hefjre men, and is ashamed or "ieth me before
afraid of maintaining so good a cause, hhn will ^^^ "^^^^l^^^,
/also renounce before the holy angcU of God,^ God.
when they appear in a radiant circle around me,
and wait, with solemn and observant silence,
the important event of that awful day. (Com-
pare Mat. X. 29—33, Vol. I. p. 418.)
10 Nothing can therefore be more dangerous 10 And whoso.
and fatal than to. oppose my cause, and that '^;j;a '^a^linT'' die
especially when the Spirit is sent down on my son of man, it shall
followers after mv resurrection and ascension : be forgiven him :
for whosoever shall speak a reflecting xvordY'"' "''^'' H'"^ ^■''^!
70 r • *u- ^^ J^ ^ . r blasphemeth against
against the Son of man in this present state of ^j^^. '^^^^ ^^^0°^^ it
his humiliation and suffering, he may possibly shall not be for-
hereafter repent, and on that repentance it may given.
be forgiven him :^ but as for him that blasphem-
eth the Holy Spirit, who shall then display his
most glorious agency as my great Advocate
and Witness ; as for the wretch that mali-
ciously imputesto diabolical operation the most
convincing evidences of Divine power and
goodness that shall be given by the Spirit after
his effusion^ his crime is of such a nature, that
it shall not be forgiven him ; for he has thus
opposed the last method of God's recovering
grace, and shall, as utterly incorrigible, be
abandoned to final destruction. (See Mat.
xii. 31, and note p, Vol. I. p. 340.)
c IJ any one shall acknonaltdge me, &C.3 Compare Mat. vli. 23, sect, xliii. iiote^. Vol.
The idioms of languages ditier so much, I. p. 250, and John v. 22, isfseq. sect, xlvii.
that what is very elegant and proper in one note ^, p. 272.
may, if verbally translated, be contrary to e it ^ay bef or given him.'] The common
grammar in another. This verse and the rendering oi'A<piBn!riJdt.i is more literal ,• but
following are instances of it. It seems to the connection shews it must be taken as
me a kind of superstition to scruple such here ; for it would be madness to imagine
/iw/^' c A an^ej as I have here made ^ that, in such a case as \.\\is, forgiveyiess
<• //J?M. toi// / also rensKnce, Sec 3 Nothing must come of course, whether the blas-
can be more majestic than this view which phemer did or did not repent. What
Christ gives of himself. To be renounced grammarians call an enalCage of moods and
by him is spoken of as a circumstance tenses is very frequent ; and I shall not al-
which would expose a man to the con- -ways think it necessary to trouble the
tempt of the whole angelic world, and reader with an apology, when the reason
leave him no rerpaimng shelter or hope, of the change is so evident-
The Spirit should help them to speak for themselves. 107
11 And when they But let me add, that however others may be sect.
s^n"a^o^ues"a^i'd^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^' ^^^^ testimony of the Sphit, one ^"*
S"mTg!sU'ate^s! Td h-'^PPX "^^^^^ ^^ ^^s operation shall be to furnish •:;^
powers, take ye no YOU, my apostles, for an honourable discharge ^ii. ii
thoughthowor what of your office in its most difficult parts : and
swef, ^or what ^e ^^^^^^^^'^' ^" ^^^ Opposition you shall meet with
shall *say : from your enemies and persecutors, when they
shall 6ri?ig' you before the judicial courts which,
assemble in the synagogues^ and even before
greater magistrates^ and the supreme porvers^
whether Jewish or heathen ; though they may
have, not only your liberty, but your life in
their hands, yet be not anxious how to behave,
or what apology you shall make for yourselves/
or xvhat yon shall say in defence of the gospel
12 For the Holy you preach : For the Holy Spirit \nmst\i shall 12
Ghost shall teach teach yoii in that very hour^ or in the season of
Tour, wha^yeo'ught ^^^ Z^^^^^^^ difficulty and extremity, xvhat you
to say. ought to say^ and what answer you should make
to their most captious inquiries, or most invid-
ious charges : (compare Mat. x. 19, 20, sect.
Ixxv.) Proper thoughts and expressions shall
freely flow in upon you as fast as you can utter
them ; so that with undaunted courage you
shall be able to vindicate the honour of my
gospel, and to confound the most artful or
most potent of your enemies.
IMPROVEMENT.
Let us from this discourse which we have been reading learn ver. I
the folly of hypocrisy^ as well as the wickedness of it. A lying
tongue is but for a" moment (Prov. xii. 19) ; and the great
approaching judgment day will shew all in their true colours.
May we live as those Avho are then to be 7nade manifest ! May 2 3
the leaven of deceit, by Divine grace, be entirely purged out of
our hearts ; and all our conduct be so fair and equal, that it
may appear more honourable and lovely, in proportion to the
accuracy with which it is examined ; as the whitest garments
are recommended by being seen in the strongest light !
* Be not anxious hem to behave, or lohat and their solicitude would be in some
apology you shall make for yourselves.'] It measure proportionable to their piety, if
is not without reason that Christ so often they apprehended the gospel, which was
touches on this topic. The apostles, being dearer to them tlian their own lives, might
poor and illiterate men, would naturally suffer by the hurry and disorder of their
have been thrown into confusion when tlioughts, when they were thus called
they appeared as criminals in the presence publicly to defend it. Compare note « on
of persons in the highest stations of life ; Mat. x. 19, Vol. I. p. 414.
CXI
ver
108 Refections on the fear ofGod^ and courage in his cause,
SECT. If we would preserve such an integrity of soul, let us endeavour
to get above the servile y^ar of man ; ofinan^ that shall die ^ and
"" of the son of man ^ that shall be made as grass ; as if the oppressor
had us in his power, and xuere ready to destroy : and where is the
fury of the oppressor? (Isa. li. 12, 13.) With what infinite ease
can God restrain it ; and, when it is let loose in all its violence,
how little can it do to hurt his faithful servants ! Let this mean
5 passion be overawed by the fear o/that God who has our eternal
all in his hands ; whose vengeance, or favour, will reach far
beyond the grave, and determine our final misery or felicity, as
we are the objects of the one or the other.
6, 7 While we are in the world let us labour after a firm faith in
the universality of Divine Providence ; from which the least oi\\\^
creatures are not exempted, nor are they forgotten by it. Let us
endeavour to enjoy the pleasure and comfort of such a thought ;
assuring ourselves that He who regards the life of birds and of
insects will not neglect the care and preservation o^ his children.
S, 9 In a steadv persuasion of this, let us determine courageously
to confess and maintain his gospel in the extremest danger ; know-
ing that thus only we shall secure the honour of being owned by
Christy amidst all the glories of his final appearance.
11, 12 And, in a word, to animate us to this holy courage, and to
assist us in every other duty, let us earnestly pray for the Holy
Spirit ; by whose influence the apostles were instructed and sup-
ported in the discharge of their difficult and various offices ;
whose grace therefore must be abundantly snffcient for uSy to
cause us to abound in every good word and work. (2 Cor. ix. 8.)
SECT. CXIL
Christy being desired to interpose in a dispute between trvo brethren
about property^ declines the decision of the case; and takes occa-
sion to advance a caution against covetousness^ which he enforces
by the parable of the rich fool.
Luke XII. 13. ^ Luke XII. 13.
he was discoursing thus to his AND one of tl
cxii. yi disciples, one of the crowd that was then -^ company said
^ ^ _ - unto him. Master,
ECT. AND while he was discoursing thus to his AND one of the
-^ disciples, one of the crowd that was then -^^
— about Jesus, said to him, Master, I desire thou speakTo"!Ay bi^otherl
jii\, 13 ^vo\i\dst speak to my brother, that he would B.gvte thsit he divide the
to divide the inheritance with me, which since inheritance with rae.
the death of our father he injuriously detains
to himself ; for thou art well known to be a
Person of such an extraordinary character, that
I would hope his reverence to thine authority
may induce him to do me justice.
Christ delivers the parable of the rich fool. 109
14 And he said But Jesus, as he did not come to meddle in sect.
unto him, Man, who such matters, prudently replied,^ Man^ what *^^"-
rdivld!^oVer>?uT ^«st thou mean by such a rash appeal to me ? ^^^
Who constituted me a judge in temporal con- xii.l4
cems, or set me up as a divider over you ? My
kingdom is of a spiritual nature ; and as to
the civil rights and properties of men, I inter-
meddle not with them, but leave them just as
I found them. (Compare Exod. ii. 14.)
15 And he said And upon this occasion, though he would 15
unto them. Take ^ot interpose in the affair, yet, to prevent their
L':e,Clerr"f;;."! being fond of the enjoyments of the world, and
man's life consisteth to preserve them from a covetous disposition,
not in the abundance Jesus said to his disciples, and to them that were
hi ^'^seS'''^"''^ present. See to it, that with the utmost care and
resolution you be upon your guard against all
kinds and degrees of covetousness ^ for though
it be a common, it is a very unreasonable vice ;
since it is evident, that the comfort and happi-
ness of a man's life does not consist in the abund-
ance of his possessions ; nor can the continuance
of his life, even for the shortest period of time,
be secured by that abundance.
16 And he spake And, to enforce and illustrate this remark, ^^16
aparable unto them, ^^^^^ ^ Very instructive parable to them, and
saying The frround ^,^^. , ^^^^^ ^,^^ ^ certain rich man, whose
or A ccrt3.in ricii Tn*in.
brouj^ht forth plen- ground bore fruit so plentifully that he had not
tifuUy. room to receive and lay up in store the vast
17 And he thought produce of his harvest. And he found all his 17
within himself, say- plenty an encumbrance to him, so that he rea-
ine-, What shall I ^ j -^i i ■ ir .. vu <. • i
do because I have '^"^'^^'^ "^^^^'^ himselj, not Without some consider-
no room where to able anxiety of mind, saying. What shcdl I do f
bestow my fruits ? Jq^ I have not room at present to store up my crop^
18 And he said, should I stow it ever so close. And, after 18
This will I do : I some pause, he came to a resolution, and^r/zV,
will pull down mv r - n j ^i • i. ^ *. ^u • ^
bains and build ^ '^^^d do tins, as what appears tome the wisest
scheme ; / xvill pull down my old barns^ and
* He prudently replied.'] This appellant is a lively phrase, the full force of whicli I
probably thought that, as the Messiah, he have endeavoured to express in the para-
would act in tlie characterof a /)r/«ce, who phrase, not being able exactly to do it ia
would decide controversies relating- to the ^'er,j/on. (Compare ?7ofe i^ on Mat. xvi. 6,
property. My rendering the phrase, he said Vol. I. p. 479.) Some old 'versions and ver>
unto him, by the equivalent word replied, good copies read li, from all covetoiu-ness ;
will not, I hope, be thouglit to need any to which I have shewn so mucli regard, as
apology'. to insert the word all in the paraphrase ,
^ See to it, that with the utmost care vow as it is certain, at least, that our Lord in-
he upon your guard against all kinds andde- tended the caution in this extent, whether
grees Qicovetoiisness.'\ O^oThkici ^v^.nrrtr^f he did or did not so particularly express it-
110 Thefallij of laying up treasure^ and not being rich towards God.
SECT, build new, which shall be larger^ and much grreater ; and there
"^^^ll more commodious than they ; and there I will J!^} ^ bestow all my
gather in all my rich increase this year, and all ^^^^ '^ ^^^ ^^"
xii. 19 ^^y goods that I already have in store : And 19 And I will say
then I zvill retire from business, and sit down to my soul, Soul,
and enjoy the fruits of my former labours, and '^^l\ \^^ ^^^^^^
will say to my soul with complacency and con- many years ; take
fidence, O mv soul^ thou hast now an abund- thine ease, eat,
unce of goods' laid up, on which thou mayest ^^'"'^' ^"'^ ^^ ""^^^
comfortably subsist for many future years ;
repose thiff^elf therefore after all thy fatigues ;
eat and drink freely, without any fear of ex-
hausting thy stores ; and be as merry as corn,
and wme, and oil, shared with thy most jovial
20 companions, can make thee. But God beheld 20 But God said
him with just displeasure, and by- the awful "5^ ^"."1' '^^/^^^^°^'
,. , '^ r 1 • r> '1 • 'rr • i ^ this msfht thy soul
dispensation oi his rrovidence m ettect said to shall be required of
him, amidst all this gaiety of heart, in the vari- thee : then whose
ety of his schemes and hopes, Thou fool ^ who shall those things
dost thus stupidly forget both the dignity and prodded ?^^'''' ^''^
the mortality of thy nature, and thy continual
dependance upon me, thy supreme Lord ! know
to thy terror, that while thou art talking of a
long succession of pleasurable years, this very
night thy soul shall be demanded of thee^ and be
hurried away to its place ; and then, where
will all its boasted entertainments be, or who
shall possess what thou hast thus laboriously
provided, but shalt thyself never enjoy ? And
accordingly the unhappy creature died that
night, and all his wealth could do no more for
him than furnish out the expenses of his fune-
21 rd. And ^50, or such a fool in the Divine 21 So h he that
account, [w] he that heaps up treasures to him- Jf^y^th up treasure
self here on earth, and is not rich with respect ^^^ ^^^^l toward*
to God^ in acts of charity and piety, which God.
would secure a fund of celestial treasures,
lodged in his almighty hand, and therefore in-
violably safe from such calamitous accidents
as these.
^ Thy soul shall be demanded of thee^ It ^ Rich -vcith respect to God."]^ There is a
is in the original, ^tTrxtlta-iv, They shall de- force and propriety in the phrase u? Qtov,
viand thy soul. Ets!.er\\\\\\ks, it alhides to which our language will not exactly ex-
the viessengers sent to fetch away the soul ; press. It represents God as a depositary^ in
andproduces a remarkable and wellknown whose hands the good man has lodged his
passage from Plato, to prove tJiat Socrates treasure ; and who has, as it were, made
thought this the office of a spirit superior himself accountable for it in another and
to men : see Eisner^ Ohserv. Vol. I. p. 231. better world. Compaxe Prov. xix. 17.
Refections on a covetous desire of earthly riches* 111
IMPROVEMENT.
Most prudently did our Lord decline the invidious ofEce of sect.
an arbitrator in civil affairs ; and wisdom will require his min- *^^'''
isters generally to avoid it likewise. It is more suitable to our ^■"*"
office, like our blessed Master, to endeavour to draw off and dis- X3^Y4
engage the minds of men from covetoiisness^ and to pluck up the
root of those eager contentions which so often divide even the
nearest reiatio?is, and inspire them with mutual aversions, more
invincible than the bars of a castle, (Prov. xviii, 19.)
And that a covetous desire oi the enjoyments of the world may x.5
not create conteiitionSy and engage us in pursuits that will be
fatal to our souls, let us seriously consider the true value of
things, and reflect how little riches can do to make us happy if
we obtain them ; and how very uncertain that life is, on the con-
tinuance of which our possession of them does so evidently de-
pend. But, alas, how many are there, who are now as deeply 15
engaged in their worldly schemes as this rich fool in the parable^ li^seq.
to whom God will, in a few weeks, or days, if not this very
nighty say, by the awful voice of his irresistible providence. Thy 20
soul is required of thee 1 And then what will all these treasures
do to purchase life^ or to allay the agonies of death ? So far will
they be found from being capable of this, that they will rather
serve to increase and imbitter the surprise and anguish of thosft
agonies.
Let it then be our labour and care that we may be rich tO' 21
wards God ; rich in works of piety and charity. So shall we
safely consign over our treasure to the bank of heaven, and shall
be enriched by it when we leave the world as naked as we
entered upon it, and lose all but what has been so wisely and
happily spent.
SECT. CXIII.
Christ repeats the cautions and arguments against an anxious and
covetous temper^ which he had formerly given in his sermon on
the mount, Luke XIL 22 — 34.
Luke XII. 22. LuKE XIL 22.
AND he said ^ I ^HUS Jesus cautioned his followers against sect.
-tx unto his disci- X setting their hearts on worldly treasures ; cxnr,
but as most of them were in such low circum- — •
stances as to be in greater danger of immoder- ^"^9^0
ate solicitude about the necessary supplies of
life, he proceeded to caution them against this,
VOL. 2. 16
112 Christ cautions his disciples against anxious care,
SECT, by repeating some of those admonitions which pies, Therefore I
cxiii. he had formerly delivered in his sermon on the say unto you. Take
711 mount.^ And accordingly he said to his disci- ^^^^^ '^^^^ ^yf l^^{y
xiL22/'^^^ ^^^ ^^^* ca?/5^, that is, considermg the eat; neither for the
great uncertainty of riches, / say to yoii^ and body, what ye shall
strictly charge it upon you, That you be not P'^^ °"-
anxious about your life^ what ye shall eat^ or
how you shall procure food to support it ; nor
for the body^ what you shall put onto cover, de-
23 fend, and adorn it. For vou must needs be 23 Thelifeismor&
sensible, the life itself, which you have receiv- than meat, and the
ed from God without any care or thoughtful- ^^JJ^ ^^^^ ^^^"
ness of yours, is much more important than
vieat, a7id the body than raiment ; and well then
may you hope that the great Author of your
life, and the Former of your body, will main-
tain his own work, in a proper manner, with-
•24 out your anxiety and solicitude about it. Es- 24 Consider the
pecially may you expect it, when you see the [i^^^" 'j J"[,ol!7ea^':
care which he takes of the inferior creatures : Jhich* neither have
as, for instance, consider the ravens^ how they storehouse nor bam?
are subsisted ; for they neither sow^ nor reap^ and God feedeth
and have neither storehouse nor barn, to lay up ^^^^^^ i^^""^^ ;^^^^
any thing against a time of want ; nay, their than the fowls ?
young ones are early deserted by their dams ;
and yet, voracious as they are, God one way or
other, feedeth them, so that you see the species
is still continued : now how much more are you
better than they ? and how much rather may
you hope to be supplied with the necessaries of
life, than any kind of birds f (Compare Mat.
vi. 25, 26, Vol. I. p. 238.)
?5 And moreover, as this care is unnecessary, 25 And which of
it will also be unprofitable ; for xvhich of you, J^'ou^ht'^ian '''iSI
by taking the most solicitous thought, can add ^^ j^jg 'stature one
a single cubit, or the least measure or moment, cubit ?
either to his age or stature \ (Compart Mat.
26 vi. 27, and note ^ on that text, sect, xli.) If 26 If ye then be
then you cannot do the least 7natter,^ as in this ""f^} able to do that
-^ , . , . , , thiner which is least,
proverbial expression you grant, why are you ^hy take ye thought
anxious about the rest, as if you were to hold for the rest '
* Repeating some of those admonitions, •» If then you cannot da the least tnatter.'^
<i5*c.3 Most of the thoughts and expres- This proves, that to add one cubit to a thing
sions used here occurred before, sect. xli. was a. proverbial expresBioo for making tho
iind are, I hope, sufficiently explained least addition to it.
there. I content myself therefore with
^-eferrlng the reader to i':.
God clothes the lilies^ and will much more take care of them. 113
your life by a kind of perpetual lease, and were sect.
secure against all danger of a sudden ejectn^ent ? cxiii*
27 Consider the Bui, to pursue the argument I began before, J~"
niieshowthey^row: jy^ but c5;2.s7Wfr God's providential care, even of ^^ii
they toil not, thev , ,, . ^ c • xu. ^7
spin not : and ye't ^"^ vegetable creation : survey, tor instance,
I say unto you, That the fair and beautiful lilies^ and reflect how they
Solomon m all his a-rorv ; theif neither labour to prepare the mate-
fflory was not array- • i r ^u • j ^ • -^ • ^ ^i.
edlike one of tliese. ^^^^^ ^* ^"^'^ dress, nor spin it into that curious
form ; and yet Providence clothes them in so
elegant and splendid a manner, that I say unto
you., Even Solomon^ when on some grand festi-
val he appeared in all its utmost magnificence .^
was not arrayed in so beautiful a white as one
28 If then God of these. And if God so clothe and adorn the 28
so clothe the grass, grass of the fie Id .^ among which the lilies grow,
ttetld!and'llo'r" 'h°"sh it " {flourishin^l today in all its verdure,
row is cast into the and by tomorrow is cut down and thrown into
oven ; how much the furnace or still (see note ^ on Mat. vi. 30,
more w:7/ he clothe ^^ ^li. p. 239), how much more [zvillhe clotheJi
you, O ye of little ^ ^ n ,i r ' , i i i •
faith ? you., O ye of little faith., who thus suspect his
care ?
29 And seek not Arid do notyou then, who are acquainted with 29
ye what ye shall eat, ^\^q ^^^^^ of Providence, and are particularly
«r what ye shall . ^ j • •. u i- •. ^ / t *
drink, neither be ye interested in it, be solicitous to seek what ye
of doubtful mind. shall eat., or what ye shall drink ; nor be like
meteors in the air, that are tossed about by
every blast of wind, hurried with anxious cares,
andagitatedxuith a variety o£ restless and uneasy
30 For all these thoughts,^ For the Gentile nations of the worlds 30
things^do the nations ^^^q j^^ow little of Providence, or of a future
after f and your^ fI- State, seek after all tjiese lower things with great
ther knoweth that solicitude ; and they are more excusable in
j^ have need of these doing it : but you are directed to much nobler
^"^^*" objects of pursuit, and furnished with a more
substantial support against si'ch anxieties, in
that paternal relation which God avows to you ;
and as your heavenly Father well knows that
you have need of these things, he will certainly
provide them for you in a proper degree.
31 But rather seek Leave them therefore to his care ; and, low as 51
«: i^or be agitated luith restless thoughts.'] mentioned by Saphelius (^Annot. ex Xen. p.
After all the various and perplexed things 97, 98), seem to me to favour this senge,
which critics have said on this word, though some of them are produced to
fxCimitiT^^ (of which a very large account establish another. It appears from them,
may be seen in the learned Wolfius), the that any speculations and musings, in
sense I have taken is the most simple, and, which the mxn^fiuctuatesy or is suspended
especially here, the most natural. The in an uneasy hesitation, might well be
authorities produced by Eisner fObserv. expressed by such a word.
Vol. I. p. 233, 234), and several of those
114 They should seek the kingdom ofGod^ and treasure in heaven.
SECT, your condition is, be not imeasv and disquieted ye the kinp^dom of
cx"i- about them ; hut seek ye rather the kingdom ^^t^;-^;,''"ijVL^add^
God^ and labour to promote its interest among ed mito you.
xiftl "^^" ' ^^^ ^^^" y^^^ "^^^' depend upon it, not
only that you shall obtain that most important
prize, but likewise, that all thesis other necessary
things shall be added to you^ without your anxi-
ety. (Compare Mat. vi. 3 1—33, Vol. I. p. 240,)
32 I repeat the encouraging thought ; Fear not^ 32 Fear not, little
" ye little flock^ my dear property and charge, flock: for it is your
however feeble you may seem ; fear not, I say, ^^^^f^^^
that you shall be left destitute ot tnese common kingdom.
blessings of Divine Providence ; for it is your
heavenly Father^s gracious pleasure to give you
what is infinitely more valuable, even the king-
dom of eternal glory : and can you possibly
imagine that, while he intends to bestow that
upon you, and even takes pleasure in the
thought of making you so great and happy
there,** he will refuse you those earthly supplies
which he liberally imparts even to strangers
and enemies ?
33 Animated therefore by such a hope and con- 33 Sell that ye
fidence, instead of beincr solicitous to increase have, and give alms :
' . ^1 ^ ^ ^i. 1 provide vourselves
your possessions to the utmost, rather be pre- \^^^^ ^^-^^^ ^^^x^oi
pared, when Providence shall call you to it, to old, a treasure in
sell what you already /zay^, and distribute [it'] in
charity ;^ and so you m.'^y provide for yourselves
purses which do not grotv old said wear out^ even
^ Takes pleasure in the thought of mak- and many of those relating" to election, pre-
in«* you so great and happy there.] This destination y &c. vi'hicli have been as dry rods
is the beautiful and wonderful import of of controversy, when considered in this
the word iuhx-y^friv in tliis connection ; view, bud out into a thousand fair leaves
which generally signifies a pleasurable and fragrant blossoms of hope and joy.
acquiescence. And agreeably to this it is , ^^^^ ^j^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ distribute it in
most edifying and del.ghtfal to observe ^j^^^-^^-^ These words were probably as
how God IS represented in scripture as ^ fruitful ..e^ in the minds of some who
e,:joymg hts o^n prescience, as it were, with ^^^^^,^ ^^^^ . ^^^^ ^,^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^ of estates
a peculiar rehsh.m the view or those glo- ^ ^^^^ ^^,^^,^^ ^^ ^^, ^^^^.^^^ /^
ries whicu he has prepared for his people. christians were subsisted, might be
Hence those emphatical phrases of u..r/om [^ ^ ^^^^^^^.^ ^,^^ ^^^.^^^^ %^^.^^^
rejoicing in the habitable tarts of the earth, 3 ,u„| ^.^^ -^ ^„j^, ^1^^ cultivation of
or m the prospect and idea of them, before ^^^ ^^^^^^^^ .^.^^ ^^^^. .^ ^^^^
they were actually made (Prov. viu. 31) ; ^bable than that some of the many my-
of Gods kno'i.ing the thoughts he thinks to- J.,-^^, now attending .z.rX.r^ (ver. 1) might
nmrds his people {]ev. xxix. 11); and of his ^^ .^ ^j^^ numbei^f the thousands then
rejoicing over them with joy and silently ^^j^^.^rted ; see Acts ii. 41-45.
resting in his love to them (Zepn. in. 17).
The tenderness and energy of innumer- ^ Purses 'which do not grovi old, and
dble scriptures depends on this remark j wear out.] This may be fitly taken as an
Reflections on the duty of casting all our care upon God, 1\5
the heavens that a never failing treasure in heaven^ that region sect.
faileth not, where of security and immortality, zuhere no thief ^^^^^'
no thief approach- ^pp^^^ches to plunder the riches of its inhab- 7—
eth, neither moth J J^ 1 ) ^, ^1 j 1 .,1 Luke
corrupteth. itants, nor doth the moth corrode and spoil the xii.33
34 For where robes of glory in which they appear. And 34
your treasure is, ^he more careful should you be about this
hetrt be^also. ^^"^ heavenly treasure, because it is certain that
-where that which you account your chief treas-
ure is laid up, there will your heart be also fixed,
and the whole tenor of your thoughts and
affections will naturally flow in that channel.
(Compare Mat. vi. 20, 21, Vol. I. p. 236.)
IMPROVEMENT.
Are we not all conscious to ourselves that on such topics as verse
these we need line upon line^ and precept upon precept^ as being 22,29
too deficient in our regard^ though God speak once^ yea twice ?
(Job xxxiii. 14.) We see our heavenly Father crowning the
earth with his goodness : to this day does he clothe the grass and '^7i 28
the flowers with the same profusion of ornament ; to this day 24
does he feed the young ravens when they cry (Psal. cxlvii. 9),
nor is the meanest species of insects perished. Still does he
knoxv our necessities ; and still he addresses us in the same gra- 30
cious language, andavow^s the same endearing paternal relation.
The experience of his power, goodness, and fidelity, is increas-
ing with every succeeding generation, with every revolving day. 23
The life that he has given is supported by his care ; and the
same hand that formed the body nourishes and clothes it. Let
us then cast all our care on him^as being persuaded that hecareth
for US. (1 Pet. V. 7.) Feeble as his little flock is, it is the 32
Father''s good pleasure to give us the kingdom ; and we are un-
worthy our share in so glorious a hope, if we cannot trust him
for inferior blessings, and refer it to him to judge in what man-
ner our present wants are to be supplied.
Let the heathens abandon themselves to these low anxieties ; 30
but as for us, let us thank God^ and take courage^ opening our
hearts wide to every sentiment oi faith in God, and charity to Zo
men ; and while we have this inexhaustible hank to draw upon,
let us be rich in good zvorks^ ready to distribute^ willing to com-
municate^ so laying up in store for ourselves a good foundation
against the time to come^ that xve may lay hold on eternal life
allusion to the danger of losing money out ijith holes. (Compare Hag. i. 6.) The
of a hoie worn in an old purse. Such is fre- rich men of Judea, so soon ravaged and
quently the gain of this world, and so are destroyed by the Romans, pai'ticularly
its treasures hoarded up, and put into a bag found it so.
116 Christ exhorts his disciples to watchfulness^
SECT. (1 Tim. vi. 18, 19) ; the very hope and expectation of which,
exiii. jf Q^^j. ii^Qf-f be set upon it, will give us incomparably sweeter
delight than the securest possessions of this empty world, and
the most ample magazines of its richest stores.
verse
34
SECT. CXIV.
Christ exhorts his disciples to watchfulness and fidelity^ in expecta-
tion of his coming, and of the final account to be given for all
their advantages, Luke XII. 35 — 48.
Luke XIL 35. Luke XII. 35.
SECT. /^UR Lord having thus exhorted his disci- T E T your loine
CXIV. \J pjgg ^Q ^ due moderation as to their •*-< be girded about,
—^ worldly possessions, proceeded to press upon ^^^^^j^our lights burn^
32i^ 35 them a serious preparation for their final
remove from earth, and for the awful solemni-
ties of death, judgment, and eternity.* He
therefore went on to say, Consider yourselves
always as servants, who have a Master in hea-
ven ; and, that you may approve your diligence
and fidelity to him, let your loins he still girded
up in a posture for active service, and your lamps
be continually burning in a readiness to receive
S6 him :»_ And be you, on the whole, like men in ..f.s'^fe JmoT;
a waitmg posture, who, as good servants left that wait for their
with a proper charge, attending to the work ap- Lord, when he will
pointed them, watt for their hordes return from ^^^^^^ ^^f"^ ^^
* . r ^ ^ 11 *' • weddinp;-, that when
a marriage Jeast^^ or any other late entertam- ^g cometh and
ment ; that -when ever he comes and knocks at knocketh, they may
the door, they may immediately open it to him, °P^" ""^" ^"^ ^"^'
37 and not be surprised in any disorder. Happy ^^^37^^ Blessed are
are those servants, whom, when {their'l Lord those servants,
a A serious preparation for — death, iv. 20 ; Job xxxviii. 3 ; Jer. i. 17 ; Eph.
judgment, and eternity.] I shall give the vi. 14 ; and 1 Pet. i. 13) That the lamps
reason for my interpreting this passage should be found extinguished might be an
tihus, a little below, in note ^, though I am inconvenient circumstance to the master,
sensible the generality of readers would and would be a demonstration of the ser-
rather have expected an apology if I had vant\ idleness. The expressions taken
^one about to interpret it otherwise. together may intimate the care we should
^ Let your loins be girded up, and your take to inform ourselves in our duty, and
iemtps burning.'] As the Easterns wore long the resolution with wliich we should apply
garments, it was necessary that when they to the performance of it.
iad any thing to do which required them "= From a marriage feast."] There is no
to exert their strength or agility, they particular mystery in this circumstance,
sfiould tuck them up -jiud gird them close ; Our Lord might probably instance in this,
* practice to which there are frequent because onarriage feasts were generally
preferences, both in the Old Testament and the most splendid, and so prolonged to
tlie Nexv. (See 1 Kings xviii. 46 ; 2 Kings the latest hours.
and to be ready at whatever hour he shall come* 117
whom the i^ox6. comes ^ he shall find ^u^ watching ior\iivci\ and sect.
when he cometh jiappy also will you be, if this shall be your case: ^^^^'
shall find watching: ^ ^'erilu^ I say vuto you. So condescending is "T"
venly, I say unto z/\ yf * */ ^ t fL* Lu^«
you, that he shaU your Lord and Master, that, it you answer this xii.37
^ird himself, and character, he will reward you as graciously as
make them to sit jf gQjne erreat man, absent on such an occasion
down to meat, and ,o jrj* i- ^*.j'i*
will come forth and as I have supposed, finding his servants dili-
serve them. gently waiting for him at his return, should
gather up his clothes and gird himself, and
cause them to sit down to supper, and should
38 And if he shall come forth himself and wait upon them,^ And, 38
wrtcV^'or' come'^'in ^* whatever hour the time of his arrival be,
the thi'rd watch, and ^vhether he shall come early in the second zvatch,
find f/zem so, blessed or come late in the third xuatch of the night,«=
are those servants. ^^^ ^^j [them] thus employed, blessed and
happif are those faithful servants,
39 Andthisknow, ^^ j^ ^^^ ^^{mV it is enough, if you would 3<>
ihat if the woodman , , , , ji
of the house had then be happy, to make some sudden prepara-
known what hour tion Upon notice of his coming ; for the day
the thief would ^f ^j^^ L^^d SO comes as a thief in the night ;
wa^chel'and not ^nd you know this, that there is none so negli-
have suffered his gent and Stupid, where a house is plundered,
house to be broken gut if the housekeeper, who is intrusted with the
through. ^j.g ^£ j^^ f^^^ ^^^^ aware at what hour the thief
would have come, he would undoubtedly have
watched at that time, and would not have per-
mitted his house to be broke open : he then that
acts with prudence will be always on his watch,
that, as he knows not when the thief will come,
40 Be re there- jjg j^^y not find him unprepared. Be you 40
t^Sonof mancom- therefore also ready ; for at such a season as you
eth at an hour when think not of, and may least of all expect it, the
ye think not. ^qji of man cometh;^ and as the day of final
^ And should come forth himself, and ^ At such a season as you think not, the Son
viait upon the?n.'] It is true (as Grotius of man cometh."] The coming of the Son cf
and many others observe) that the Roman man often signifies his providential inter-
masters did sometimes, daring the Satur- position for the destruction of Jerusalem
nalia, practise some condescensions like (See Mat. x. 23, note ?, Vol. 1. p. 415.)
these to their slaves .- but that was, per- But here I think it cannot be taken in such
haps, chiefly for their own diversion ; and a sense, because our Lord speaks of aa
it is difficult to judge how far Christ's immediate renuard to be bestowed on aii
hearers might be acquainted with it ; ^t faithful servants, Kwd. animme^i^ie punish-
least tlie words would be very intelligible m.ent to be executed on all that were ten-
without supposing any such reference. faithful ; and expressly declares this to
^ In the second or third u^atck of the be a matter of uniwrsrt/ concern .• all which
night.] This included all the time from particulars have very little sense or pro-
nine in the evening to three in the morning ; priety when applied to the destruction of
and was, as if he had said, whether he Jerusalem. It must therefijre be under-
coEae iorl^ or late. stood of his coming to remove them froai
11 8 The faithful servant shall he greatly rewarded*
SECT, judgment will be a surprise to the world in
^^^^'- general, so the day when particular persons are
rr" called out of this life is often a sudden thing,
xii. 40 ai"^<i ^^^ frequently a fatal surprise to the per-
sons most intimately concerned in it. (Com-
pare Mat xxiv. 43, 44, sect, clxiii.)
41 Peter then said unto him^Lord^ dost thou speak 41 Then Peter
this awakening T^rtraZ'/t'g to us thine apostles in said unto him, Lord,
particular ? or is it also unto all in general, that parabfe^ unto^us, or
what thou hast been saying is directed ? even to all ?
42 And the Lord said in reply. Though none are 42 And the Lord
entirely unconcerned, yet you mv ministers ff'^' y?!?/!^^" ^%
^ ,. , 1 ♦. . ' 1 that faithful and
are more peculiarly to apply it to yourselves, ^ise steward, whom
and to consider me as asking each of you. Who his Lord shall make
is that faithful and prudent steward,^ r^,/^^;;^ ruler over his house-
[hi.] LordsiaU set over .AUhe servants of his'i^'^l'^l,^:^^:]^
family ^^ to deal out to each of his domestics the in due season ?
stated allozvance of food in its proper season f
As the guilt of such an officer will be greater
than that of a common servant, if he prove
negligent ; so the reward of his fidelity will
43 be proportionably great. Peculiarly happy is 43 Blessed f^tliat
that servant in so eminent a station, whom his servant, whom his
_. , ,. -iii;/-/^/ ^7 J' Lord, when he com-
Lord at his arrival shall pnd thus employed in a ^^^^ shall find so do-
faiihful discharge of the trust committed to ing-!
44 him. Truly I say to you^ that he will prefer 44 Of a truth I
him to a much hio-her station of honour and f^y ""to you, that
. n^ r y- 1 • 1 he Will make him
importance ; as if a person finding his domes- ^^^^^ ^^,^^. ^^ ^^^^
tic steward thus faithful, should upon that ap- he hath.
' point him to take the care of all that he hathy
abroad as well as at home. (Compare Gen.
xxxix. 4, 5, 6.)
the capacities of service here, to give up close) loses much of the spirit of the pas^
their account. And if we suppose it to sag-e in rendering it. If there be any faith-
relate to death as well ViS judgment (which, ful steivard, &c.
hy a consequence at least, it undoubtedly ' The servants of his family.'] So I ren-
does), it strongly intimates his having der 9-jg*7r£/a, which (as Eisner shews al
such a dominion over tlie invisible ivorld, large, Observ. Vol. I. p. 235) exactly
that everv soul removed into it might be answers to the iafin famulitium, all the
said to be" fetched away by him. Compare servants of a family : for which we have
Rev. i. 18. no one English vjord, any more than for
a This nws^^.enh^g parable.'] It may si g- (r.Tsws7§/ov, which strictly signifies a^effr-
nify particularly the similitude of the Lord minate measure of luheat^ but here is put
tind his servants, or may extend to the for all the daily food. (See Erasmus
whole of the discourse. ' here.) By such a i^emon the distinction
h JFho is that faithful and prudent stew- between this and the 44th verse is set in
nrdn This interrogation had a lively a clearer light than cm/c5 have generally
force to tiu-n their thoiiglits inward, that given it. To be raised from the care ot
each might ask himself. Whether he voas giving out food to the servants, to have the
the man ? The Prussian version therefore charge of the ivhole estate, was a noble
(and that English one wluch follow.s it so preferment.
The Son of man comes at an hour we think not of. 119
45 But and if that But^ on the contraiy, if that servant I spoke sect.
servant say in his of before as set over the family,^ should say in ^' ^^'
heart My lord de- ^ . ^ j^r jr ^^ ^^j hi/ coming-, so that 7—
laveth his commff ; -, • Z i r • i Luke
and shall begin to I have nothing to apprehend trom it ; and, on xii.45
beat the menser- that foolish presumption, shall grow so insolent
vants and maidens, ^^^ wanton, as to bes^in to beat and abuse the
and to eat and drink, , '. , ^^ , ^ j j • i -
and to be drunken : ^"^^ ^^^ maidservants, and to eat and drink m a
riotous and extravagant manner, so as to debauch
46 The lord of [himself] with it : I assure you, that the lord 4:^
that servant will qJ that servant will come upon him in a dan when
come in a day when ^ j ^ . ^^ / .„ ^^^ -^ ^^ f^^^^^ ^^,^-^,^ ;^^
he looketh not for . ^r i -i, ^ - • i i
him, and at an hour ^s not axvare oj, and Will scourge him with such
when he is not severity, that he will even cut him asunder ^
aware, and will cut ^^j notwithstandine; the profession he has
him m sunder, and j r> a -n . j • ^ v \' . ^- -^u^i.
will appoint him his rnade, God Will appoint him his portion with the
portion with theun- infidels ;™ nay, in some respects, his case shall
beUevers. be worse than theirs, as his opportunities and
engagements have been so much greater.
47 And that ser- And that servant who, like him I have been 47
vant which knew speaking of, knexv his Lord'*s will by a partic-
his lord's will, and ^^^^ declaration of it,- and, disregarding the
^ If that servant I spoke of before, ^c] etrri^ovlm. But I must beg leave to ob-
it is necessary thus to go back to verse serve, that st-Ti^oi; does in several places
42 for the explication of thii'; for it is most evidently signify unbelieviri^ : compare John
evident, from the whole tenor of jcr//&?wre, xx. 27; 1 Cor. vii. 12 — 15; x. 27;
XhaX. the servant ysiho 2iX.\i\s Lord's coming xiv. 22 — 24 (where there is an express
has passed his account in an honourable opposition in ver 22 between eL'7rt<;-u? and
manner will never afterwards be in dan- Trtm/oucrt) ; 2 Cor. vi. 14, 15 ; 1 Tim.
ger of incurring his displeasure. v. 8. And I cannot but think that the
* Scourge him with such severity, that spirit of this text is much better expressed
he will even cut him asunder."] Dr. Whitby by such a rendering ,• especially when the
has so clearly proved this to be the sense of next verse is compared with it, which shews
J^iXt^lojuyia-u, tliat I am surprised that any that, though this v:icked servant shall have
should since li:ive coldly rendered it, shall his portion and abode with such (who, by
separate hivi from the rest. But this is one the way, had they not been unfaithful,
instance of many, in which the version of would not have been unbelievers J , yet hia
1727 has followed the Prussian Testament punishment shall be more grievous ,- as there
in some of those parts of it which are the may be a great difference'xn the condition of
least judicious. I know not ot\ what au- criminals confined in the same prison,
thority it has been asserted that the word ° Knew his Lord's viill by a particular
may only signify confiscating his estate, declaration of it] There is a force and
Wherever it, or any of its derivatives, oc- j^'opriety in these words beyond what is
cur in the Septuagint, it has always the usually observed. ^ *er<Danf, without ex-
signification which is here given it by our press instruction, might know, that to beat
version, and generally answers to the He- his fellov:servants, and plunge himself into
brevj nnJ- See Exod. xxix. 17 ; Lev. i. debauchery, would be ofliensive to his mas-
8 ; Ezek. xxiv. 4, Septuag. ter ; and he would therefore deserve somt
^ And appoint him his portion with i7i- correction .• but such a conduct in a jervanf,
'^f.dels.'] It has been suggested tome by a to whom his master had committed some
, person of great worth and eminence, that particular charge, with suitable instructions
ct^/rv signifies ji/v/a/^/i/w/,- and that had :n- for performing it, was most monstrous,
■fidelity, or the disbelief of the gospel, been and coivsequentlv deserved severer punish^
referred to here, the word would have be«n ment.
VOL. 2. 17
12iO Where much is given^ much tvlll be required*
SECT, instructions given him, did not keep himself i^rep&rT^d not him-
cxiv. readij^^ nor set himself to do according to his ^^(f> neither did ac-
— will, shall have the sorest punishment inflicted ^-*'^ l^J^^Ztk
xii.47 ^^^ him, and be beaten with manii [jstripes'],^ many stripes.
48 (Compare Deut. xxv. 2, 3.) But he who., 48 But he that
like the heathen, did not knozu the particulars ^^ew not, and did
of his duty by a clear revelation, fl;2^yet, sin- ^h7r3t'H;e^3^ ^Zl
ning against that degree of light he had, co?n' be beaten with few
mitted things zvhich deserved stripes., shall be stripes. For unto
beaten indeed, but rvith fezver and lighter whomsoever much
r 7 T „ 1 1 1 7-. • • ^. , IS g-iven, of him shall
\^strokes\'^ than the other. Jtor it is areceived be much required :
maxim among men, and God will make it the and to whom men
rule of his final judgment, that 77mch improve- ^^^'^ committed
ment shall be required from every one to whom ^J|[ ask^the^more^^
much is give?! ; and rvhere much is deposited^
the more will be demanded in proportion to it.
(Compare Numb. xv. 29, 30.)
IMPROVEMENT.
verse May our souls be awakened by these awful truths ! and may
^5, 36 ^ve be engaged to gird up the loins of our mind., to be sober., and
watch to the end ! (1 Pet. i. 13.)
Great are our encouragements to diligence., on the one hand ;
and, on the other, dreadful will be the punishment of our neglect*
« Did not keep hiviself ready. '\ So Mons. P Shall be beaten ix<ith nnayiy stripes."]
L'Enfant renders the woid tlci/tniiact^, I ^'coi/r^/;;^ was a usual /Jz/«/jAwe?z^ for neg-
suppose to distinguish it from the follow- ligeiu servants ; but I cannot find that
i ng clause ; and I follow him, though not what is properly called giving the bastifi-
without some hesitation. Perhaps both ado was in use among the Jews, though
msiy he pmedihns. Did 7wt prepare or set some suppose it to be referred to here.
himself to do according to his nx'ill. But since Brennius thinks that these words have
I wrote this I perceive a great emphasis a peculiar reference to the case of W2/?j-
in these words, which I did not before tsters, who have such singular advan-
observe. The sense me* on that of the tages for hioiving Chri.9t^s ivill ; so that
foregoing verse / as if our Lord had said, they will certainly be in the number of
** Think not that I merely intend to forbid the tyiost happy or the 'most oniserable of
such gross immoralities as drunkenness, mankind. May they seriously consider
riot, oppression, iSfc. but be assured, that it, and rejoice ivith trembling in those
sins of omission, where there have been distinctions of their office which will
fair opportunities of learning your duty, draw after them such solemn and weighty
will expose you to the Divine correction." consequences !
The opposition here and in the next verse ^ Shall be beaten indeed, but 'voith fezver
is between a servant who receives an ex- strohs-"] Tliis strongly intimates that
press message from his master, which he ignorance will not entirely excuse any who
contradicts ; and another who, though he have neglected God's service, since they
receive no such express message^ j'et falls might in general have known at least
into such instances of misbehaviour as he the main branches of their duty ; as every
cannot but Inonu to be inconsistent with his servant may know in the main what
duty and office in general ; by which he kind of conduct his master will approve,
exposes himself justly to *o7ne/)Hn/W2?7ien?, though some may be much more fullf
though, other things being equal, lif is less instructed than others as to his particular
criminal than the former. pleasure.
Reflections on the faithful and unfaithful servant, 121
The time of our Lord^s appearance is uncertain ; let us there- sect
fore ahvaijs be ready ; solicitous that when he comes he may ^^'^'
find us so doing, as he has required ; livi?ig not to ourselves, but ^^^.^q
to him, and employing ourselves about that particular thing, ^3*
whatsoever it may be, which, all circumstances considered, we
are verily persuaded may most promote the great ends of life,
and the important purposes of his glory.
How glorious are the rewards promised to such ! How justly 42,44
may they awaken our emulation ! He will prefer them to stations
of more honourable and important service. He will set them 37
down at his table, and minister (as it were) himself to their
delight, bringing forth the choicest dainties of heaven, and
spreading before them an eternal banquet. Lord, may we,
through thy grace, be found worthy to taste of that supper !
May the Lanib that is in the midst of the throne feed us, and guide
us to fountains of living water ! (Rev. vii. 17.)
On the other hand, let us seriously consider the punishments 45
to be inflicted on the unfaithful servant. Let mi?iisters, if such
there are, who abandon themselves to a life of idleness and
luxury ; who stain their sacred character by intemperance ; who
proudly censure their brethren, and either call, or wish, for the
secular arm to smite their fellow servants, perhaps more faithful
than themselves ; let such hear and tremble. Their Lord may 46
come in a very unexpected hour ; (as indeed, when do such
expect him ?) and what are the stripes they have given others,
when compared with those which they shall themselves receive ?
stripes which shall cut them asunder, and pierce deep into their
very souls ! How much more tolerable will it be, even for the
worst of Gentile sinners, than for such !
Let all who are in any measure distinguished by the gifts of
the Divine bounty to them, or by their stations, whether in civil
or sacred ofices, attentively dwell on this great truth, so solemnly
repeated again and again ; let them consider it with a view to
their own account : To xvhomsoever much is given, of him will
much be required. May Divine Grace so impress it on their 48
hearts, that they may be distinguished by present fidelity, and
future rewards, in proportion to the difference which Providence
has already made in their favour ! And may they never have
reason to reflect with confusion and anguish on what is now
their honour and their joy )
122 The gospel wbuld occasion violent contentions ;
SECT. CXV.
Christ observes the evils which would be occasioned by his comiiig^
yet declares his desire to complete his work^ and warns the Jeivs
of the great danger of neglecting the short remainder of their
time of trial, Luke XII. 49, to the end.
Luke XII. 49. ^ Luke XII. 49.
SECT. /^UR Lord farther added in his discourse T AM come to send
CXV. yj to his disciples and the multitude : After -*■ ^^^ on the earth;
n ^1 ^ T 1- • 1 ... ^ \^ '^ J and what Will I, II it
~ all that 1 have said to promote humanity and j^^ already kmdled ?
xH 49 charity, yet it will in fact appear that I am come
to send fire on the earth ; so opposite is my
doctrine to the prejudices and the lusts of men,
and such are the violent contentions that my
gosnel will occasion, through the wickedness
of those among Avhom it is preached : and yet
•what do I wish f that the gospel might be sup-
pressed ? nay, but I rather say. Oh that this
fire, fierce as it shall be, -were already kindled'^
bv the universal propagation of a religion
whose blessings so abundantly counterbalance
all the accidental evils which can attend it ?
50 But I have indeed, in the mean time, a most 50 But I have a
dreadful baptism to be baptized with^ and know baptism to be bap-
that I shall shordy be bathed, as it were, in l^^'^i^SitentdUU
blood, and plunged in the most overwhelming it be accomplished!
distress : yet^ far from drawing back on that
account, how inexpressibly am I straitejied ?ind
uneasy through the earnestness of my desire,
till^ terrible as it is, it be fully completed^ and
the glorious birth produced, whatever agonies
may lie in the way to it !
51 But these benefits are to be secured in a very 51 Suppose ye that
different manner from what some of you, my
disciples, imagine : ior do you r^ow suppose that
* And lohat do I ivish P Oh that it ivere iineasy to h'wni compare 2 Cor. v. 14. Mr.
already iindicd /'] I think Sir Norton' ioci'e understands it of akind of ew^arrrt^j-
Knatchbull has abundantly established -jj^e/zf winch Christ was under to know how
this version. Dr. Whitby (who liere, as in faithfully to fvdfil his ministry without giv-
many other places, transcribes from Gro- ing- such umbrage to the Roman power as
tins J seems fully to have proved that u would have drawn persecution and death
sometimes has this force. Compare Luke upon him before the appointed time (see
xix. 42, and Numb. xxii. 29 ; Josh. vii. 7 ; Mr. Lockers Reasonableness of Christianity,
Psal. Ixxxi. 13, Septuag. (Perhaps we may p. 134) : but this seems to me a very for-
add Luke xxii. 42.) See Grotius, in loc. eign and unnatural sense. Tliat which I
^ How am I straitened and uneasy till it take it in is also favoured by Luke xxii. 15,
be completed Z"} The word a-vvix,o/ut.ct seems sect. 168 : but if Grotius, whose sense
to import an ardour of mind, with which a I have hinted in the paraphrase, judge
person is so borne on towards the object of riglitly of the particular force and beauty
his affection and pursuit, that the neces- of the word avyix'^fj^^i, it may be illus-
sary impediments Avhichlie in his way are trated by John xvi. 21, sect, clxxviii.
and be followed^ not with peace^ but xvhh division, 123
I am come to give J am come to give peace on the earthy or imme- sect.
peace on earth ? I diatelv to establish that temporal tranquillity «^-'^'^'-
tell you. Nay ; but ^ prosperity which you expect should attend
rather division. , 4-- • i i i • i ^^ A i • i Luke
the Messiah's kingdom r*^ Naij^ ^?/^ consider- ^jj^j
ing how my gospel, notwithstanding all its
tendency to peace, will be opposed, and how it
will be perverted, /may say to yott^ that I am
rather come to occasion the most unnatural
52 For from hence- division. For such are the contentious heats and 52
forth there shall be animosities that will attend the publication of
five in one house di- ^|^g gospel, that, ere lonir, five in one family shall
vided, Three atjainst , ^ ,• • ; 7 1 1 "^ -^i ,, , X -^ .
two, and two against be SO divided^ that there shall be three against
three. txvo on the one side, and Ixvo against three on
5o The father the Other : And this shall be the case when 5o
shall be divided those families consist of persons in the nearest
tlfe^"son'ag.W the relations to each other : the father, for instance,
father : the mother shall differ xvith the son, and the son with the
against the d^n^\\- father ; the fondest mother with the daughter,
ter,andthe daughter ^^^ ^f^^ daughter xvith the mother ; the mother '
against the mother : . , • , , t -r » . t
the mother in law ?^ ^^^^^ "'^^^'^ '^^^ ^^^^ ^ ^{/*^i «"" ^he daughter in
against her daugh- law zvitli her husband'^s mother ;^ and so in-
dau"Me''i^'in"'^law ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ hatred against all that
agai^st^he/mother embrace my gospel, that they shall break the
in law. bands of nature, as wxU as of friendship, to
express it. (Compare Mat. x. 34, 35, Vol. I.
p. 419.)
54 And he said Atid he said also to the people/rhis perverst- 54.
also to the people, ness already shews itself in your overlooking
so many proofs of the Messiah's appearance
among you, while you discover such a sagac-
ity in your observations with respect to other
•^ Or immediately to establish that tem- xi. 15). See Dr. Leland's A?:sii'er to thr
poral tranquillity, ^c] There are so many Moral Philosopher^ p. o5o — 366.
prophecies o^ the peaceful state of the Mes-
siah's kingdom, (compare Psal. Ixxii. 7 ; ^ The mother in lav: ivith her sol's ii^ife,
Isa. ii. 4 ; xi. 6 — 9 ; Ixv. 25), that it is and the daughter in law ivith her htishand's
hard to say how Christ could completely 'inother.'] The original words, iB-tvBi^A, and
answer the character of the Messiah if he vv/u<pn, are exactly expressed in this trans-
should never give peace on earth : but the lation. The English words mother in In^.^
errorof the Jews lay in supposing he was am\ claughter in law, are more extensive,
imrnediately io accomplish it ; whereas and rather, though not necessarily, lead us
the prophecies of the New Testament, to ih'iuk oi \_7io<vercay /uaO^utHy'] a step dame^
especially in the book of Revelation, shew, ov father^ second wife, and her husband's
and those of the Old Testament most daughter. Our Lord might mention thi^
plainly intimate, that this prosperous state relation, because, in consequence of the
of his kingdom was not only to be preced- obligation which the Jewish children were
ed by his own sufferings, but by a variety under to maintain their aged parents, »
of persecutions, trials, and sufferings, young man might, when he settled in the
which should in different degrees attend world, often take his onother, if a widow,
his followers, before the kingdoms of the into his family, and her abode in it migln
earth became, by a general conversion, the occasion less uneasiness than that of a
kingdoms (^ the Lord f and of his Christ (Rev. mother in latv in any other sense-
124 The Jews are inexcusable in not discerning him to be the Messiah.
SECT thinjrs : for xvhen you see a cloud arising out of When ye see a cloud
cxv/ thelest, or coming from the Mediterranean ^::^^:^^
sea, you presently say^ A heavy shower is com- There cometh a
^.^Hz^p-;^ and it is so. And xvhen [uou find] M^ shower; and so it is.
^" " Jutk windblorving from the desert of Arabia, J^^t^ZJl
and other hot chmates, you say, There xvtll be i^i^^,^ ye say, There
sultry heat; and so accordingly it conies to pass, will be heat ; and it
56 re hypocrites, that pretend to ask for farther ^'^^^^^l^;^^,^,^,^
signs, as if you were really desirous to know ^^ ^^^^ discern the
whether I be or be not a Divine Teacher ; you face of tlie sky, ai>d
knoxv hoxv by such remarks as these to distin- oftheearihrbuthow
guish the face of the earth, and of the heavens, :fi^^ern this'timeT
so as to foretell the changes in the weather
before they come ; but hoxv is it that you do
not discern and judge of the much more evi-
dent signs of Mw ^zwe, which are attended with
such manifest and unparalleled tokens of the
Messiah's coming ? (Compare Mat. xvi. 2, 3,
57 Vol. I. p. 478.) Tea, xvhy is it you do not even 57 Yea, and why
of yourselves judge rvhat is fit and right,' and J^e t ^norwrat
gather from such obvious premises, how you js right?
ought in reason and conscience to treat so
extraordinary a Person as I appear to be from
the whole series of my doctrine and conduct,
instead ofdisregardingallthe proofs that shew
me to be sent from God ?
58 This, however you mav thoughtlessly ne- 58 When tho;a
gleet it, is a matter-of the utmost importance : f^^ ^'^J^ ^fg-
I must therefore enforce the exhortation I tor- jgtrate, as thou art
merly gave you (Mat. v. 25, 26, Vol. I. p. in the way, give
218)', and press you to endeavour, with the c^il'gence that thou
>" ...r •' , 1 mavest be delivered
greatest dihgence, that the controversy may f^^^ ^^^^ . lest he
immediately be made up between God and
your souls. For you count it a rule of human
prudence, xvhen yon go to the magistrate xvith
your adversary, who has a suit against you, to
use your utmost endeavour to make up the affair
xvith him^ while you are yet on the xvay ; lest he
« A heavy shotver is comi?rg.'] OjuCpog pro- conaequence, yet, from the tenor of my
perXy s\gnH\es a heavy shower ; a.nd KH-va-covy doctrine and character, as well as from
in the next verse, sultry or torching heat. my miracles, you might have discerned
f Why is it you do not even of yourselves, yourselves, that it must be a very wrong
&C.3 The phrase otf's:tu7av does not seem and very dangerous thing to reject and
here to signify, " From the like principles slight me." Castalio and Grotius connect
of good sense which you use in common this verse with the two Jolloviing, I think
affairs, or in matters relating to your- without any reason
■selves ;" but it seems an advance on that e Use your utmost endeavour to make up
thought, as if our Zorc^ had said, *' Even the affair with hirti^ Theoph^lact inti-
*hough 1 lud not so expressly drawn the mates, and Salmasius, and after him La
The danger of neglecting to he reconciled with God, 125
hale thee to the force thee before the jiidge^ and the Judge^h^iym^ s'ect.
i''n^er''"f ^^^"^"^r ^^""^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^ indeed accountable, deliver c^v.
offiierl! Inrthe offi^ ^.^^^ ^° ^^'^ custody of the ^er;Van^ o?id the ser- —
cer cast thee into jeant throxv thee into prison. It will not then xii. 5«
prison. be in thy power to compound the matter upon 59
thoushaU*not depart gentler terms, or to get free from thy confine-
thence till thou hast nient ; but / tell thee that, when he has thee at
paid the very last such an advantage, thou shalt not be able to
^^^ come out from thence till thou hast paid the very
last mite of the debt thou owest.*^ And thus
if you are regardless of the proposak of God's
mercy while the day of life and grace is con-
tinued, nothing is to be expected from the tri-
bunal of his justice, but a severe sentence,
which will end in everlasting confinement and
punishment,
IMPROVEMENT.
To what a lamentable degree is human nature corrupted, that ver.49
so noble a remedy as the gospel^ so well adapted to the cure of a
malevolent and contentious disposition, should in so many in-
stances only irritate the disease ! and that a scheme so full of
love and goodness, and so well suited to promote peace and
harmony in those who cordially embrace it, should be opposed
with all the violence of persecution, and be the means of intro-
ducing strife and division /
How monstrous is it, that any should hate their neighbours^ 51, 53
yea, and their nearest relatives^ for that disinterested piety, and
regard to conscience, which might recommend strangers to their
esteem and affection ! Yet let not those who meet w^ith such
injurious treatn^nt be discouraged ; knowing they h:ixt^ Father
and a Saviour m heaven, whose love is ten thousand times more
than all : nor let others be offended, as if Christianity had been
the occasion of more evil than good ; for such is the nature of
Cene, largely Insist upon it, that ioz tor, or one who has a suit at law ag-aln&t
t^ycta-iAv signifies, *' Fay tlie interest, as another, whether in a civil or criminal case,
well as the principal of thy debt, in order '> The very last viite of the debt thou
to procure deliTerance.^'' But Luke makes owest.] The 7nz^e [xst'Jov,] was the least
use of another word [toxv^] for usury valuable of their oow (see Mark xii. 42),
(Luke xix. 23), which I think a consider- containing no more than half of their least
able argument for the common rendering, kind of farthing, or of their kcJ^avIh?, or
which is also more extensive. A5r«x\a;^6stf quadrans ,- which was itself but theyo«r/A
signifies, not merely any kind of deliver- part of the as, or sLa-tratpiovy or of the larger
ajice, but such an agreement ^is secures the farthing, mentioned Mat. x. 29, and Luke
defendant from any farther danger of />roj. xii. 6 ; so that the mite was but little
ecution ; as Eisner accurately shews, moi^e than the //jzW/^rtrf of an ^//^//^/tynr?-
Obsetv- Vol. \. p. 237. It is well known thing, and a sparrov: was recjioned wortk
that AiliJ'iic®^ properly signifies a prosecu- four of them.
126 Refections on the regard we should shew to the gospel.
SECT, eternity, that the salvation of one immortal soul will be more
^^^* than an equivalent for the greatest and most lasting temporal
evils which the greatest number of persons can suffer for con-
science sake.
ver.50 ' Let this awaken our zeal to save soids^ however great and
terrible the sufferings are to which it may expose us, in propor-
tion to the rage with which the enemy is endeavouring their
destruction. May we be animated in it by the example of the
blessed Jestis^ who, with a view to this, even longed for those
sufferings which innocent nature could not but regard as the
object of strong aversion !
54, 56 May we at all times be so wise as to discern the evidences,
and to comply v/ith the purposes, of the gospel^ else our knowl-
edge in natural things^ should it extend not only to the most
common, but the most curious appearances on the face of the
earth or the heavens^ will turn to no other account but to shame
and condemn us !
58 If we have any reason to fear that, through obstinate impen-
itence, the blessed God is still an adversary to us, let us make it
our first and greatest care that, by an humble submission of
soul to him in the methods of his gospel grace^ that strict scru-
tiny of his justice may be prevented, and that sentence of his
wrath averted, which would otherwise plunge us into endless
ruin and miserij ; for when could we pretend to have paid the
last farthing of the debt of ten thousand talents^ which we have
been daily contracting, and which is charged to our account in
the hook of his remembrance I
SECT. CXVI.
Christy on the mention of some calamities which had befallen others^
warns his hearers of the danger they zvere in if they did not
repent^ and illustrates it by the parable of the barren figtree.
Luke XIIL 1—9.
Luke XIIL 1. Luke XIII. 1.
SECT. AT'Qf^, while our Lord was thus discoursing nn HERE were
cxvi. -^V q£ ^]^g necessity of being at peace with ■*' present atthat
— God, some xvho zuere present at that th„e, toldl^^"^^ J^^^ '^^
^.. ^ nim oj those unhappy iralileans^ the loUowers
of Judas Gaulonites,* who had rendered them-
selves obnoxious to the Roman power by some
a Told him of those Galileans, the fol- § 1. (See also Bell, Jud. lib. ii. cap. 8 (al'.
lowers of Judas Gaulonites.] Josephus 7"), § 1 ; cap. 17. § 8 ; 8c lib. vii. cap. 8. (al.
has given us the story of this Judas 28), Havercamp.J It appears he was at
Gaulonites at large, Antiq. lib. xviii. cap. 1, the head of a sect w^ho asserted God to be
Except we repent^ we shall all perish, 127
ileans, whose blood acts or principles of resistance to it : and sect.
Pilate had mingled whose blood Pilate the governor had in effect ^xvi.
with their sacrifices. ^.^^^^^^^.^^ ?A«r sacrifices, having circum- ^[—
vented and slain them when they were come to xiii i
worship in the temple at a public feast.
2 And Jesus, an- And Jesus, without making any remarks on 2
swering, said unto the cause on which thev were engaged, endea-
Sat'^heLTa'meaJ.s ^'«^/^d, with his Usual' wisdom and piety, to
were sinners above lead the minds of his hearers into some profit-
all the Galileans, able reflections upon the event ; and, in reply^
Xtll^tlli^T'' ^^"^ ^'^ them, Do you think that these Galileans
were notorious sinners above all the rest of the
Galileans, that they suffered such sad things as
these, and were cut off in so miserable a man-
3 I tell you, Nay; ner ? If you do, you are very unfit to judge 3
but, except ye re. of the conduct of Providence ; for, howsoever
iikewise%rish. ^ 7^^ ^^Y censure them, as shewn hereby to be
the most enormous sinners, I tell you. No ; you
are not to conclude from hence this was the
case ; but, except you repent, you shall all perish
thus ;^ vengeance will overtake you in your
evil ways, and, in the desolating judgments
that will shortly come on your whole nation,
the blood of many of you shall be mingled
with your sacrifices.
4 Or those eigh- Or, to instance in another unhappy case that 4
teen upon whom the has lately occurred, I mean that of those eigh-
Indlwfhlnrtl^k ^'''' ^^^^ ^^ ^^''^^^^ ^^^ ^'^^''' ^^ Siloamfell, and
ye that they * were */^w them,^ do you think they were greater
their only Sovereign, and were so utterly «.7ro>>.g/3-3-«.'] Some content themselves witli
averse to a submission to the Roman rendering it, Tou shall all perish as luell as
power, that they accounted it unlawful to they ; and possibly no more may be in-
pay tribute unto Cesar, and rather would tended : yet the rendering I prefer appears
endure the greatest torments than give to be more //Vera/,- and I the rather choose
any man the title of lord. This Judas is it, because (as Grotius, Tillotson, Whit-
probably the person whom Gamaliel re- by, and many others have observed) there
fers to by the name of Judas of Galilee, was a remarkable resemblance between
Acts V. 27. jfosefihus does not mention the fate of these Galileans and that of the
the slaugliter of these Galileans (which, whole Jewisli nation ; the flower of which
by the way, makes Zegerus's interpreta- was slain at Jerusalem by the Roman
tion very improbable that they were ac- sword while they were assembled at one
tually slain at the altar, in contempt of the of their great festivals (see Joseph. Belt.
temple); but he records an action of ^i/c/.lib. vi.cap. 9 (al. vii. 17), § 3, 4) ; and
Pilate that much resembles it, of the man- many thousands of them perished in the
ner of his treating the Samaritans ; Antiq. temple itself, and were (as their own his-
lib. xviii. cap. 4 (al. 5), § 1. Perhaps this torian represents it at large) literally bu^
Story of the Galileans might now be men- ried under its ruins, yoseph. Bell. yud. lib. vi
tioned to Christ witli a design of leading cap. 4 (al. vii. 10), § 6, {jT'cap. 5 (al. vii.
him into a snare, whether he should j ustify 11), § 1, 2.
©r condemn the persons that were slain. <= On ivhom the totver in Siloain fellf and
^ Tou shall all perish thus, uvxvlces sle'>if them-'] From %he fountain of SiUantt
VOL. 2, 18
128 Christ delivers the parable of the barren fgtree*
SECT. Oj^enders tha?i all the other inhabitants of yeru- sinners above all
cxvi. salem, that they were thus providentially sin- ^^^ ^^^^ ,^welt in
■, 1 . r 1 ' ^ r ^ It \T Jerusalem?
gled out ior destruction r I tell you^ No ; you s\ tell you, Nay;
wouldjudge very rashly if you were in general but, except ye re-
to draw such conclusions ; for the best of men P^nt, ye shall all
may be involved with others in temporal calam- I'^^^^se pemb.
ities: ^wn-emember what I told you before, that,
except you repent^ you shall all perish thus; you
shall be pressed under the insupportable load of
the Divine vengeance, and be destroyed under
the ruins of that holy city in which you trust.
6 And^ in order to awaken them more effec- ^ He spake als»
tually to such deep and serious repentance, Ae lain ma'fl'^had^a %"
spake this parable to them ; There was a cer- tree planted in hia
tain man who had a figtree planted in his vine- vineyard ; and he
nard ; and he came, for several successive sea- %^^^ .^"^ sought
" * J . r r '^ ^ '* L ^ 1 r J friiit thereon, and
sons, searching jor jruit Upon it^ but he jound ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^
"7 none. ^W at length, despairing of any better 7 Then said he
success, he said to the keeper of the vineyard, jjl^^o ^^^ dresser of
Behold, these three years to^exhtr'^ /have come hokl,^^ these 'three
to look for fruit upon this figtree, and still I find years I come seek-
none ; cut it down therefore immediately, as a "ig" fruit on this fig-
barren tree : for why does it thus 'cumber '^T'-^l^^n " whv
, rii- 11 r r cu^ ^t down, why
the ground, hlhng up the place ot more proht- cumbereth it the
able plants with its useless bulk, and drawing ground ?
away nourishment from those that grow round
8 it ? But such was the concern of the vine- 8 And he, answer-
dresser for its preservation, that he said to him i"^» said unto him,
in reply, Sir, I desire thou wouldest let it alone yZ^ti^'^l mTshlll
this year also, till I shall dig up the ground
which was wlthoutthe walls of Jerusalem, former, as there was no human interpasition
a little stream flowed into the city (Isa. attending tbe death of these men; so that
viii. 6), which was received in a kind of it seemed more immediately providential
^a*or!, which some have thought to be the than that of the Galileans whom Pilate
same with \\\e pool of Bethesda (see 2 Kings had massacred,
IX. 20; Neh. iii. 16; Isa. viii. 6 ; and ^ These three years.'] Many have sup -
John v. 2 ; ix. 7). Being near the temple posed that these words allude to the time
it is no wonder that many frequeiited it of Christ's personal ministry, which, as
lor purilication; but the calamity occasion- most have computed the chronology of the
edbythey«// of the neighboiu'ing ^ower Neiv TestamentthSiiX no\\\diSte.(\.three years t
is not, that I can find, mentioned any but it is certain the patience of God bore
•where but here: probably it had hap- with them much longer than a«o?/ier ^ear.
pened at some late feast ; and some of Grotius therefore thinks it more probable
Christ*s hearers might then have been at it may refer to the nature of a figtree^
Jerusalem. Erasmtis indeed takes this which, if it bear at all, generally begins to
Siloam to have been Shlloh, the place do it within three years after it is planted ;
where the tabernacle was first settled but might to be sure be looked upon as
(Josh, xviii. 1 ; Psal. xxviii. 60), but with- barren, if it had disappointed the expecta-
out sufiicient reason ; see Drusiiis, in loc. tionof the planter ^/jreej'ear* together after
This last instance might seem in some the time in which it should have yieldetl
respects more to the purpose than the fruit, which was yet worse.
Rejlectzons on the guUt and danger ofunfriiltfulness, 129
dig about it, and about it, and lay dung to the root of it : And sect.
dung it .- then perhaps- it may bear fruit, ^ and if so, it is ^^^**
not, f/zen after \\v^\. after this thoushalt,\i \\iO\iy^\^2i^^^X, cut it doxvn, xUi/g
thou Shalt cut it and I will say nothing farther to prevent it.
^^^'"' By which parable our Lord did plainly repre-
sent to the Jews the Divine displeasure against
them for having neglected the many opportu-
nities they had enjoyed as planted in the vine-
yard of God's church (compare Isa. v. 1,2;
xxvii. 2, 3) ; and in an awful manner intimated,
that though they had hitherto, at his interces-
sion, been spared, yet, if they continued un-
fruitful under the additional cultivation thev
were shortly to receive on the descent of the
Spirit, and the proposal of the gospel in its full
extent and evidence,^ they must expect nothing
but speedy, irresistible, and irrecoverable ruin.
IMPROVEMENT.
Which of us may not learn a lesson for himself from this ver.6
instructive /?flfr«^/(? oii\\QfgtreeP Have we notlon^ht^n plaiited
in God'^s vineyard, and favoured with the cultivation of his ordi-
nances, yea, with the dews of his grace too ; and yet how little
fruit have we borne in proportion to those advantages ? How
long has he come seeking it in vain, while we have frustrated the 7
most reasonable expectations, perhaps not only for three, but
several of us for more than thirty years ? Wonderful is it that
the dreadful sentence has not long since gone forth against us,
Cut them down, zvhy cumber they the ground P We owe it to the 8
intercession of our blessed Redeemer, the Great Keeper of the
garden of God, that this has not long since been our case. Let
us not be high minded, hut fear ! (Rom. xi. 20.) Let barren
sinners reflect that this may be the last year, perhaps indeed the
last month, or last daij of their trial ; for even now also is the ax g
laid to the root of the tree ! (Mat. iii. 10.) And let them re-
member, that though t-here be hope of a tree, xvhen it is cut doivn^
that it may sprout again (Job xiv. 7), yet, when the doom is
executed on them, their root xvill be as rottenness, and their blos'
' Perhaps it may bear fruit : jt'otv /wev f Under the additipnal cultivation, ^c]
uro/xo-jj K'XfTTov.'] It is in the original some- The extraordinary means used to bring
thing of an abrupt way of speaking-, of them to repentance after the resurrection
which Rnphelius has produced many ex- of Christ, by the effusion of his Spirit, and
amples fAnnot. ex. Xen. p. 102, 103) ; but the preachjng- of the apostlss, might, with
I think the way of rendering the idiom great propriety, be expressed by digging
I have here used would s'iit it in most of round the barren tree, and applying warm
those instances. <:o7npoetj or dung, to its roots.
130 Christ cures a crooked woman in the synagogue.
SECT, som will go up like dust (Isa. v. 24) ; and every tree xvhich brings
cxvi. not forth good fruit will be hezvn dozvn^ and cast into the fire.
°~~" Let such therefore meditate terror when the judgments of
^^^' God are abroad in the earth ; and, when others are overwhehned
in ruin, let them not harshly censure the sufferers, as if they
Z^S were greater sinners than any others ; but let them apply that
salutary, though awful, admonition to their own souls, repeating
it again and again, till they are pricked to the heart by it, Except
ye repent^ ye shall all likewise perish,
1 Terrible indeed was the case of those whose blood Pilate viin^
gled with their sacrifices^ and of those who were dashed to pieces
4 in a moment by the fall of Siloam'^s toxver ; but infinitely more
dreadful will be the condition of them tha.t fall i?ito the hands of
the living God (Heb. x. 31), especially of those deceivers who,
having surrounded his altars with the hypocritical forms of de-
votion, shall themselves be made the victims of his justice, and
be crushed by the resistless weight of his almighty vengeance.
SECT. CXVII.
Christ cures a crooked woman in the synagogue^ and vindicates
his doing it on the sabbathday ; and aftertvards repeats the
parables of the grain of mustardseed^ and of the leaven. Luke
XIII. 10—22.
Luke XIII. 10. , ttxtt, vttt m
TTT TT r. T 1 • 1« • LiUKE Alll. 10.
H U S our Lord w^ent on m his journey and he was
through Galilee for a considerable time ,- -^ teaching in one
and as he was teaching in one of the synagogues ^^ *^^ synagogues
xiii 10 ^^ ^^^ sabbathday^ Behold there was present u ^^^ Behold
11 a poor disabled woman^ who (as the Jews used there was a woman
commonly to express it, and was now actually '^liich had a spirit
the case) had been afflicted by a spirit of weak- f^Zl^^^Z
ness'^ no less than eighteen years^ and was boxved ed together, and
together in so sad a manner that^ from the time
» ^ac/been afflicted by a spirit of iMeak- some maladies^ this was indeed the case
iiew.] It is very evident the Jews appre- is intimated by our Lord's reply here, ver.
hended that all remarkable f//,yorc^er*o/^orfv 16, and by St. Paul's words, 1 Cor. v. 5,
proceeded from the operation of some where he speaks of deli'cering an offender
malignant demon. Perhaps they might to Satan for the destruction of the Jiesh. The
draw an argument from what is said of topic is very judiciously handled by that
Satan's agency in the affliction of Job illustrious writer Mr. jHbwe (see his works,
(chap. i. and ii.), and from Psal. xci. 6 Vol. II, p. 360, 361) ; and there are some
(compare Septaug.J and 1 Sam. xvi. 14. curious and entertaining remarks in
They also considered Satan as having the Wolfius on this text.
power of Death. Heb. ii. 14. And that, in
Offence is taken at his healing on the sabbath. 1 3 1
©ould in no wise lift it first seized her, she was utterly vnahle to sect.
up herself . raise herself upright^^ or to stand straight. cxvn.
12 And when Je- -^nd jfesiis seeing her, and intiniatelv know-
sus saw her, he call- ing all the sad circumstances of her affliction,
ed her to him, and ^^^ ^.j^^ difficulty with which she was then come
said unto her, Wo- ,,1,11 v f t^- • i •
man, thou art loosed to attend the solemnities or Divme worship
from thine infirmity, there, called her to him^ and said to her^ Womaiiy
thou art loosed from that affliction which thou
hast long been under by reason of thij weakness
13 And he laid and malady. And^ as he was speaking these 13
his hands on her : words, lie laid his hands upon her^ and immedi-
wtTdt'st?'!,^^! "t'hl^''^ '"«* strengthened, and made straight /
and glorified God. ' SO that she stood before them all in an erect
posture, and moved with as much ease and
freedom as if she had never been disabled :
and^ as was most reasonable, she in a very affec-
tionate manner glorified God before the whole
assembly ; praising him for so signal and un-
expected a favour, and declaring how long her
illness had continued, and how desperate and
incurable it was thought.
14 And the ruler But a ruler of the synagogue^^ instead of join- 14
of the synagogue ing in acknowledgments of the Divine power
di^a'tion, te'cau"; ^"^^ goodness displayed in that gracious action
that Jesus had heal- of our Lord, was 77iovedxvith indignation^ which
cd on the sabbath- he endeavoured to disguise under the form of
fhe' eo'^le'^ There ^'^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ' ''^^^' ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^>' ^^^ ^^^^^
are six davs'in which ^^g^y because Jesus had healed htr on the sah^
men ought to work: bat hday^ he anszuered ajid said unto the people^
m theni therefore fhere are six days on which the common work
and not"on Ihe^sab^ ^^ human life must be done ; on some of these
bathday. therefore you may surely find time to come and
he healed^ and should not make these applica-
tions on the sabbathday^ which you know is
appropriated to the sacred purposes of relig-
ious rest and worship.
^ Utterly unable to raise herself upright.'] every town where there was a synag-og-ue,
This version of //« S'uvdi./j.iv>i AvctKu-^ctt uc ro there were at least ten men who were
<nr!tvliKf( seems preferable to that other obliged constantly to attend on the public
which the words «? to Ts-stvltXis might worship in it. Of these, three were called
bear ; ** She could not lift herself up, so as rulers, who presided in directing the wor-
to stand perfectly straight." (Compare ship, and judged of such little disputes
Heb. vii. 25, Gr.) For on the rendering and litigations as might be determined in
I have given, which is equally literal, the the synagogue ; but not without a reserve
miracle appears much more important of appeal to the several superior courts,
than on the other. If of these three there was any one who had
a distinguished authority, and might by
«= A ruler of the synagogue.'] It is plain way of eminence be called the ruler of the
that there were several rulers of the same synagog-^e, it is strange tlie Jewish writers
synagogue. (Compare Mark v. 22 ; Acts omit to mention it, which, so far as I can
xiii. 15 ; xviii. 8, 17.) And Dr. Light- recollect, they never do ; see Wolfus on
^ot and Vitringa have observed that, in this text, and Vitringay Synag. Vet. p. 585.
132 But Jesus vindicates himself by what they did for their beasts,
SECT. Then the Lord answered him with a just se- 15 The Lord then
cxvii. verity, and said^ Thou hypocrite^ who thus mak- a,ns^v^l•ed him, and
— - est thy pretended zeal for the honour of Divine '^if' 7|)^^^ }^^'^\-
Luke ^ 'jy . 1 1 r xu v cnte, doth not each
xiii 15 institutions a specious cloak tor thy malice one of you on the
against me, art thou not selfcondemned ? Does sabbath loose his ox
not event one of yoiu even the Pharisees and or /iz^; ass from the
, y ^ ^ ^ , A -y ^ stall, and lead hmn
rulers ot synagogues among the rest,'' v/ithout away to watering ?
any scruple or blame, loose his ox or his ass from
the 7?ianger^ and lead him azuay to drink on the
sabbathday^ as well as on any other ; though
the work be more servile than what I have
done, and the occasion far less important ?
16 Now^ if you have such a regard to the thirst of 16 And ought not
one of your cattle, ivas it not much more ap- this woman, being^
parently ft, that this good ivoman, xvho is a j^^jj^^ ^^"jj^n Satan
believing ^aw^^-Zi^^r of Abraham, whom Satan, by hath bound, lo these
the Divine permission, has hound in this cruel eighteen years, be
manner, fo, for these eighteen years ^o^t'Cc^^r^^^^J^^^^^^,
should he loosed from this bond even on the sab- ^^^y I
bathday, especially when it might be effected
without any labour, by no more than a word
and a touch ?
17 And xvhen he had said these thirigs, all his 17 And when he
opposers were ashamed, and perfectly con- \^^ said these
/^ . X \ ^ 1 r u I • J thmers, all his adver-
founded by the strength of such obvious and .arils were asham.
conclusive reasoning : and all the multitude who ed : and all the peo-
were present rejoiced in his triumph ; for they pie rejoiced for all
were greatly delighted with oil the wonderful fJlJ.^^^^'^^^;'"?;
and glorious things that xvere done by him, in j^ij^.
which there was so amiable a display of his
goodness as well as his power.
1 8 Now on this occasion, for the farther encour- 18 Then said he;
agement of his friends, and confusion of his
enemies, our Lord thought proper to intimate
the great increase of his kingdom, notwithstand-
ing the malignant opposition it should meet
with, which he illustrated by two parables
•i Even the Pharisees and rulers of syn- and splendid cities (such, for Instance, as
agogucs among the rest.] Had not this Capernaum was), such persons might
b'ecii generally tlie case, the answer would generally be chosen. Critics ha.ve col-
not have been sufficient for conviction in lected passages from r^/^'Z'/H/ca/ writers, in
the present circumstance. Perhaps this which they allow it to be lawful \.ofeed or
ruler miglit that very day have been per- water a beast on the sabbathday. See
forming such an office for one of his cattle Lightfoofs Hor. Hebr. on this text ; where
with his own hands : I say, wi>A his omi he shews they were expressly allowed
ka7ids ; for it was by no means essential to even to draiv ivater for their beasts ; a
his being a ruler of the synagogue that he much more laborious work than leadin^^
should be a person of wealth or dignity in them to it. See also Wotton*s Misceli Vol*
common life ; though probably, in large IL p. 41—46.
The parables of the grain of mustards eed and of the leaven* 133
Unto \v-hat is the formerly delivered elsewhere : and he said^ Tb sect.
kingdom of God like? xvhat is the kingdom of God like^ and ivhat shall cxvu.
itrembtritr'"" I'^o^P-re it to ? or how is it that I shall repre- —
sent the propagation of the gospel in the world ? ^- j| ^g
19 It is like a It is like a grain of mustardseed^ which a man \cj
^ain of mustard, ^qqji^ ^ji^ sowed in his garden ; and from so
toot ".d'cas'tTto «ii^"te ^ «^^^ '' Srew to a prodigious bulk,
his garden, and it and became such a great tree^ that the birds of
grew, and waxed a the air came and lodged in its branches. So
great tree : and the j |j kingdom, which in its first beginning
fowls of the air lodg. "^ i ° . mi j'/r -^ ir- .-
ed in ;.the branches seems to be contemptible, dittuse itsell in time
5f it. over the whole world, and the inhabitants of
distant nations shall seek their shelter in it.
(Compare Mat. xiii. 31, 32, and Mark iv.
30—32, Vol. I. p. 3rO, 371.)
20 And again he And again he said, To ivhat else shall I liken 20
said, Whereunto the kingdojn of God, of which I have now been
shall I liken the gpeaking ? or how shall I describe the efficacy
kingdom 01 God ? r, . p . ^ r • t- r i- i • 'r ^^
21 It is like leav- of its doctrme : It is like a little quantity of 21
e)i, which a woman leave?!, which a woman took and covered up in a
took and hid m j^^ss of douQ:h, consisting of no less than three
three measures of r i j Z^-^- - ^j ii-f
meal, till the whole measures oj ineal ; and yet it insinuated and dit-
was leavened. fused itself throughout till the whole lump 7vas
leavened. So shall the gospel make its way,
and, by a secret influence, shall spread its
efficacy through the hearts of men, till it has
changed them into a likeness to itself. (Com-
pare Mat. xiii. 33, Vol. I. p. 371.)
22 And he went And thus he went through all the principal 22
through the cities cities and villages of Galilee, teaching them
fnf In!f ^•!!!, rJ!f.%l!i! wheresoever he came, and travelling on toward
mg and journeying ^ • -i ^ i i i
towards Jerusalem. Jerusalem ; to which he had now begun to
steer his course, as he intended to be there at
the approaching feast of the dedication, (John
X. 22, sect, cxxxiv.) and to spend the little re-
mainder of his time during his continuance up-
on earth in that city, or the neighbouring parts ;
no more returning to these northern regions
till he appeared here after his resurrection.
IMPROVEMENT,
Again do we see, in a very instructive instance, the power ver.15
and goodness of Christ, It wrought on a poor despised crea-
ture ; but our Lord considered her as a daughter of Abraham, 16
and honoured, even in her, whatever traces of her father
Abrahain^s faith and piety his penetrating eye might discern.
134 Refections on the cure of the crooked woman*
SECT. Her zeal and willingness to attend on public worship brought
cxvii. i^ei- out, though she could not stand upright^ and had probably
" in that respect a much better excuse for staying at home than
^^^' many could make who now often absent themselves from the
much nobler services of the Christian sanctuary.
10, 13 She met with Christ in the synagogue^ and returned with a cure.
And oh, how many, as the effect of such a pious zeal, though
they have not been loosed from their injirmities^ have at least
been greatly strengthened to bear them.
16 Our Lord says that Satan had bound her* That malignant
enemy to our bodies and souls rejoices in any opportunity of
hurting either. But it is pleasing to think that his power is
always under the controul of Christ ; and therefore shall never
be exercised on his people any farther than their gracious
Redeemer sees it consistent with their good, and will take c^re
to render it subservient to it.
14 How gravely does this ruler of the synagogue instruct the peo-
ple in a point of ceremony, while his heart was full of enmity to
Christy and hardened against every sentiment of human compas-
15 sion ! Justly was his hypocrisy confounded and exposed.
We should with pleasure see this Sun of Righteousness thus
victoriously breaking through those clouds which envy and
malice had raised to obscure him, and diffusing his sacred light
18,21 from one end of the heavens to the other With pleasure
should we view the accomplishment of these parables which
represent the success of his gospel as so great ; and we should
daily pray, with increasing earnestness, that all the remaining
nations and kingdoms of this world \\\2iy at length become the king'
doms of the Lord and of his Christ ; and sincere converts flock
to him from every side, even as doves to their windows ! (Rev.
xi. 15, and Isa. Ix. 8.)
SECT. CXVIII.
Christ xvarns his hearers of the difficulty and importance of entering
into the kingdom of heaven ; and is ?iot intimidated by the fear
of Herod from pursuing his work. Luke XIII. 23, to the end.
ECT. Luke XIII. 23. Luke XIII. 23.
:>:viii. AND^ as Tesus was proceeding in his journey HP HEN said one
Jl *. IT 1 u u 1- j/-*- unto lum, Lord,
Luke towards Jerusalem, where he designed to '
.uii.23 be present at the feast of the dedication,^ being
a where he designed to be present at sages in a different order, and introduce
the feast of the dedication.] Mr.Whiston them after this feast : but it does not ap-
rjad some others place the following pas- pear that Christ was ever in Galilee be*-
Heaven should he sought with great and early care* 135
are there few that attended by several of his disciples, in a pretty sect.
be saved? And he large compass which he took by the wav, one cxvur.
«aid unto them, ^^ ^j^^^ ^^.^ ^^ ^ -^^ 2.<?r^, are there \hu(\ feiv
that shall be saved f Surely, if thy kingdom ^j." 23
be so extensive as these parables intimate,
(see ver. 19, 21) the number must be very
considerable.
But he said to them^ Instead of amusing your-
selves with such curious inquiries with relation
to others, attend to what more nearly concerns
you, and be solicitious to secure your own
24 Strive to enter safety : And let me urge it upon you, that 24
in at the strait gate : you exert your Utmost strength to enter hi at
^ou"" will ^TeVto ^^'^ -^^^^^^ ^'"^^'^ ^^^^^ ^ formerly mentioned as
en"er hi, and^ shall leading to eternal life (Mat. vii. 14, Vol. I. p.
not be able. 246), and strain, as it were, every nerve to
break your way through those enemies who
are always ready to oppose your passage : for
I seriously tell you the time is coming when
many will importunately seek to enter in^^ and
shall 7iot be able to do it.
25 When once And, howsoever they may now despise and 25
the Master of the trifle with the means of grace, this will here-
^""T^ If Z'f." nf' after be the case, even with the most stupid and
and hath shut to the r ,. i f
door, and ye begin negligent oi mankmd, ^.9 soon as ever the great
to stand without. Lord and Master of the family shall^ as it were,
and to knock at tlfe ^^^^ ^^-^^^ ^p f-j.^^^ j^jg ggj^^, cr;?^ with his own
Loni, OTen^nto°us; ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ hand shall have shut and barred
the door ;^ and you^ among the rest, shall begin
to stand without^ and to knock at the door ^ sayings
with great earnestness, Lord^ Lord^ we beseech
thee, open to us : but you will cry in vain, and
fore his resurrection, after this journey- aspire to a crown of eternal glory, we
He was indeed at Ephraira, or Ephrem, must break and force our way .• a repre-
(John xi. 54, sect, cxli) ; but, as that city sentation equally just and awakening !
lay on the confines of the tribe of Benja- Compare 1 Cor. ix. 25 ; Col. i. 29 ; 1 Tim.
m'in, at no great distance from Jerusalem vi. 12 ; and 2 Tim. iv. 7.
C Lightf cot's Disquisit. Chorogr. in Joan. ^ j^ ^-^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ,•„ -j ji^e Prussian
cap. vii. § 1), the argument which Mr. ^^^^,-^„ renders it, ^Aa/Ztr^^, or a«e7n/^f.- but
Whiston draws from thence m favour ot j apprehend from the context, that it refers
his order must be very inconclusive. See ^^ importunate entreaties when they were
Whiston's Harmony^ p. 385 and 304. actually excluded, rather than to feeble
b Exert your utmost strength to enter in at ^^^^^p^^ no^ ; though it is an awful truth
the strait gate.^ The original word ^^^^^ ^^^^^ likewise will be unsuccessful.
et-yuvi^iT^i fully expresses this. It im-
ports the act of contending in the most ar- «» The master of the family y &c.J There
dent and resolute manner ivith antagonists is a majesty and pathos in this passage, a»
in games or in war ; and may well inti- in many others, which no paraphrase can
mate that the strait gate is beset with a retain, in which the very words of onf
variety of enemies, through which, if we Lord do not make a part.
VOL. 2. 19
136 Many at last shall cry in vain to he admitted.
SECT, he who now so graciously invites and waits and he shall answer
cxviii. upQl-^ yo^ gf^dll then replii to you. I know you and say unto you,
— — . \ L c u ^ \ know you not
Luke "^^' '^^° ^'^^ ^^^' °*' ^"^"^ -whence you are come ; ^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^.^ ^
xiii 25 ^^^* determine to treat you as strangers, for
whom I have no friendship or regard, and
who have never been approved by me.
26 Some of you may perhaps then plead an in- 26 Then shall ye
timate acquaintance and professed friendship, begin to say. We
and urge the privileges that you once enjoyed, l'„^;,t;;',re;;ee™nd
and the conspicuous figure you made m his thou hast taught in
church : but if any of you can carry it so far our streets.
as that you shall begin to say^ Lord, we have
eaten arid drank in thy presence in a familiar
manner,*^ and thou hast thyself lived among us,
and often taught in our streets and houses, so
that thou canst not sure have forgot us :
27 Nevertheless^ he will persist in disowning you, 27 Btit he shall
and say^ I tell you again, I know you not^ and, f^ay, I tell you, I
whatsoever you pretend to, I regard notzvhence ^he^^g yo^ are°^
you are ; all the former relation to which you depart from me, all
refer is (as it were) blotted from my remem- ye workers of in-
brance, since your hearts were still insincere, ^^^^^7-
and your lives unsuitable to your fair profes-
sions ; and therefore depart frorn me, all ye that
habitually practise iniquity ; for none of your
character shall ever be admitted here. (Com-
pare Mat. vii. 22, 23, Vol. I. p. 249, 250.)
28 This awful word, how little soever you may 28 There shall be
now regard it, shall wound vou to the heart, weeping and gnash-
and throw you into agonies of everlasting de- i^^f teeth when ye
/ , , f? / 1 , . ° . shall see Abraham,
spair : and there shall be the bitterest xveeping and Isaac, and Ja-
and gnashing of the teeth for madness and cob, and all the
rage, when you shall see your holy ancestors. Prophets uuhekmg-
Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the yo^sdve^wlvnstl^.
prophets of the succeeding ages, in actual pos-
session of the kingdom of God ; a/2</ shall find
yourselves cast out with contempt, and thrust
29 back with just indignation. Tea, they shall 29 And they shall
come from the most distant heathen lands, even come from the east,
from the east and the west, and from the north andfr^m the^n'^rth!
and the south, and shall sit down in joyful mul- and/ro?n. the soutlil
^ We have eaten and drank in thy presejice^ persons may use this plea in different
Perhaps some of the nine thousand whom senses ; and they who, while their hearts
hehady<?i/^j'7m>ac/emay at last bein this were hardened in'impenitence and unbe-
miserablenumber. (Compare John vi. 26.) lief, have profaned the Lord*s supper by au
Brennius refers it to their having ect^e;/ the unworthy participation of it, will find a
sacrifices presented to God according to sad sense peculiar to themselves, though
the Mosaic constitution. But different it might not be chiefly intended.
Some think to terrify him -with a threatening from Herod ; 137
and shall sit down titudes, to partake of the heavenly banquet with sect.
in the kingdom ofyQur pious ancestors in the kingdom of God^ ^^^^^^■
^ while you are utterly excluded from it. (Com- ,
pare Mat. viii. 11,12, and note*". Vol. I. p. 309.) xiiL 2^9
30 And, behold. And, behold, this shall be the case, not onl} 30
there aie last which of a few, but of great numbers ; for there are
Sa^ first which "^^">' '"'^^ ^""^ now/^5^ in point of religious
shall be last. advantages, that shall then he first in honour
and happiness ; and there are many who now
appear first, that shall then be found last ; and,
on account of their abused privileges, shall
appear as the most infamous and miserable ot
mankind. (Compare Mat. xix. 30, and Mark
X. 31, sect, cxxxvii.)
31 The same day These things our Lord said in his journey 31
t5here came certain through Galilee towards Jerusalem ; making
ot the Pharisees, j^^^^y pauses in his wav, that, in consequence
sayi!!ff unto him, r ^ ^^ r ^ - ^ ' ^ ^
Get thee out, and ol the shortness 01 his stages, he might have
depart hence : for an opportunity of greater usefulness. And it
Herod wUlkiU thee. ^^^^ ^^ p^^g on that day, when he uttered these
discourses, some of the Pharisees came, and
that they might, if possible, intimidate and
drive him to a distance, they said to him. Go
forth, and depart from hence, with all possible
speed into the territories of some other prince ;
for Herod the tetrarch, in whose dominions thou
art, is at this very time determined to kill thee^
as he did John the Baptist, thy friend and asso-
ciate, and seeks but an opportunity to effect it.
32 And he said 5w? Jesus was SO far from being at all alarmed 32
unto them, Go ye at this intimation, that he said to the7n with great
ho?d1"ca;Tta de>tf='dmess, Go, and tell that fox, that crafty,
vils, and I do cures wicked, andvoracious prince. Behold, I cast out
today and tomorrow, ^(?mo;25, and perform cures in thy dominions
*hVb^ ^^^"? ^^d ^ ^°^^^ ^^^ tomorrow, and carry on my work a
e per ec e . yIhIq while longer, and the third day I shall be
^ Herod is determined to kill thee : S-«>s/ fearing", after all the anxiety which the
o-g A7rojt?s/vflt/.] For the force of this phrase murder of John the Baptist had given him,
compare note^ on John vii. 17, sect. xcix. to make any attempt on his life, he mig-ht
and note"", on John i. 43, Vol. I. p. 131. think fit thus to endeavour to terrify hint
It is very probable, considering both the with an empty threatening. In this view
wicked character and suspicious temper there would be a peculiar propriety in
of Herod, that though he had a curiosity calling \\\mfQXy rather than /jo«, xtiolfy op
to see Christ (compare Luke ix. 9, xxiii. 8), bear ; to which savage beasts \he prophets
he was uneasy at his spending so much had sometimes, with a plainness becoming
time in Galilee, lest he should occasion their character, com^ve6. 'wicked princes.
him some embarrassment either with Compare Zephaniah iii. 3 ; Ezekiel xxijs
regard to tlie Jews or the Romans ; yet 27 ; and Prov. xvii. 12.
138 JSttt he is not afraid of his design against his life.
SECT, perfected;^ for the appointed time will quickly 33 Nevertheless
cxviii. come when I shall finish my course, and have I "^ust walk today
^^ done all that I intend here.^ In the mean while ^fj^ Sly MWing :
xui. 33 ^^ ^^y ^"^^ allow me a license to stay in his for it cannot be that
territories so long, at least on such kind and a prophet perish out
gracious designs : or howsoever he may be of Jerusalem
unwilling to allow it, yet, nevertheless^ I must
go on in this leisurely progress (as I just now
said) today^ and tomorrow^ and the third day^
till the determined season comes in which my
ministry shall be fulfilled : nor do I fear the
effects of Herod's malice ; for it cannot besup^
posed that a prophet shoidd perish^ or be put to
death, any where ont of Jerusalem ^^ that un-
happy city, the seat of the supreme court,
challenging, as it were, to itself the sad pre-
rogative of being the slaughterhouse of the
messengers of God.
34 And upon this, turning in thought at least 34 O Jerusalem,
towards Jerusalem, though it lay at the distance Jerusalem, which
of so many miles, he took up a most affectionate J^/^ stone^st^^them
lamentation over it, and said, 0 yernsalem^ that are sent unto
^^rz/5<2/£?m,thouguilty and miserable city ! w/zo, thee : how often
though thou hast been distinguished by Divine ^°ed^hy^Thifdre^n
favours beyond anyplace on earth, yet with the together, as a hen
utmost ingratitude and cruelty slay est the doth gat her her brood
prophets, andstonest, as the vilest malefactors, "^^^^^g ]['"f ^* ^"*
those who are sent unto thee as the ambassa-
dors of God ! How often would I have gathm
ered thy children together unto myself, with all
the tenderness of parental love, and have
sheltered, comfgrted, and cherished them,
even as a hen \_^ather,^-] her little brood of
chickens under her wings f yet you were still
regardless of the offers of my grace, and
would not be persuaded to barken to my call,
% And the third day I shall be perfected."] great High Priest and Captain of our Sal-
Many suppose, and 1 think very reason- tiation ; as the word is used Heb. ii. 10 ;
ably, that our Lord is not to be understood v. 8, 9, 10 ; vii. 27, 28.
as speaking exactly of three days, but of a
Utile period o^ time : see Hos. vi. 2 ; and ''/f cannot be supposed that a prophet, hc.~]
compare the original of Gen. xxxi. 2 ; John the Baptist had lately perished in
Exod. iv. 10; Deut. xix.4 ; Josh. iii. 4 ; Galilee; so that the expression »x evcrs;^;,^]*/
1 Sam. xix. 7 ; and 1 Chron. xi. 2 : in all can import no more than this version ex-
which places yesterday and the third day presses, which Eisner has shewn to be its
signifies lately, or a little luhile ago. On proper sense (Eisner. Observ. Vol. I. p.
this interpretation the word riKua/uAiy I 242). Drusius, Grotius, KnatchbuU, and
shall be perfected, m2iy rt^QT io Christ' s fin- many other eminent critics refer this to
ishing the work of redemption, and being the right which the sanhedrim, alone had
by death consecrated to his office as the to punish a person as b. false prophet.
Christ laments over Jerusalem, 139
:^5 Behold your and to accept my favour. And now, alas, sect-
house is left unto lehold with awful dread, and remark the pre- cxvm.
verilvTs'IyuntoA^o'li, diction and event, your^ house is left unto you —
Ye shall not see me desolate ; and the hour is just at hand, when xm.35
wntil tlie time come your children, whom I would have gathered to
Bk'ssea'J^he^ t'hS "^V^^^^' ^^''^^ P^^^^^' and your temple shall be
Cometh in the name Utterly destroyed : and^ in the mean time, /
«f the Lord. assuredly say unto you^ That I will quickly
cease my labours among you, and retire in
such righteous displeasure, that you shall see
me no more^ till the time come xvhen^ taught by
your calamities, you shall be ready and dis-
posed to say^ Blessed [be'] he that cometh in the
name of the Lord^ and shall in vain wish for the
succour of him whom you now despise. (Com-
pare Mat. xxiii. Z7 — 39, sect, clviii.
IMPROVEMENT.
And who would not -welcome such a Saviour^ when he appears verse
6n so kind a design ! who would not bless him that cometh in the 25
name of the Lor d^ Xo gather our souls with the tenderest care,
and to shelter us from wrath and ruin ! that Saviour whose
bowels yearned over us^ and whose heart poured forth its blood 34
for us ! Too many reject him^ and will not hearken to the
kindest calls of his compassionate voice. Unhappy^ creatures !
the time will coine when they too late will be convinced of their
fatal error.
Let each of us be solicitous for himself. Away with those 23
vain curiosities which serve only to amuse and distract our
thoughts. Let us call, and fix them down to the great concerns
of our own salvation : and, if we would secure it, let us prepare 24
to encounter difficulties, and strive as for our lives, to break
through all the opposition of our enemies, and resolutely to enter
in at the strait gate. How many have sought it wht#n the door
'^ You shall see me no more^ till — you shall entry, (Mat. xxiii. 39, sect, clviii.) they
say. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of must be capable of another interpretation,
the Lord.'] Some supposing these words and therefore can afford no such argu-
refer to the congratulations which Christ raent ; nor is there any intimation of his
received on his entrance into Jerusalem, return into Galilee between these tivo
(Mat. xxi. 9 ; Mark xi. 10 ; Luke xix. 38 ; feasts. It does not imply they should ever
and John xii. 13 ; sect, cxlvi.) urge them see Jesus at all ; but only that they should
as a reason for placing this section after earnestly 'usish for the Messiah, and, in the
the ixth and x*'' chapters of John, or extremity of their distress, be ready to
between the feast of the dedication and his entertain any one who might offer himself
last passover. But, as our Lord repeats under that character. Compare Luke
these words again, after his triumphant xvii. 22, 23, sect, cxxviii.
140 Reflections on the necessity of striving for heaven.
SECT, has been barred? and how soon may the great Master of the house
sxviii. arise and shut it for ever against those who are yet trifling !
'_ Let not hypocrites trust in vain words. The workers of iniquity
^29' 27 ^^^^ ^^ disoxvned by Christ at last, though they may have eaten
26^ 29 and drank in his presence. But oh, who can express the disap-
pointment, the rage, and despair, of those who fall from such
towering hopes^ and plunge, as from the very gates of heaven,
into the lowest abyss of darkness and horror ! Their hearts will
endeavour to harden themselves in vain ; their doleful cries
shall be distinguished in that region of universal horror ! but
they shall not penetrate the regions of the blessed, nor interrupt
the delight with which even the dearest of their pious relatives
shall sit down in the kingdom of God,
Jl,33 If we, through grace, have more substantial hopes, let us
imitate the zeal and courage of our Divine Leader ; and, what-
ever threatenings or dangers may oppose us, let us go on day after
day^ till our work be done, and our souls at length perfected in
glory. But let us carefully distinguish between those things in
which our Lord meant himself as our Pattern^ and those which
were peculiar to his office as a Prophet sent from God, That
extraordinary office justified him in using that severity of lan-
guage^ when speaking of wicked princes and corrupt teachers^ to
which we have no call ; and by which we should only bring
scandal on religion, and ruin on ourselves, while we irritated,
rather than convinced or reforiyied, those whom we undertook
so indecently to rebuke.
SECT. CXIX.
Our Lord being invited to dine with a Pharisee^ cures a man ivho
had a dropsy^ cautions them against an aff'ectation of precedence^
and urges them to xvorks of charity, Luke XIV. 1 — 14.
Luke XIV. 1. LukeXIV. l.
SECT. AND it came to pass that^ just as our Lord A N D it came to
^^'^- -^ was finishing his journey through Herod's i^P^^^^'^^l^e^e"^
— , . : " , ° • , 7 r r ^i into the house of one
Luke dommions, he went into the house oj one oj tlie ^^ ^j^^ ^^^-^^^ PUari-
xiv. 1 chief Pharisees ^^ who was a magistrate of great
* As he 'went into the house of one of the refers, I am obliged (by the rule I lay
chief Pharisees. "i As all that follows from down to myself of never changing the order
the beginning of tliis xiv^'' chapter to chap, without apparent reason) to take all these
xvii. 10, is placed by Luke before tlie discourses and stories just as I find them;
account of his journey through Samaria to though I cannot pretend positively to say
Jerusalem ; and, as I find no other event in that Luke, who, no doubt, has sometimes
any of the evangelists before the feast of changed the order in his nai-ration, has
dedication to which I conclude that journey exactly observed it here. It is however
Christ cures a man that had the dropsy* 141
sees to eat bread on distinction,^ by whom he was invited to eat sect.
the sabbathday, that hread^ that is, to dine with him on the sabbath- *^^^^-
they watched him. ^^^ , ^^^ ^^^^ ^f ^j^^ Pharisees were present —
there ; and, as their usual custom was, they ^iv. 1
were narrowly watching him^ to make the most
invidious observations on his conduct.
2 And, behold, And^ behold^ there was a certain man before 2
there was a certain f^i^yi^ ifi^f had a dropsy^ who, having heard that
Xhh^^Thedrop: Jesus wastodine there, had conveyed himself
sy, thither, in hope of a cure.*^
3 And Jesus, an- And Jesiis^ answering to the secret reason- 3
swering-, spake unto ings which he discerned in their minds on this
rtie lawyers ^ and occasion, said to the doctors of the law and other
Pharisees, saying-. Is _,,.', i ^ ^xn i
it lawful to heal on Pharisees who were then present, Wiiat do you
the sabbathday ? think now of this case ^ Is it lawjul to heal a
distempered person on the sabbathday ? or can
there be any thing in so benevolent an action
inconsistent with the sacred rest which is
required on that day ?
4 And they held But theyxvere silent ; as not being able, with 4
-•heir peace. — any face, to deny the legality of the action, and
yet unwilling to say any thing which might
seem to authorize or countenance those cures
which Christ performed on the sabbathday as
well as at other times ; and which, in the gen-
eral, they had been known to censure.
— And he took When Jesus therefore found that they would
Aim, and healed j^iake him no replv, he extended his compas-
him, and let mm . ^^i_ j ^ i- l- r;./
^Q . sion to the poor man ; ana^ taking nnn lay the
hand^Y he miraculously healed him before them
all, and dismissed him perfectly well, restored
possible, that all recorded in these chap- was one of the family : because it is said
ters mig-ht pass within the compass of a that Christ dismissed, or let him go, when
few days, and so would be consistent with he was cured ; ver. 4.
interpreting chap. xiii. 32, 33, in a more ^ Taking him by the hajid."] I know
//fera/mannerthan is absolutely necessary, some have imagined that Christ ltd him
*» A magistrate of great distinction.] If aside to avoid ostentation : but the words
(as Dr. Whitby supposes) the person who do not express this; and, as our Lord
gave the invitation was indeed one of the speaks of the cure both immediately be-
grand sanhedrim,, he mif^ht nevertheless fore and after it, there can be no room
have a country seat in Galilee; as the higher to imagine he intended to conceal it.
courts never fail of allowing some recess Probably the circumstance of taking him
to their members. So thatGrotius's argu- by the hand is mentioned as an instance
ment for transposing this story till Christ's of his condescension ; and shews that
arrival at Jerusalem seems inconclusive, there was nothing" in the manner of the
" Had conveyed himself thither, J^c] cure which could be objected to as a.
J oannot think (as some suppose) that he servile work.
142 The parable of them that chose the highest seat.
SECT, at once to his full strength, and reduced in a 5 And answered
cxix. moment to his proper shape and hulk.^ them,saying, Which
— And, more fully to convince them how justi- ^Tr t'L'Tl.e^
^•y 5 nable such an action was, even upon their own into a pit, and will
principles, as he saw they were secretly cav- not straightway pull
illing at it, he said in answer to them. Which of^i'^^^^^ ^"^^^ ^^^•
you, if he have but an ass or an ox, that shall
happen to fall into a pit, will not immediately
draw him out without any scruple, even on the
sahhathdayf though that is a much more labo-
rious action, and the life of one of those ani-
mals is so much less important than the health
of a man ? And can you then, without the
greatest injustice, condemn me for what I
have now done ?
6 And they were all so confounded at the force 6 And they could
and evidence of what he said, that they were "^t. answer him
7iot able to answer him again to these things, thfn^s
though they had not the candour to acknowl-
edge themselves convinced by them.
JT And he spake what may in one sense of the 7 And he put
word be called a parable, that is, a grave, con- forth a parable to
cise, and memorable sentence (see note b, Vol. [l'"f ^^"^^"^ ^^^^^
T ' N , , . ^ . , 1 ? bidden, when he
1. p. 2>55), to those xvnowere invited to dinner, marked how they
when he observed hoxv they chose and contended chose out the chief
for the chief seats at the table ; and, to reprove [jJ^JJ^J^ • raying unto
them for their pride, and recommend humility, '
8 he said unto them. There is one thing I 8 When thou art
would on this occasion address to every one in bidden of any man
the company, namely. When thou art invited by T.Zttiit^C^
any friend to a wedding feast, or any other great room ; lest a more
entertainment, remember the hint which Solo- honourable man than
mon has given (Prov. xxv. 6, 7), and do not sit ^l^^}"^ ^'"^^^'^ ""^
doxvn in the uppermost place, lest another of 7nore
honourable rank in life than thee should happen
9 to be invited by hiin ; And he that invited you ^^^^^ ^^^^ j^j^^ ^^^^^
both should come and say to thee. Thou must give and say to thee. Give
* Reduced to his proper shape and vindicating* the cure of the ma?i ivhose
bulk] If any ask how this could be, I an- hand iv as ii^ithered (Mat. xii. 11, Vol. I.
swer, He that at once could cure the dropsy p. 286) ; and at another time had urged
with a touch, could, if he please, annihi- an argument in effect the same with
late the excess of water that caused it ; regard to the cure of the crooked Hjjoman :
and it is reasonable to believe f/ientre was (Luke xiii. 15, sect, cxvii.) which may
wa-ought in such a manner as would make serve, among a variety of other instances,
tlie reality and perfection of it immedi- to vindicate several repetitions which must
ately apparent. be supposed, if we desire to assert the
^ If he have but aii ass or an ox, Sec] exact and circumstantial truth of the
Our Lord had used the same reason be- sacred historian.?. See Wottoivs MiscelL
tore, almost in the same words, when Vol II. p. 27.
The poor should rather he iTvolted than the rich. 14S
this man place; SiV\d place to this person ; and thou shouldst then^ to sect.
thou begin with avoid a second disgrace of this nature, begin ^-'^''^•
bweS poonT. ^ ^ ^ ^^^^ shame to take the ver}^ loiuest place, as
conscious how much thou hast exposed thyself j^^y 9
10 But when thou by so haughty and foolish a behaviour. But \q
artbidden,goandsit rather, On the contrary, when thou art thus m-
tom ;ThIt wh°e n he ^^^^^^ ^' ^'^^ ''^ ^^^^" ^^ ^^^^ m Me lowest place
that bade thee com- thou canst find ;« M«^ w^ew ^d^ that invited thee
eth, he may say unto comes into the room, he may say to thee. My
thee, Friend, go ^ip friend, go up higher : then shall thy modesty
thou have worship '^^ loUowed With a Qistmguishing reward, and
in the presence of thou shalt thus have honour in the sight both of
Uiem !^^^^*»t ^t the master of the feast and of^iW them that sit
mea wi ee. ^^ ^^^^^ with thee, as having assumed nothing
to thyself, but rather been contented to stoop
11 For whosoever to thine inferiors. For this may be laid down 11
exalteth himself, ^s a certain maxim in life, and happy is the
shall be abased; and ^v ^.. 1 ^ •>. 7- t 7.
he that humbleth ™^" ^"^^ attends to It, Jbvery one who exalts
himself, shall be himself beyond his proper rank and circum-
exalted. stances, shall he proportionably humbled and
mortified ; hut he that willingly humbles himself\
shall be exalted and honoured, as well as be-
loved, both by God and man. (Compare Mat.
xxiii. 12, and Luke xviii. 14.)
12 Tlien said he Then said he also to htm that invited him, li 12
also to him that bade desire to improve what vou have to the
him. When thou ; , t^ , . . , - . . -
makest a dinner or a "^^^ advantage, spend it m charity, rather than
supper, call not thy in magnificence and luxury : and zvhen thou
Inends, nor thy makest a dinner or a supper, invite not so much
k[nsme,r'nor % *''y rich friend.., or thy brethren, or thy kindred,
rich neighbours ; or neighbours ;^ lest they should also invite thee
lest they also bid again, and thus a recompense he made thee, and
thee again and are- ^y^ ^^^^ ^^^^ -^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^ receive one ban-
compense be made. „ - ... , , . .
quet tor another j which would introduce an
habit of high living, at a great expense both of
money and time, and would occasion the dis-
13 But when order of your respective families. ^e^^ rather, 13
thou makest a feast, ii^fi^n thou wouldst make an entertainment which
%Sit dou-?i at first in the lowest placed which might render this advice peculiarly
It is rnost probable that Christ himself, as proper, especially if he who now gave this
illustrious a person as he was, had accord- entertainment was, as many of his brethren
Ingly done thus, and sat doiun among certainly were, very < ef cient in works of
them in the loiuest place at the table. charity.' See Fea(l'irg''& Life cf Christ, p,
256. It is plain the wcrdr/cA (rs Grotiiis
'■ I}i<viie not so much thy rich friends, — or well observes) refers not mereh tc j.ei^h^
neighbours'] Probably (as Mr. Ifeading hours, h\\\ to xhe Jtindred iix\dxhe\,'her per-
well conjectures) he observed in the Phar- sons that are menticred with them; for
isees a humour of making wo^n(^ce«f/ea*?« if ihae were in low circumstances, tl cir
(on the sabbathdays and on other occa- being related to them was an argun ent
sions), and oHreaXxw^ great persons, chiefly why they should be regarded rather tJia??.
out of pride, ambition, and ostentation'; neglected
FOL. 2. 20
144 Reflections on the exercise
SECT.' should turn to the surest account, let it be plain call ttie poor, th«
cxix. and frugal, and invite to it the poor^ the disabled^ maimed, the lame,
— -- the lame^ [and'\ the blind^"- who are incapable of ^^^ ^^^^ '
xivlS Providing for themselves : let these come fre-
quently to thy house, to receive thine alms ;
or " send portions to them" when they cannot
14 come. (Neh. viii. 10.) And this will afford 14 And thou shalt
thee a much nobler satisfaction than banquets be blessed : for they
can give , and I may truly say, thou shahbe S™f fo'thoTZt
happy in that they are not capable of making be recompensed at
thee such a requital ; for their prayers shall the resurrection of
descend in blessings on thy head ; and, besides ^^^ J^^^*
all the pleasure a generous heart will find in
the very exercise of such bounties, thou shalt
be abundantly recompensed at the resurrection of
thejust^ if they proceed from a real principle of
piety and faith. (Compare note % Vol. I. p. 303.)
IMPROVEMENT.
How happy were they who had frequent opportunities of
conversing with Christy whose discourses were always so wise
and so useful ; how well did he repay all the entertainments he
received in the advantages which he gave for religious improve-
ment ! In vain might his enemies watch for occasions against
ver. 1 him. In his tongue was the law ofxvisdom as well as oi kindness
(Prov. xxxi. 26). And surely the lips of his ministers and dis-
ciples would feed many to their everlasting benefit, were this
blessed model to be more carefully traced ! (Prov. x. 21.)
8—11 Let us particularly observe what he here says concerning a
modest and humble deportment^ which is indeed the surest way to
be honoured and respected. And let us take great heed that
that good breedings which consists so much in the expressions of
humility and a readiness to prefer others to ourselves, do not
degenerate into a mere form, and prove, as it too often does, the
cloak of arrogance and pride ; but that it have its foundation in
a lowly opinion of ourselves, and an habitual disposition to sub-
» The disabled, &C.3 We render stystTx^t;? ^ At the resurrection of the just."] It is not
the maimed ; but the signification of the so evident, as Dr. Clarke supposes, that
word is much more extensive, and indeed J'lKAtuv must here signify charitable men ;
takes in both the lame and the blind after- it rather seems to me a strong and awak-
wards mentioned ; and may also include ening intimation that none who neglect
those whom the infii-mities of age have ivorks of charity shall have their final lot
rendered helpless. Grotius thinks this among the righteous ; which is evident
scripture was the foundation of the agapcey from the many hundred scriptures which
or lovefeasts, among the primitive Christ- indispensably require m,ercy as ^\'ell as
ians ; but it is not evident. Pliny has a justice. (Compare Mat. i. 19, note \ VoL
fine parallel passage. J^ee Plin. Epist. lib. I. p. 52.)
ix. epist. 30.
of humility and charity, 145
mit even to our inferiors, when we may do it without breaking «ect.
in upon the duties and decencies of life, and injuring those to ^^^^'
whom it may be exercised, by an indulgence which they know "~^
not how to understand or improve.
Let us hearken to these exhortations to charity from the mouth verse
of our charitable Saviour^ who gave himself for us. And as ^2, 13
Christ pleased not himself (Rom. xv. 3), let us not allow our-
selves to squander away great quantities of money in what may
gratify our own senses, or make a gaudy shew in the eyes of the
vainer part of mankind ; but let us be willing to spar€ from the
luxuries and superfluities of life, that we may bestow it on the
poor and the distressed. And indeed, whatever our circumstances
and possessions be, we must expect that the stream of our
bounty will soon be dried up, if it be not supplied from the foun-
tain of a prudent frugality. This selfdenial may now in some
instances be painful ; but it will be amply recompensed at the 14
resurrection of the just. May we then meet with many whom
our liberality has fed and clothed, whom our knowledge and
zeal have instructed, and whom our holy examples have edified
and quickened ! Here will be a foundation laid for the endear-
ments of an eternal friendship ; when that which has been formed
upon a partnership in vice, or animal pleasure, shall be for ever
forgotten, or be remembered with mutual horror.
SECT. CXX.
Our Lordfortells^ in the parable of the great supper^ the rejection of
the Jews^ and the calling of the Gentiles, Luke XIV. 15 — 24,
Luke XIV. 15. LuKE XIV. 15.
AND when one A N'D while Jesus was thus discoursing, one sect,
XX of them that ^ ^y ^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^ Pharisee's table hearing- cxx.
sat at meat with ^, ^ /^, , . i -n' i ^ ^
him heard tliese ^f^^-^^ useiui things^ and willmg to keep up so "
things, he said unto good a spirit of conversation, said to him, Happy ^. 5,
t^hrt'slfalrert"^ bread ^^^^^^ ^'" ^^ ^^^ ^^'^^^ ^^ honoured so far as to ""''''
in the kingdom of ^^^ bread^ in the kingdom of God : blessed man,
God who shall live in the time of the Messiah, and
share the entertainments he will prepare for
his people, when these virtues of humility,
"^ Shall eat bread."] It is well known So perhaps it might be at the fa^/* of this
that the phrase, to eat bread, signifies noble Pharisee, ver. 1. (See 2 Sam. ix.
tnaktpg a meal : and this not merely at a 7, 10; xii. 17, 20; and Prov. ix. 5.)
common table, but sometimes at Si feast. Compare note^, Vol. I. p. 461.
where the provision is very sumptuous.
146 TkfpmrMi rf $Mt ^^rti9f suffer.
>rcr, ct>nde*c*i»iot< A«nl .TvitWv <h,^n fiouri^i in all
c\\ i)u ir ^ar\"
Ou thU uuuii.t; w.wi^nu our Lonl thouy»ht ^ ' i » '» ^A>^i l»y
v/v IK i^ prv>iHrr iv> rxMuUxvl him .uul the <x>miMUN\ tliat *'"^'' ^'"V '^ ^'*^^**"*
many who, vmi mistaken notions ot this km^** suptvr, suxl bA\i<f
dom^ prv^ttfsscvl tv> dcsirx* it, wcnr luulcr iho mAuv
forvY of such i^rnal j^nr judiccs on this hotul,
that thtv wv>uUl in tact sliv^ht i\ni.l ix'-jeoi it.
itnk/ tv> this purp^^e he uttciwl the foilowiui;
puriibie, ami jwii/ S;i Aiv« thsit huJ expix^sscvl so
hi^h ;i muion oi the cntcrminmonts of his king^
dom, J crrtmm ■mti «wji/r «: ^^yyh^ su^^y, unJ
i T tJtisUJ muHkf gviestj ; A^tU he Sx^r^t out iliof ^vr- 17 Ami sent his
mint ^t thekoiir tif suf'^r ts su^ ti thS'ie th.tt *^rv*«i ai sujhviv
Kj« i^,^ ., Aey dcU>-^l Ihcir coming. Il^t ';;:;• '^it":
Wy »4sttT desirrs wm would ame awav as CvM\\e» tl>r all thin^
soon as possible ; fir «i/ tVrt^ prep;\i\d tor *i^ «^^w ivavly
IS the entertAinment unr nsxv nW:y. AnJ tSeti IS AuU they aU
mii k<^i*i ^ith QHe [cjHsemsy as if bv mutiuil ^'^^^^ .vu« sv-t^ be-
Agreement they had all contrived to put a slight ^X'«!l'? LTu»w»
on the entertainment, t9 cxk-w^ themsthts on him. 1 h;\vt« bv^uichc
cae ^>retence or amnher. 7V /irst *<wi/ /i? htm » P»<^*^^ ^^' p^Hlna,
that was sent, /^.w just f^^w jfunh^z^ a fM ^:^ ^ell TtS;
ami JiMm un>.W the H.^rss:ty 9/ ^in^ ts see it ; tht^t^ hA\r me e\-
/ entrt^ thet therefore t9 mtJtf My ^.\Yi<jft*. cused.
^^Amimn^ikfT 9md, I kgnt ynsX h^m^ Jhe if9ke 19 Ami smother
^§^ym^ 4mi lam ^wi^ !» Irv tk^y that I mav ^<^» I h*xv Um^^t
see how they wiU draV ; 7 i^^-A thet there^ ^ >^^^ ^^J, ^t^
fore to n<ike my rxvase^ and assure thy master them ^1 pwy theti
that it is important business that prevents me.-" ^*^^ n»*^ excused.
iK> Jtmi m99f her aoid J hi:?e yicry lately mmTMl a -30 And another
wr^^ aoHi shall have companv to entertain, ami **»^*' ' *>*^ raamea
l*«^r yxH. will ea«lv p.rv;.i,-e /c«|^c*-r « jf;.,^!. I^^:;:
to att^jxl x^oor master s hrast and neglect my ->i s^> th*t serv^uit
21 owtu* JfiJ thitt ftrvmmt rHftrmm^^ fjJt/oinx? ami shewed
t* Wkk car [cwutfnf] : «▼) .<>Jt-1 Of all than the next«nnui^, Mra$ merely the
Ike rarwu* ictetHod^s which learned »en etlect v>f rudeness on the vv>e haiul, mhI «.^"
kavi> tal»i% to scippity the tHifmt htn. albolisli i«^«tient himuHir ^m\ the other ;
(vhtek may be seen' at laq^in ITojIbMv «»* »eTer e«iiM have been urpxl. had
06terv^ V 4 1 p. 6StJ. 683>» it see»s to they esteemed the :rr«-v. or his ex.wai*-
Me «K>$; natximl to a t iti itawrf the vrord itwv- Acevvrdin^* it is ov>mmon)y fvHind
>«^M£, tk«t is, «t(^ «ne cwwtir c whkh in £ict, that iae« «e$Wet the blessings and
Mpouuon B maintained bv Besa. The demiaids oT^he j!^^« not ftr the «wst
metT oftheir excnsets i^n^r .>^«<, «•>* iwipoHant aAirs m lift- with which they
«vwcr« lesspN^w- seHwM iaAefftre, but to u>dulp? the ca-
* / 3r.r^- : r'.-e iM^afv Mv ex«w(^ 8tc.3 It pnce and feHr ot* their own temper*, and
is a b- . urustarK>? that mr Xitr^ tn |traiify the impulse of present passions
here : - >.>th these MnfOMr as al- sometimes excited on renr lo\r oecAsiojis.
readv a^Ii . so that mkj^ i»«e i4e,^mi> * I cmaot (mic» &c-] As the pnx-ess
ml j^ iiji 1 1 I iiB. Thu rrriiit Tiffli^T nf thc/m'n^li reptesents a wise and gvvd
a.
r
ifK/f U.
147
hu lord '^ fh^tr t.hh' '■•>.. 7'*:^^ ffr^ r^c:-**r "jf xz'zr
hfind.
fl.. .
71 And Uie jier- Arui ikt. utrvat
nwn §md, L'->r'f, 'r* ,'/;>. y/^;,,^^ ^/.-^
i* dtme m th
madewr
refce
c/ ///<? ^i/y,« tf/i/^ ^r2/i^ m htt/ur the
7 >/.^ ^"..„//^^/ „r,x/ /'/ V-^^^ X,,. ^ .i^.^
tliete If fOCir;
2a And
rairt^ Co <>
the fiif^wi
tlieNi to e^'
that my ht/^
. ?// to thi:
. fiioitt the city, ar
'/^>rtst and ir^
lelt/rrin^j th
CTic/, if im^^jirxjjn.
? /^fm tbat you
rr. ... earnest invitalioii /» ti/>'
'i« erkidsm t/.
« Fre*$ th
This seem*
•igntfief a ^^x:,
vtajt «» wbicli b
eluded.
* Imo the roads and hedgef.'} Any groM 1 i^*CtA^',u
Mud ahutdaaed Moners migfat be repre' ;i .
wtmz-A a* in Uiia wretched CMwlUvifu (See instances a.
Eph.H 12 — 17) Bttt it seems an exces- the word
sive refinement ^f Brennios, to suppose {Obterm, X-
the hei^eshetemtMikmed refer Ut the ett' as it wool:
enumuu Ww m a partiti^ / as itliketrise perv/r /
is to exf ! *if« til*: /rrf c/a«*e as relating to wwil/i
thc^o;' V-fc* </ tU gau, and the mcwk/ to stngt'
tiie idJMir'-Aui Geruilt*. One mi|^ as well tude i
infer from "tftv. "2At t^iat no Jews should be in the ; ,: ■ ^t - ^ ^.
«aved : and it argues a wroi^ taste ia more exactiy answers to tuat in ibe
148 Reflections on the invitations
SECT, house may be well filled. For I say unto you, 24 For I say unt«
c^"^- that none of tho'ie me7i who were invited, \i thtyy^^y that none of
— - should now be ever so desirous of it, shall be«-- Zl. Ihall
xiv24 admitted so much as to taste of my supper ; taste of my supper,
since they have so rudely and ungratefully
slighted it.
And in like manner, such will the Divine
conduct be with regard to the gospel. God
sends his messengers in the most importunate
manner to invite you Jews to come and partake
of its rich entertainment ; yet you neglect it on
the meanest pretences, and one is too busy,
and another too idle, to attend to it. But he
will severely resent the affront,- and (though it ^
may seem to you as unaccountable a conduct
as that which I have represented in this parable)
will call in the poor, ignorant, and wretched
Gentiles, who were wandering in the most
helpless circumstances, in the ways of idolatry
and wickedness ; and his church shall be filled
with them, while you, who reject his gospel,
shall in righteous judgment be yourselves
rejected, and perish for want of those mercies
which you now despise.
IMPROVEMENT.
ver.24 May the infinite mercy of God forbid that this should ever
be our condition ! The gospelfeast, like the sumptuous banquet
of Ahasuerus (Esth. i. 3, 4), is of a very long standing : not
only from week to week, but from age to age, God is sending
21 22 to invite new guests ; and, after all the millions that have been
regaled by it, and nourished up to everlasting life, there is yet
room for more. Still are his servants sent from one time to an-
other, with all the fervour of the most affectionate persuasion,
'23 to urge sinners to accept of these desirable blessings ; (for such
only is the compulsion that becomes a feast, and suits the nature
of reasonable creatures). May we not receive the grace of God
in vain ! Mav we wot perish, as thousands before us have done,
by making light of the gospel !
18, 20 It has often been observed from this parable, that the)'- were
lawfiU occasions which these unhappy people pleaded as their
excuse for neglecting the invitation. And how many perish by
what is indeed laiuful ' But the care of our estates or cattle, our
Qriginal, than the word onr translators nse: though sl paraphrase, which speaks only a
and it seems to me the part of a faithful man's own sentiments, may sometimes
translator, especially of the sacred writings, venture to determine them,
to preserve the ambiguities of the original »
g-hen us to the gospelfeast. 149
SECT.
cxx.
domestic affairs^ and our dearest relatives^ will be destructive to
us, if they be minded as our main care^ and our hearts be so
attentive to them as to forget the one thing' needful, "~~"
Are we of the number of those who, though once blinded, iro- ver.21
poverished, and enfeebled by sin, are now brought as welcome
guests to the table which Divine love has spread ? Let us adore
the grace which opened the door to us, and opened our hearts to
comply with the call ; by its strong and powerful, though rational
and gentle influence, compsliing us to come in. Let the servants
employed in the message urge it with a becoming earnestness ;
as well knowing how much the heart of their great master is in
it, and how much the happiness of souls depends on their accept-
ing it. Lord I may we see thy table furnished with guests^ and
ourselves be so happy as finally to partake of those blessings to
which we are now commanded to invite others! For blessed in- lo
deed are they who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God I
SECT. CXXL
Our Lord urges upon his disciples the necessity of considering the
difficulties of religion before they take up a profession of it,
Luke XIV. 25, to the end.
r VTAr oe LUKE XIV. 25.
Luxe XIV. 25. ^ ,r t> ; • t i » ^i •
AND there went /J^L) as great multitudes attended Christ,^ sect.
great mnlti- -^ and went with him in this his journey ^^^^'
tudes with him: and ^Qy,^j.^[ Jerusalem, he turned about and said to TT
he turned, and said , _/ ' i r i i Luke
unto them. them^ You now attend me Irom place to place xiv.25
with some tokens of regard ; but seriously
consider how much it will cost you to approve
yourselves my faithful followers.
26 If any man If any one comes to 7ne to be instructed in my 26
come to me, and religion, and to obtain the blessings of my king-
and mother, ^\nd ^^vci^ and does not prepare himself, on a proper
wife, and children. Occasion, to act as if he did even hate his father
and brethren, and and mother^ and\ns very xvife and children^ and
sisters, yea, and his brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life too,''
" Great multitudes attended Christ.] and mother^ Sec] Strictly speaking, to hate
Perhaps the cure of the man who had the our nearest relatives, and our own lives,
dropsy, and some expectations as to the would be unnatural wickedness, and
event of Christ's visit to this Pliarisee, equally contrary to the dictates of human-
might cause a croivd near his house ; and ity and the g-cnius of the gospel. But it is
wliat follows might be spoken the same well known that one thing is said to be
sabbath, on our Lord's coming out from loved and another hated in scripture, when
thence: but as the ei'a;?^e//f^ does not so the former is much preferred / and e spec -
expressly connect the passages, I was not ially when, out of regard to it, the latter is
willing to assert it in the paraphrase. neglected and forsaken. Compare Gen.
xxix. 31 ; Deut. xxi. 15—17 ; Mai. i. 3;
*» To act as if he even did hate his father Rom. ix. 13 ; and Mat. vi. 24.
ISO Religion must be undertaken with serious consideration^
SECT, that is, if he be not willingto abandon all these o\vn life also, he
cxxi ^j^ti^er than to forsake me, he cannot really be cannot be my dis-
"~ my disciple, whatever he may pretend. And *^' 27 And whosoev-
J^^27 whosoever does not stedfastly resolve even to er dotli not bear his
bear his cross, and to come after me, whenever cross, and come af-
he is called to tread the painful steps that I am ^ dS!scipk""^
talcing in the way to crucifixion and death, he
cannot be my disciple: and therefore, as I gave
these things in charge to my apostles (Mat. x.
38, Vol. I. p. 420), I rej>eat them to you as
matters of universal concern, which require
your most attentive consideration.
28 And it is necessarv to dwell on the thought ; 28 For which of
for which of you, if he be a person of common yo« intending to
-f ' ^ ^^ • :' J . 1 '11 J. e ib"dd a tower, sit-
prudence, and intend to build a tower, ^ or any ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^
other edifice, does not first deliberately sit and counteth the
doxvn, and compute the expense it will require, cost, whether he
and compare it with his own circumstances, !;^^'|^^^#"'^"* ^^^"'
that he may judge whether he has a stock of
29 wealth \_suficienf\ to finish it P Lest when he 29 Lest haply af-
hath laid a foundation, and is not able to complete ter he hath laid the
r, ;nui-ju c *f ♦ foundation, and 1?
[the work] he had begun, tor wantot money to ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^i^], -^^
go through with it, allzvho see it, as they pass all that behold if be-
30 by, should begin to deride him. Saying, in con- gin to mock him,
tempt. This must be surely a wise mcin, who ^^^^^^ begin fo buikt
thus began to build, andxvas not abletofinishhis ^nd was not able to
plan ; and here his imperfect work stands a finish.
lasting monument of his great discretion !
31 Or what wise king, if he w^as marclwig out to 31 Or what king
encounter another king in ivar,^ does not first sit ^^^^^^IX"„1
down and consider whether he has any such ad- futeth not down
vantage, as to arms, strength, or situation, as first, and consulteth
may induce him to conclude that he is able with whether he be able
^ r ^-1 ^ ^L J ^ . with ten thousand to
no greater torce than ten thousand men to meet ^^^^ j^j^^ ^^^^^ ^,0^.
and oppose him that cometh against him with eth against him with
twenty thousand P And if he find he has noty twenty thousand ?
«: If he intend to build a to^vsr.'] This ^ Or 'what king marching out to encounter
phrase naturally suggests to us the idea of another king, &c.] According to Sir Isaac
a more magnificent edifice than onr Lord's Newton's chronology, these words were
hearers might probably tliink of on this sjioken at our Lord's last passover* ^"^
occasion, "it is plain tllat tuivers were fre- might refer to Herod's leading his army
quently run up, probably of some slight through Judea against Aretas king of
materials, to lodge those wlio had the care Arabia. But as Herod did not then ap-
of keeping vineyards or flocks ,- and they pear to be the iveaker, I cannot see that
were built pretty high in proportion to (even supposing the premises to be true)
their basis, that they might command the there would be any certainty of such ar>
larger prospect. Compare 2 Chron. xxvi. intended allusion
10 ; Mic. iv. 8 ; Isa. v. 2 ; Mat. xxi. 33 ;
and Markxii. 1.
Th e znsigTiificance of an outward profession* I Si
the other is yet a while he that comes with this superior force s«ct.
gfreat way off, he against him is yet at a distance^ he sends an em- ^xxi.
sagefaU^deSreth^^^*^' and desires terms of peace,* acknowledg- — -
conditions of peace, ing his readmess to submit to some things ^-^ 32
which may be disagreeable, for the preserva-
tion of his dominions, and perhaps of his life.
33 So likewise. So then do you consider whether you think 3^
whosoever he be of it worth your while to adhere to me on these
j;™M'fhirtt^^™i' f°^irr y°"'^ ru/d>"it you on
he cannot be my dis- ^^ Other ; and whosoever he be of you that does
ciple. not stedfastly resolve to give up all his posses^
sions, whenever he is called to it on my ac-
count, he cannot be owned by me as my disciple
indeed.
34 Salt u good : And if you are not my disciples indeed, your 34
but if the salt have outward profession will be very insignificant;
wherewith shTu iorthoxx^h salt in general is a very good thing,
be seasoned ? and my servants, as I lormerly intimated
(Mat. v. 13, Vol. I. p. 212), are the salt of
the earth ; yet I must again add, if the salt be
grown insipid, with what can it be seasoned f
or w^hat can recover those whom my gospel
^ 35 It is neither fit will not influence and reclaim ? And as insip- 35
for the land, nor yet id salt is such a vile and worthless thing, that
hitman cast"^'t^out! ^'^ " neither ft to be used of itself as manure
He that hath ears tofr the land, nor even so much as ivXfor a place
hear, let him hear, on the dunghill to be there mixed with other
dung ; \hut'\ it is thrown out of doors, and tram-
pled under foot like mire in the streets : you
also will be no less useless and contemptible if,
under the advantages and obligations of a
Christian profession, you are destitute of a
sincere principle of integrity and piety, and
will be utterly abandoned and rejected as un-
profitable servants. He therefore that hath
ears to hear, let him hear it attentively i for it
« Desires terms of peace .• tf,t/)A to. <argoc ferring to those who have not courage to
si/)«v»jr.] This represents the feebler per- fight with their spiritual enemies, the
son as begging a peace : a proper emblem world, the flesh, and the devil, and there*
of the humility and resignation with fore make the best terms they can with
which peace is .0 be sought from an of- them, and sit still neglecting Christ and
fended God, who is possessed of a jfren^r>^, religion. But if the passage be taken in
rot (as in tlie case supposed here) merely this sense, our Lord, by declaring in the
double,^ but infinitely superior to ours, next verse that he will make no abatem,ent
The pious and amiable author of a late in his own demands, plainly intimates how
valuable piece called Orthodoxy and Charity necessary it is to break through all oppo^
(whoeverhe be) has given a quite difi'er- sition, and to determine to face all the
entinterpretation of this passage, which, difficulties in our way, which it will be
so far as I can recollect, I have not yet our wisdom to view and consider, that
seen, and which I am sure deserves con- we may be prepare^ with proporUonxblt.
^deration. He explains it (p. 43) as re- resolution.
^QL, 2, 21
%S2 Reflections t)n a readiness to sufer for Christ,
SECT, is a point in which not only the honour of my kingdom but the
^^^^' salvation of your own souls is concerned.
IMPROVEMENT.
ver.35 May our most serious attention be fixed on so important a
34, ZS truth ; and may this plain and candid declaration of our Lord
be duly regarded by us, as ever we desire to find the advan-
tage of that relation to him in which we are so ready to glory !
If we would not be cast out with disdain, and trampled under
foot as worthless andVile, let us be solicitous that there may be
the salt of Divine grace in our hearts ; and let us undertake a
28, 32 religious profession with that deliberate consideration which be-
comes a matter of such great importance. A hasty purpose will
never bear us through the difficulties we must expect to encoun-
ter ; and rash vows, and thoughtless adventures, in this case,
will only expose us to the derision of others^ and the keener re-
morse of our own minds.
Nor is the nature and evidence oi religion such as to have any
26 reason to fear the severest examination. The demands of
Christ are indeed high ; that the nearest relatives should be
abandoned, and even life itself sacrificed for his sake ; that we
be at least ?nartyrs in resolution, and have so much of a recipro-
33 cal affection for him, as shall, like his love to us, be strojiger
than death. Yet how reasonable is the demand ! Did he leave
his Father"* s bosom for us, and shall we scruple to abandon our
houses and our kindred for him ? Did he expire on the cross for
us, and shall not we be ready to take up our crosses and follow
27 him f Shall it not be delightful to us to trace his most painful
steps, and by the most costly sacrifices to approve our gratitude
and our duty ?
Blessed jesusy lead us / and by thy grace xve rvill follow thee.
whatever be the path, whatever be the burden, whatever the ter-
ror of the way ; knowing that if we partake with thee in thy suf-
ferings^ we shall at length share with thee in thy consolation
and thy glory ! (2 Tim. ii. 12.)
SECT. CXXII.
Publicans and sinners fock round our Lord^ ajid he vindicates his
readiness to receive them by the parables of the lost sheep and
piece of money, Luke XV. 1 — 10.
Luke XV. I. ^ Luke XV. 1.
THUS our Lord addressed himself to the 'T'HENdrewnear
multitude, and especially to his disciples, ■■• untohimallthe
on the sabbathday, as he came out from the
The parable of the lost sheep. ^ ^^
ijublicarib .and sin- house of the noble Pharisee with whom he had sect.
n^s fox- to tear him. dined : now as it was then a season of leisure, "^'^'
and he appeared in public teaching the people, 7"^
all the publicans in that place, and some other ^v. 1
notorious sinners^ who might not easily have
been admitted into the Pharisee's house, c^rew/
near to hear him preach,* being charmed with
the condescension which allowed of their ac-
cess.
2 And the Phari- And Jesus, moved with compassion for 2
jiees and scribes them, Uttered some remarkable discourses, ad-
Thi?ran recXfh "^^^^bly calculated for their encouragement,
sinners, and eateth and that of Others, who had lain under the
withUiem. most aggravated guilt. But the proud Phari-
sees and scribes who were present, murmured
when they saw such a crowd around him, and
said, This man, while he sets up for a relig-
ious Teacher, unaccountably gives access to
the most profligate sinners, and sometimes eats
xuith the7n, and makes no scruple to accept of
invitations to their houses. (Compare Mark
o And he spake ^^ 16, Vol. I. p. 390.)
UllS parable unto nrss- -i r ^ ri
diem, saying-, -^"^ 1/ ^■^^'•^j 1^^ the encouragement oi these 3
4 What man of poor penitents, as well as to rebuke the censo-
vou having an hun- rious and Uncharitable Pharisees, spake to them
loTe one^of them^, ^^^^ parable, and said. What man is there of you 4
doth not leave the that has a flock of an hundred sheep, who xvill
ninety and nine in j^ot, upon losing one of them, immediately leave
go^ftl^ThirwhTch il'' '"""ty "'"' that were feeding together in
is lost, until he find the pastures of the desert,^ and go from place
it ? to place in search after that which was lost, till
5 And when he ^^ £^^^ j^ f ^^^ having at length fouitd it, he 5
hath found z?, he lav- . ' . ,• , /j ^ A •• -
eth it on his shoiil- %'^ ^^ ^n his shoulders, greatly rejoicing, as a
ders, rejoicing : man in such a circumstance naturally would :
3 All the publicans and sinners dreiu near But that the chief part of this assembly
to hear hivi.'] Some suppose they came were Gentile idolaters, can never be prov-
by a particular appointment from all the ed ; and if it could, it would be no suffi-
neighbouring parts. But as Luke g-oes cient proof of Christ's being now on the
on in the story, without any intimation of other side of Jordan. Yet I acknowledge
a cAn?i^e either in the time or the scene of it highly probable, that some idolatrous
it, I am inclined to think tliese discourses Gentiles might join with the inultitude^
might be delivered the same day that who, if they understood these parables,
Christ dined with the Pharisee,' (sect, might justly draw great encouragement
cxix.) which being the sabbathday, from them.
would give the /)z<({>//c«?;i', who on other *>/„ the pastures of fAe cfejer^] Uncul-
days were employed in their office, a tivated ground, used merely as co7mwo«o/'
more convenient 0])portunity of attending, pasture, was cvWed v:ilderness, or desert, by
Some have concluded (I could never con- the Jews, in distinction from arable, or en-
jecture for what reason) iliat this hap- closed land. Compare Josh. xv. 61 ; 1
pened in Galilee of the Gentiles beyond Kings ii. 34 ; 2 Kings iii. 8 ; Mat. iii. 1 ;
Jordan, from whence, they say, Christ and Mark vi. 31. (Compare also note % on
went up to Jerusalem (I.iike xvii. 11). Mat. xviii. 12, sect, xciv.)
tS4t The parable of the lost piece of moneij.
SECT, (compare Mat. xviii. 12, 13, sect. Ixiv. p. 46.) 6 And when he
•XXII. And when he cometh home, he calls- together [his] I'^^^^^^^l'^^^^ \l
"^^ friends and neighbours, and says unto them with f^^iends and nelgh-
\^^% the greatest pleasure. My friends, you may hours, saying unto
'* now rejoice with me; for my labour and search them, Rejoice with
, •', .•1T7 r J me, for I have lound
have not been m vam, but / havefoimd my ^^* ^^^^^ ^^^^^
7 sheep which was lost' And as he thus is more ^as lost.
deliffhted with the recovery of the sheep which 7 I say unto you,
he had lost, than with the safety of the rest, th-J, '^ZX..ri
which had not wandered ; so, I say to you, that ^^^^ ^^^ sinner that
greater and more sensible ^02/ will be in heaven, repenteth,morethan
among the blessed and benevolent spirits that over ninety and nine
, ,,°, . ^ . ^ ^, lust persons which
dwell there,* over one penitent sinner, than over "^^^^^^^^ repentance.
ninety nine righteous persons who do not need
such deep repentance,^ or such an universal
change of mind and character.
8 Or, to illustrate the matter by another ob- 8 Either what
vious similitude, that it may yet more pow- woman, having ten
erfuUy strike your minds, What 'poor ^o-l^^Lf :^7^c.
man, having ten pieces of silver money, doth not light a can-
though they were each of them but the value die, and sweep the
of a drachma, z7>Ae lose one of them out of ^o^^^^' a;?^ seek dil-
, ,. , ;*'.,, ^ 1- 1 . 1 . igently till she tind
her little stock, will not presently light a lamp, °p
and take the pains to sweep out the house,
and search carefully in all the corners till she g ^^^ when she
9 find it f And when she has found if, she hath found iu she
'^ Greater joy villi be in heaven, 8cc.]| Al- persons spoken of as needing no repentance t
luding, says Mons. L'Enfant (a little too or no universal change of heart and life,
coldly), to the style of the Jews, with in which sense the word /uilatvotat. is com-
whom it was usual to represent the angels monly used) ; for it would be inconsistent
iuecj&/«^ for the corruption of men, and re- with the Divine wisdom, goodness, and
Voicing at their conversion. But it seems holiness, to suppose this. But it is plain-
very unwarrantable to suppo|p Christ thus ly as if he had said, " As a father pecu-
asserting a thing merely because the Jews liarly re/ozce^ when slxi extravagant child is
used thus to represent and conceive of it. reduced to a sense of his duty, and one
We may rather conclude from ver. 10, whom he had considered as utterly ruined
that, at least in some extraordinary cases, by his follies, and perhaps as dead, returns
the angels are, either by immediate reve- with remorse and submission ; or as any
lation, or otherwise, informed of the con- other person who has recovered what he
version of sinners, which must to those had given up for gone, has a more sensible
benevolent spirits be an occasion of joy ; satisfaction in it than in several other
nor could any thing have been suggested things equally valuable, but not in such
more proper, to encourage the humble danger : so do the holy inhabitants ofhea-
penitent to expose the repining Pharisee, ven rejoice in the conversion of the most
or to animate a// to zeal in so good a work, abandoned sinners, and the great Fa-
as endeavouring to promote the repentance ther of all so readily forgives and receives
of others. them, that he may be represented as hav-
ing part in the joy." Though, by the way,
^ Than over ninety nine righteous persons, when human passions are ascribed to God,
&c.]| It cannot be our Lord's meaning it is certain they are to be taken in Sifgu-
here, that God esteems one penitent sinner rative sense, entirely exclusive of those
more than ninety nine confirmed and estab- sensations which result from the conjn\o-
lisbed saints, (who are» undoubtedly, the tions of animal nature in our6elves%
Reflections on the joy in heaven over a penitent sinner, 1^5
calleth her friends, ^oy£u\\y^ calis her £em3i\e friends and neighbours sect.
and Jier neighbours together,'' to acquaint them with her good sue- ^^^"-
joi?e wi'i^rmeTfo/i ^ess ; and, concluding it will be agreeable news ^^
have found the piece to them, she says, Rejoice tvith 7ne, my triends, ^v. 9
which I had lost. for J have found the piece of money xvhich I had
10 Likewise I say ^ ^^ ^^^ j ^^^^^ ^j^^^^ ^/^^^.^ -^ -^^ ^^
unto you, There is,., .P . P .^ .f
joy in the presence li^e manner a peculiar^oz/ m heaven among the
of the angels of God angels of God over one repenting sinner. Do
over one sinner that ^^^ therefore wonder if I labour to promote
repen e i. their joy on this account, and condescend to
familiar converse with those w^hom you proudly
despise as unworthy your regard.
IMPROVEMENT.
How graceful and lovely does our Lord appear, while thus ver. 1
opening his compassionate arms, and heart, to these wretched
outcasts, for whose souls no man cared J Who can choose but
rejoice at this jubilee which he proclaimed among them, and at
the cheerful attention which they gave to these glad tidings of
great jotj P May we, who are his followers, never despise the
meanest or the worst of men when they seem disposed to re-
ceive religious instruction ; but rather exert ourselves with a
distinguished zeal, as knowing that the joy of the heavenly 10
world in their recovery will be in some measure proportionable
to the extremity of their former danger.
Let us often recollect the charity and goodness of those per- 7
fected spirits who look down from their ov/n glory with com-
passion on mortals wandering in the paths of the destroyer, and
who sing anthems of thankfulness and joy, when by Divine
grace they are reclaimed from them. Let every sinner be
touched with a generous desire, that he who has been in so many
instances the offence and burden of the earth, may become the joy
of heaven by his sincere conversion. And let the solicitude with 4^ 6
which the little possessions of this xvorld are sought, when they s, 9
are lost by any accident, engage us more earnestly to seek what
is infinitely more valuable, our own salvation, and that of the
immortal souls of others. May w^e in our different stations
labour successfully for their recovery ; that we may another day
share in that higher joy which angels and glorified saints shall
express when they see them not only reduced to the paths of
virtue and happiness, but fixed in abodes of eternal glory !
e She calls her female friends [-rat? <?>*?], nine pence J ; but it is represented as the
and neighbours together!] It might seem tenth part of hev little stock, and the im-
hardly worth while to ask the congratula- pressible and social temper of the sex may
tion of her friends on so small an occasion be perhaps thought of as addinj^ aowf^
as finding a drachma (for that is the piece propriety to the representation
of coin here mentioned, in value not above
IS% The parable of the prodigal son^
SECT. CXXIII.
Our Lord farther purees the design of the preceding parables, btj
delivering that of the prodigal son. Luke XV. 11, to the end.
Luke XV. 11. Luke XV. 11.
SECT. \ /% / A A n. me stiiiic ucsigii ui viiiuiciinii^ /\ -^^ ^ "^ said^
;XIII. m/ W l-«ii-*-»Cialf in o/-^r^vr*»r•c^r-^<v \\rif-r» tiiVnii rciTlQ
had two sons
JECT. TXTITH the same design of vindicating \^^
exxiii. VV himself in conversing with publicans ,-^._^_^5^*'''' "'*"
and sinners, of reproving the envy of the
xv^\l Pharisees, and of encouraging every sincere
penitent by moving representations of the
Divine mercy, our Lord went on to utter an-
other most beautiful and affecting parable.
Afid he said, while this various multitude was
standing round him, There was a certain man
in plentiful circumstances, and of a very con-
descending temper, who had txvo sons that were
^2 now grown up to manhood. And the younger 12 And the youngs
of them, fondly conceited of his own capacity er of them said to
to manage his affairs, and weary of the restraints H\ ^^^^^^y Father,
of his father's house, said one day to his indul- of goods that falleth
^ent parent. Father, as I am now come to years to me. And he di.
of discretion, I desire thou wouldst give me [>!^^ ^"^<^ ^^^^^ ^"^"
into mine own hands that portion of goods ^^^"§^'
•which, according to an equitable distribution,
falls to 7ny share. And he, unwilling to make
any invidious distinction in distributing his
effects, divided his living betxveen themhoxh,^
and gave them his chief stock of money, re-
serving the house and estate in his own hands.
13 And not 7nany days after this division was 13 And not mux
ra^&Q ^ the younger son gathering all\i\s tYC2i^\\rt ^y days after, the
together, and pretending a design of traffic- y^^^^p^ son gather-
• vu •/. ^ / • • ^ 7- ed all together, and
mg With It, took a journey into a very distaiit took his journey into
country ; and there forgetting his relations at a far country, and
home, and livi?ig with a knot of companions ^'^^'"^ wasted his
like himself, in a very riotous, debauched, and ous K^ving."^''^ ''"^^
extravagant manner, he quickly squandered
away the whole of his substance.
14 Ayid xvhen he had consumed all m\\\\svfYttcht(iL 14 And when he
course, it so happened, through the righteous had spent all, there
judgment of God upon him, that there was an
"^ Divided his liviyig bctwen them both.] creatures. It Is one of those many orna-
it IS plam, no significant sense can be put mental circumstances which it would be
on this circumstance of the parable, as re- weakness overrigorouslv to accommodate
ferrmg- to the dispensations of God to his to the general design. '
Hewing spent all his substance^ he is reduced to want, 137
arose a mighty fam- extreme famine in that coi/ntry where he so-
ine in that land ; journed ; and he soon beg-an to be in want of
i^ntant^'^^" ^^ ^^ the very necessaries of lit^. And, finding no
15 And he went shelter or relief among those who had been
and joined himself i\\Q companions of his luxury, and shared in
to a citizen of that ^^ jj^ ^^ j^.^ g^^bstance, yet unable to brook
country; and he sent , ' .„ . - : -^ . . , .
him into his fields to the mortification of returning home in such cir-
feed swine. cumstances, he went a7id joined himself as a
servant to a citizen of that place ; who^ thinking
such a worthless creature unfit for any better
post, sent him away Into his grounds^ belonging
to an estate in the country, where he employed
him to feed swine ; to which, however mean
and disagreeable the employment was,*= this
unhappy youth, who had once lived in so much
plenty and splendor, was forced to submit :
16 And he would And even then, through the unkindness of his 16
fain have filled his master, and the extremity of the season, he
«!lt^thl'Vwine"d^d ^^^s kept so poorly that he had not bread ; but
eat: and no mzw^ould gladly have filled his hungry belly xvith
jfave unto him. the sorriest husks^ which the swine did eat : and
yet there was 7io mati that would take so much
pity upon him as to give unto hijn one morsel
of ifood ; so sparing did the famine make them,
and so much did every one despise this foolish
and scandalous prodigal.
17 And when he And now the.infamy and distress of hispres- 17
came to himself, he ^^^ situation began to lead him into serious
consideration j and coming to himself he so far
recovered his reason, which had before been
dethroned and extinguished by the mad intox-
ication of sensual pleasure, that he said in his
^ Who— ^ent him into his grounds.'] That stance was chosen by owr Zorc/ to repre-
:*/, in such a construction, should be ren- sent him as reduced to the most vile and
dered in this manner, the accurate Elsntr servile state that could be jmag-ined.
has shewn by a variety of convincing- in- «* With the sorriest husks^^ A late trar^s-
stances. (Observ. Vol. I. p. 248.) lation (after Brown, Saubert, Grotius, and
« However mean and disagreeable the many others) renders y.ipaliuv carraimys^
employment was.] It is true, that among or the fruit of the carubtree, which bore a
the ancient Greeks, the chief siuineherd mean, though sweetish kind of fruit, in
was looked upon as an officer of no incon- long crooked pods ; which by some is
^siderable rank ; as evidently appears from called St. John's bread ; but if the account
'the figure which Eunideus makes in the which Saubert himself gives of it be true,
Odyssey : but this was an age of greater svdne would hardly have been fed with
refinement ; the unhappy youth was any thing but the husky part of this, in
obliged to tend the tv:ine himself ; and if a time of extreme famine. I therefore
he be considered as a Jew, the aversion choose to retain our version ; but take it,
of that nation for this unclean animal on the whole, to have been the fruit of a
must render the employment peculiarly tree some\.hm°^Qi 9, isiU chestnut \^nd: See
•')diou<5 to liim ; and proliably this cii'cum- Drusius in he-
158 Awake7ied at last to at/ense of his folly ^ he returns home.
SECT, own mind, Alas, how 7nany hired servants in said. How many
cxxiit. the family cj/mz/ godfather have bread enoug-h^^red servants of my
— and to .pare, while /his child, who have known ^^^th andfo'^S^.
^"^^ SO many better days, am even perishing w?^A and I perish with
^^' famine, and am not thought worth my food by hunger !
this unkind master to whom I have hired my-
18 self! Whatever be the consequence of it, I 181 will arise, and
am resolved that I will sit no longer in this 8^ Jo "^y ^^ther, and
. ,1 1 • i_ ^ r -77 • r * 1 will say unto him,
miserable condition ; but / will immediately Father, I have sin*
arise, and go to my father, if all my little re- ned against heaven,
main ing strength can carry me such a journey ; and before thee,
and, without vainly attempting an apology, I
xvill say to him, 6 my dear injured /a^/zer, I
humbly confess that / have sinned against the
great God of heaven"" by a long course of vice
and wickedness, and have been guilty also of
the vilest behaviour before thee, in abusing thy
goodness, and grieving thee by my unnatural
19 rebellion ; And in consequence of this I am 19 And am no
no more worthy to be called thy son, nor can more worthy to be
iLu ni.u o '^ J v^ J • ^ *.u called thy son: make
I expect the favour of being admitted into thy ^^ ^3 J^ of thy hir~
family on such terms again ; nevertheless, do ed servants.
not suffer me to perish, but rather make me as
one of thine hired servants,^ and I will be con-
tented for the future to labour and to fare as
they do, so I may but live in thy sight.
20 And accordingly he arose at that very instant, 20 And he arose
and set forward on his long journey, passing f "^^^^.^^f"^ ^^ ^^^
through all the stages of it with a firm resolu-
tion. Providence taking care of his subsistence,
though he was obliged to beg his way ; and at
length he came to the neighbourhood of the
house in which his father dwelt.
But rvhile he was yet at a considerable distance, ~f f '^at warS;
his father, v/ho happened to be then looking that j^^s fj^^her g^^ him^
way, saw him, and presently knew him, dis- and had compassion,
guised as he was ; and his bowels yearned over
him, to see him in so wretched a condition : and
immediately, as if he had forgot the dignity of
his own character, and all the injuries he had
''Sinned against V.xegvesit God oHieaven.'] guilt of his conduct, and that the fear of
This was, as Dr. Goodman observes God began to take hold of him.
r Parable of the Prodigal, p. 207), an ac- * Make one as one of thine hired servants.}
knowledgment that his father's yoke had He mentions this, not because such ser-
been so €asv» that bis throwing it off had vants fared worse th:in slaves ; but because
been an act of rebellion against Cod : and he was himself an hired servMit, and there-
it shewed also that his heart was touched fore naturally compared his own condition
-vith a sense, not only of the foUy but the with those of that rank in hrs lather s
family.
His father kindly receives him, 159
and ran, and fell on received, he ran to his child, and fell on his sect.
his neck, and kissed neck with an eager embrace, and tenderly kissed cxxm.
^^^: . J .u him with tears of io}'. And the son began to 7"
21 And the son , , . , i i ^ i i i ^ 1.1 Luke
«ald unto him, Fa- make his humble acknowledgments, as he be- ^^ 21..
ther, I have sinned fore had purposed, and said unto him^ O my
against heaven, and abused and injured father^ I am ashamed to
;,o"rf w'oXTo appear in thy presence ; for such has been ™y
be called thy son. vileness, that I have sinned against the God of
heaven^ and before thee^ and am no more worthy
to be called and owned as thy son, or to receive
22 But the father any token of thy favourable regards. But, be- 22
said to his servants, fore he could make an end of the speech he in-
Bring forth the best ^^^^ Me compassionate /«?/zer turned, and
robe, and put z« on ' r J ^u j
him, and put a ring- satd to his servants, who were now gathered
on his hand, and round them. Go immediately into the house,
shoes on /u\y feet. ^^^ briiig out the best robe xii2it\s there,^ and
clothe him with it, and put a ring on his hand^
and sandals on his feet, that my dear child may
23 And bring hi- appear like himself: And let others of you run 23
ther the fatted calf, ^q the Stall, and brins^ hither the fatted calf i\i2it
Z^.^lkeZilT'^^^^^^^ «"^^^^^ ^^''^«^ ^ f^^ti^^l entertain-
24 For this my son ment ; and let us eat and be cheerful: For I 24
was dead, and is esteem this as one of the happiest days of my
alive again ; he was y^^ ^^^ ^^^^ - r^^ than the birthdav of one
lost, and is found, p' ,., , ♦^•'. ,. ^,^ ^
And they be^-an to o^ ^^7 children ; since this my son, that was so
be merry. '' long considered by me as dead, is restored to
life ;"■ and he who was concluded to be irrecov-
erably lost, is found, so that 1 have renewed
hope of comfort in him. And the whole house
was filled with joy, and, having made the en-
tertainment ready, they began to be cheerfuL
% The best robe^ It is observed by Fer- but at Jerxisalem, which does not appear
rarius fde JRe Vestiar. lib. iii. cap. 24), that to have been the scene of this/^araii/e / so
the ro^J>> or /o;?^ roZ'e, was a garment which that I can see no just reason for such a
servants never wore ; so that his father's rendering.
orderingany such garment, and especially » That 'was dead, is restored to life'] It
the best, to be brought, was declaring, in is by a very common and beautiful etnblem
the most moving manner that can be im- that vicious persons are represented as
agined, how far he was from intending to dead, both by sacred and profane authors ;
treat him like a servant. His mentioning (compare 1 Tim. v. 6 ; Eph. ii. 1 ; v. 14 ;
the ring and shoes spake the same Ian- and Wolfius in loc.J and the natural death
guage ; as many learned writers have ob- of their children would be less grievous to
served. See Wolfus in loc. pious parents, than to see them abandon-
^ The fatted calf and kill /f.] Eisner ed to such a course as this young sinner
would render the word 3-y!r«.7«, sacrifice it ; took. But to suppose an alhcsion here to
ti'uly urging that it was customary to ojfer that statute (Deut. xxi. 18 — 21) which
a sacrifice at the birth, and sometimes at condemned a disobedient and rebellious son
the unexpected reco-oery of a child. (See to death on the prosecution of his parents,
..Eisner, Observ. p. 249, 250.) But no such would in this case be most unnatural, and
^mcrifice was appointed among the ^eu^s, utterly spoil the tenderness and grace of
nor could any have been lawfully ofiered tliis speech.
VOL. 2. 22
160 His elder brother repines^ and resents it ;
3KCT. But while the younger son was thus received 25 Now his eldea
exxiii. into his father's house, his elder son was abroad son was in the field :
"~" in the field ; and as on his return he appro ache d^^^^^ nfo-h^^to The
XV. 25 the house y he heard the sound of miisick ««t/ house, he'heardrau-
dancings and was surprised at the discovery of sick and dancing.
26 such unusual joy. A?id calling one of the ser- 26 And he called
??flf;z^.y to come to him, he inquired of him tt>Aa? one of the servants,
was the meaning of these things^ and what could ^j^^^^ things meant ?
have occasioned this extraordinary rejoicing ?
27 And he said to him^ It is because thy younger 27 And he said
brother is come home ; a7id thy father is so unto him, Thy bro.
transported with ioy at his unexpected return, ^I^^^„ iJ ^^t™fu' i^n^
y , ,.,, 4 , r 1 in J 1 ' thy fattier hath kill-
that he has killed the Jutted calj^ and made a gd the fatted calf,
very splendid entertainment, because he has re- because he hath re-
ceived him in good health again, and found him ceived him safe and
28 happily recovered to a sense of his duty. And ^^gs And he was
he xvas very angry at the kind reception of his angry, and would not
brother, and resolved that he would not go in* &oin :—
His father therefore hearing he was there, —Therefore came
and being told he had discovered some uneasi- his father out, an<?
ness, came out with great condescension, ^^^^ entreated him.
calmly entreated him to be pacified, and to join
with them in the festivities of the day.
29 5wf, instead of rejoicing on so happy an oc- 29 And he au-
casion, and running to embrace his penitent swering, said to his
brother, he was still full of envy and resem- ^f^^'^-earJ to'l
ment, and replied to his father^ Behold^ I have serve thee, neither
served thee these many years, and even to this transgressed 1 at
day am as careful of thy affairs as if thou wast ^""y l'"^^ .^^^^ !^°"^:
•/ 1 1 r 1 mandment, and yet
my master, rather than my tather ; nor canst thou never gavest
thou say I have at any time departed from my me a kid, that I
dutv^ or transgressed thy command ; and yet "^j^ht make inerry
1 r ^ ' u L' J /i ^ with my iriends :
thou hast never given me so much as a km, that '
I might make an entertainment with a. few of
30 my select friends : But as soon as ever this thy 30 But as soon as
favourite son was come, who has, as much as this thy son was
in him lay, devoured thy substance with harlots ZZmeTthy Ih^nl
abroad, in a long course of scandalous de- ^ith harlots, thou
baucheries, to his own ruin, and the infamy of hast killed for him
thy family, thou hast killed for him the fatted ^''^^^^'^''^^''^'^■
calf, and made him as welcome as if he had
been the most dutiful child upon earth.
31 And, though his father justly might have 31 And he said
taken offence at his unbecoming reply, yet, "^^^^ '^^"^' s?"' ^^'^^
• 1 ^ 1 f • -/ ^ I. • o A art ever with me,
With great gentleness, he said to him, ^on, thou ^^^ all that! have is
art always with 7ne,and2irt every day receiving thine,
some token of my kindness j yea, all that I have
but is told by his father how Jit it was to rejoice. 161
32 It was meet is in a manner thine^ as thou art heir to the sect.
tliat we should make bulk of my estate :^ But surely, on farther cxxm.
merry,andbeglad: j^ J thoU must acknowledge that if
for this thv brother _ , i i r ? •• "i ^ Luke
was dead, and is ^vas fit we should J east and rejoice today ; for ^^, ^^
alive again, and was this thy poor brother^ %vho was but lately look-
tost, and IS found. ^ j upon as dead^ is, as it were, miraculously
made alive again ; and he who was lost to us
all, is now happily yb?m^,- and it will much
better become thee to join with us in joy for
his return, than thus peevishly to quarrel with
my indulgence to him.
Now you who have heard this parable will
easily see how indecent this conduct was, and
how ungracious a figure this elder brother
makes in my story. And I will assure you,
that when you Pharisees murmur at the kind-
ness shev/n to the publicans, or even the Gen-
tiles themselves,'" on their sincere repentance,
you act with as ill a grace, and are the objects
of still greater blame, in proportion to the de-
gree in which men's eternal interests are more
important than those that relate merely to the
present state.
^ All that I have is thine."} Tliis is a ma- have considered thii parable in a view of
terial intimation, and stig-g-ests a strong- peculiar application to the ^ews and Gen-
reason against tnunnuring at the indul- tiles ; and have observed that the mur-
g-ence shewn to great sinners ,• for as the 77iiirs of ihe ^evjs against the apostles for
joyful welcome that the father gave this preaching the gospel to the Gentiles (see
younger -yon did not incline him to disinherit Acts xiii. 42 — 50; xxii. 21, 22; and 1
the elder brother, so neither will God, out Thes. ii. 16} are represented by the con-
of a partial fondness for remarkable peni- duct of the elder brother. This was cer-
tcnts, raise them to a state of glory supe- tainly a case comprehended in our Lord's
rior to that of those who have on the whole design; but he undoubtedly had some-
made a greater progress in holiness, and thing more in his intention. He meant to
done him more constant and faithful ser- shew, that had the Pharisees been as emi-
vices. nently good as they themselves pretended
^ This thy brother.'] There is a lovely to be, yet it had been very unworthy their
opposition between this and the 30'^ nierse : character to take offence at the kind treat-
the elder son had there indecently said, ment which any sincere penitent might
This thy son ; \\\c father \n his reply ten- receive. Thus does he here, and in many
derly says. This thy brother. And it is a parallel texts, condemn their conduct on
moving intimation that the best of men their own principles ; though elsewhere,
ought to look upon the most abandoned on proper occasions, he shews the false-
sinners as in some respect their brethren hood of those principles, and plainly ex-
still ; and should especially remember the poses their hypocrisy and guilt. Thus the
relation, whei\ there appears any inclina- judicious Calvin states the matter ; and it
tion to return. is strange so many learned writers should
« To the publicans, or even the Gen- have puzzled themselves and tlicir read-
tiles themselves.] Many Qommmtat^re ers in so cUar a caee.
162 Reflections on the folly of sinners^ and
IMPROVEMENT.
SECT. Let us here behold, with all clue attention, the moving rep-
cxxiiL^-esentation which our gracious Redeemer m2i\i^s of the folly of
sinners^ and the compassions of God ; compassions which he de-
scribes as one who himself felt them, and v/ho in this respect,
as well as others, was the express image of his Father.
We have before us in this parable a lively emblem of the
character and condition of .yzTz^zer^ in their fallen state. They
are thus impatient of the most necessary restraints ; thus fondly
ver. 12 conceited of their ozvn zvisdom ; and thus, when enriched by the
bounties of the great common Father^ do they ungratefully run
from him, and say unto God, Depart from iis^for we desire not
13 the knowledge of thy ways (Job. xxi, 14). Sensual pleasures
are eagerly sought ; and perhaps all their earthly possessions
and hopes are quickly paid as the price of them. While the
14 means of obtaining these pleasures continue, not a serious thought
of God can find a place in their minds : and then, perhaps, af-
flictions^ heavy and complicated afflictions, come upon them ;
15j 16 yet even under that pressure they will often make very hard shifts
before they will be persuaded to think of a return ; till at length
Divine grace, working in concurrence with Providence, brings
them to a better temper.
17^ When they see themselves naked and indigent, enslaved and
undone ; when they come to themselves^ and recover the exercise
of their reason, improving it to the only purposes for w^hich it
would have been worth while to have received it; then they
feel the pangs oi penitential remorse ; then they remember the
18,19 blessiiigs they have lost, and attend to the misery they have in-
curred. And hereupon they are disposed humbly to confess
their folly, and to prostrate themselves in the presence of their
heavenly Father : they put the resolution immediately into prac-
tice ; they arise and go unto him.
20 But oh, let us behold with wonder and pleasure xht gracious
receptio7i they find from Divine injured goodness ! He sees them
21 afar off; he pities^ he vieets, and embraces them ; he interrupts
their complaints and acknowledgments with tokens of his re-
turning favour. Is Ephraim my dear son P is he a pleasant child?
for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still :
therefore my boivels are troubled for him ; I xvill surely have mercy
upon him^ saith the Lord (Jer. xxxi. 20). Thus does God
welcome the humble penitent ; thus does he open the arms of
his love to embrace him, and the treasures of his bounty to en-
22,23 rich him. He arrays him with the robe of a Redeemer"* s rights
eousness, dresses him in the OYn^mtxitsoi sanctifying grace ^ hon-
ours him with the tokens of adopting love, and invests him with
the kindness of God to returning prodigals, 163
the glorious privileges and immunities of his children. And all sect.
this he does with unutterable delight : he rejrAces over hi7?i with ^'^^"'-
joy ; he rests in his love, and, as it were, rejoices over him with y^j. 24
singing. (Zeph. iii. 17) ; and this is the joyful language of the
song, My children that rvere dead, are alive again ; and though
they zvere lost, they are found.
Let heaven and earth unite in the joy, and echo back the song. 25^*9.
Let no elder brother murmur at the indulgence with which these
prodigals are treated ; but rather welcome them back into the
family, and even encourage every thing that looks like a dispo-
sition to return to it. And let those who have been thus re-
ceived, wander no more ; but rather let them emulate the
strictest piety of those who for many years have served their
heavenly Father, without having in any notorious instances trans^
gressed h is comm andm en ts .
SECT. CXXIV.
Christ delivers the parable of the unjust stnvard, and reproves the
Pharisees for their covetousness and hypocrisy, Luke XVI,
1—18.
Luke XVI. 1. ^ LuKE XVL 1.
AND he said also /^UR Lord then spake another parable, bv ^^^"r-
unto his disci- \J which he intended to convince his hearers *^^^*^'
^iruin^'ricl "man ^^ ^he necessity of making a right use of their ZH
which had a stew- worldly enjoyments ; and, havmg before re- xvi. 1
ard ; and the same buked the Pharisees for their envious and un-
him Uiat'^he Tad charitable temper, he said also to his disciples
•wasted his goods. ^^^^ were about him. There was a certain rich
man who had a stexvard, in whom he had long
put great confidence ; and he was at \2i%\. accused
to him, as having xvasted his goods which had
2 And he called been intrusted to his care. And calling him, 2
him, and said unto he said unto him. What is this strange account
i\?ea"thrs oVthtl ^^«^ ^^'^'' ^Z ^^f^ ^ C'^^ it b^ t^^^ that thou
give an account of hast acted SO unjust and base a part ? Give aji
thystewardship; for immediate and exact account of thine adminis-
bngemeward.^ '''' ^''^^^'^'^ ^"^ management in this office ; for thou
canst be no longer steward, with any honour to
thyself, or satisfaction to me, while thou con-
tinuest under such imputations and suspicions
as these.
3 Then the stew- And upon this, as might be well imagined, 3
ird said within him- the stervard vf2is much alarmed, and said within
himself in the reasonings of his own mind.
164 The parable of the unjust steward*
What shall I do in this unhappy situation of my self. What shall 1
affairs t for my lord is taking awcm mij steward- ^^ • ^^^ "^y ^^^'d
MP, and with it I shall lose my subsistence. ^tt*e stTv^JrdsMp"
I am not able to d'lg^ or to apply myself to any i cannot dig, to beg
other laborious work of husbandry ;* nor can ' am ashamed.
I expect, under this load of infamy, to be
trusted by another in the business I have been
accustomed to ; \and'\ lam utterly ashamed to
beg my bread, after having lived so handsomely
4 in the world thus long. And, after a pause, 4 I am resolved
he added, / have at length bethought myself, what to do, that
and now kno^ what I will do ; an expedient tZ'::'j:l^:^,
oilers itselt to my mmdby which 1 may secure they may receive me
myself friends, so that when lam removed from into their houses.
?nz/ ojice^ they may receive me into their houses,
5 Arid^ in pursuance of this scheme, having 5 So he called
called every one of his lord\s debtors to him whom every one of his
he could hope to oblige by so fraudulent a pro- }°^^'^ ^f ^^r^ ^'\^^
,,,^ -11 1 ,. nim, and said unto
posal, he determmed to lower the several arti- the first. How much
cles in his book which stood chargeable to the owest thou unto my
account of each ; and said^ for instance, to the ^^^^ •
Q firsts How inuchoxvest thou to 77iy lord? And he 6 And he said,
said^ An hundred baths of oil> ^ And he said to An hundred meas-
him. Take thy bill, in which thou hast acknowl- ^^7^ untt mnC"Take
edged the receipt of it,<= and sit down directly, thy bill, and sit down
and wri^e another, in which thou shaltacknowl- quickly, and write
edge the receipt oih\itJifty, and I will alter my ^^^y*
• I am not able to dig, or to apply myself § 9. The measure of nuheat^ ko^h?-, men-
to — husbandry.] JRaphelius f Annot. ex tior\ed in \h& next 'cerse, is the *]U> cor, or
Xen. -^. 10^, \05),2i\\<\ Eisner fObserv.Yol. homer of the Hebrc'ws, containing- about
I. p. 251), have shewn that the word eight bushels and an half-, Winchester
rKHTrltiv signifies, in general, to cultivate measure. The word Aowe; being familiar
the land, and especially to prepare it for to an English ear, I have retained it in the
seed ; which was one of the most labo- version. This homer contains ten ephahs,
rious parts of the husbandman's work in or baths (Ezek. xlv. 11, 14) ; and each of
which daylabourers were employed ; and these latter ten oviers (Exod. xvi. 26).
consequently most fit to be mentioned by T^coenty homers^ which he allowed the
this steward, who, having been used to a debtor to deduct, would on this compu-
delicate and luxurious way of living, would tation contain 170 bushels of i^heatt and
naturally think of such a change of life in might be as valuable a.s ffty baths, or
the most discouraging view. The ex- nhont 37S gallons of oil ; so that the ob-
pression, hk itx^o), I amiiot able, or strong ligation conferred on both these debtors
enough, to do it, has also a peculiar beauty miglit be equal.
in this view, which is lost in our transla- * Take thy bill, in which thou hast
tion, and in most others. acknowledged the receipt of it.] This
*> An hundred baths of oil."] The Greek bill probably was something equivalent
word jS<t75ir IS evidently derived from the to a note under his hand, acknowledging
JIe%vbrew CDTiD) which we render baths in the receipt of so much oil, and promising
the Old Testament. (1 Kings vii. "26 ; payment for it. The alteration of this
2 Chron. ii. 10 ; Ezra vii. 22.) According plainly shews how much Dr. Clarke is
to Bishop Cumberland it contained about mistaken in supposing the steward did no
^evcn gallons, ^^uo quarts, and half a pint, wrong to his master in this affair, but only
Compare Joseph. Antiq. lib. viii. <jap. 2- gave the debtors the value of what he set
The wisdom shewn by the children of this world. I6i
7 Then said he to book agreeable to that. Then he said to another^ sect.
another, ^^^ ^^ow And hoiu much dost thou owe ? And he 6r/i^, cxxiv-
And he^TaMl '"^An ^!^ hundred homers of wheat. And he says to
hundred measures of him^ Take thy bill h'dck^ and write down an ac- ^'"^f
wheat. And he said knowlcdgment of but/oz/r5C(?re; and remember *^'
bul: 'iS'wTS^fou/; how easy I have made thine account.
«core. -^f^d when the master heard ol it, though he 8
8 And the lord could not but be sensible that it was an act of
fusTTewar^ be-' ^^^^^ injustice, yet he praised the unjust stew^
cause he had* done ^^^"^ «*' having done prudently however, and
wisely; for the chil- found Out an artful expedient for his subsist-
dren of this world gnce, by making friends, who mit^ht shelter
are m their eener- r • r "li. i i
ation wiser than the ")"^ *^^ ^"^ present, and perhaps recommend
ehildrfinoflis^ht. him to some new trust, in hopes of sharing
again in the spoils of his dishonestv. And
thus^ said the blessed Jesus when he had con-
cluded the parable, the children of this world are
xviser in their way ^nd generatio?i,^ that is, they
generally act a more prudent part with respect
to their secular interests, than even those who
may be called the children of lights or than good
men themselves, who are enlightened by (iod
to see where their true happiness lies, do with
respect to theirs, which are so much more im-
portant (compare John xii. 36 ; 1 Thes. v. 5 ;
and Eph. v. 8) ; for they seldom appear so
thoughtful and active in the great concerns of
religion, as w^orldly men are in pursuit of the
momentary and precarious possessions of this
present life.
S And I say unto -^"^ -^ ^^so say to you, Endeavour to make 9
you. Make to your- yourselves sure friends with these riches which
solves friends of the may not improperly be called the unrighteous or
deceitful mamjuon^ (as so little confidence can
be reposed in them) ; that when youfail^ and
•ffout of his own stock, he undertaking- « TAe wwn^Areouj or deceitful mammon.]]
to pay his lord. (See Dr. Clarke'' s Sermons^ Nothing can be more contrary to the whole
Vol. III. p. 285.) For not to say how genius of the Christian religion than ta
improbable it is that this bankrupt should imagine that our Lord would exhort mea
be able or willing to make such a consid- to lay out their illgotten goods in works of
erable present, it is plain that, if he had charity, v.'hen justice so evidently required
intended it, he would have let the account they should make restitution to the utmost
remain unaltered. But by the exchange of of their abilities. Mammon, or nveaith,
hills he cunningly made each of the is here called unrighteous, or deceitful, on
debtors an accomplice with him in defraud- account of its being so apt to fail the
xw^his lord, and thereby provided against expectation of the owners ; and in that
a discovery. ^ view is opposed to ?;-«enWiej, ver. 11. The
^ In their generation."^ It here signifies Tnavimon of unrighteousness is plainly such
uffairs, or aetiuns.- as Gen. yi. 9 ; xxxvii. 3. a hebraism as the stev;ard of mrighteoue-
166 A faithful improvement should he made of our riches •
3ECT. die out of this world/ they may receive you into mammonof unright-
^^^^"f- everlasting habitations^ and vou may forever eousness; that when
. , ^ 1 c ■"• 1^*^ J ve fail, thev may re-
~ enjoy the reward ot your pious charity and -^.^-^.^ ^^^ -j^^q ^^^^.^
^^^1 g love, in an everlasting friendship with all those lasting habitations,
truly worthy persons who have been relieved
by it.
10 ' Let this exhortation be regarded, not only by 10 He that is
those that abound in wealth, but by all others : faithful in that which
^ , , . .'..-, c- ^ IS least, IS taithtul
for he who, acting on strict principles ot mteg- ^^g^ ^^ ^^^h : and
rity and piety, is faithful in the smallest [trust'\, he that is unjust m
is, and would in fact appear to ht faithful also the least, is unjust
in one of much greater importance if it were ^^ """^
committed to him ; a?id he zvho is unjust in the
least matter, is, if he can attempt it with views
of impunitv, unjust ako i?i much,
11 If therefore it appears that you have not been 11 If therefore ye
faithful in the management of the unrighteous ^p^'^. "ot been faith-
or deceitful mam^non, as I before called those eous'mammon,"who
precarious treasures, zvho zvill intrust you zvith will commit to your
12 the true [riches] P And I repeat it again, e/trustthe true r/cAe*.?
?jou have not been faithful, in what zvas really ^otLtn^^flkhMTi
anotherK^, ^ndi only was committed to your care that which is ano^
and management for a little while ; TuAo do you ther man's, who
think zvill ^ive you [that which shall be] your sball give you that
, "^ v' 1 1 • 1 ^ J ^ 1 which is youi" own ?
oxun by an unalienable right and eternal posses-
sion ?s You cannot sure expect so high a re-
ward without a behaviour correspondent to it.
13 But, as I formerly have said, I tell you now 13 No servant can
again, No domestic whatever can serve tzvo dif- serve two niasters :
ferent masters ;for he assuredly will either hate j °a^te ^the^^one^, Tnd
2Lr)ddesi^is<i the one, a72d love the other; or ^tle:xst love the other; or
he zvill adhere to the commands of the one, and else he will hold to
7z.^/.cnhoseof ^A^.M.r; so,inlike manner,^/.^. ^^^^^^-^^^^^^^^^^
cannot faithfully serve God, and yet at the same not serve God and
time be the servants of iiiammon, having your mammon.
ness^ ver. 8, and the judge of unrighteous- oijrZort/ suggests the thoughts of death^%
ness, chap, xviii. 6, Gr. which our tnvisla- an antidote against covetousriess. Strange
tor^- have with perfect fidelity changed it is that so many on the very borders of
into the unjust stcxiiard and the unjust judge ; the grave should be so wretchedly enslaved
and had they taken the same 'liberty in to that unreasonable passion !
many other places, they had made many
scriptures plainer than they now appear to g If you have not beenjaithful innvhat nvas]
an English reader. See Eisner, Obser^v. another^s, &c.] This is well expressed, '
Vol. I. p. 252, where he has shewn that though not exactly rendered in the version
(tSmi'J. signifies unfaithfulness, on which of 1727. If you have embezzled ivhat an-
account it is often opposed to truth. Com- other gave you in trust, hovj can he give yort
pare Rom. i. 18 ; ii. 8 ; and Deut. xix. 19 ; an estate in perpetuity ? It probably alludes
Mic \\.V2, Hebr. to a. cusioxnoi' rewarding faithful stewards,
f That when you fail, and die out of this by giving them some part of the estate
-vorld.] It is with apparent propriety that they have managed.
The covetous Pharisees deriding hi^n^ are reproved, 16T
hearts engrossed by worldlv interests and pur- sect
suits. (Compare Mat. vi.'24, Vol. I. p. 237.) ^^^'^
14 And the Phari- And the Pharisees also^ who -were extremely ,
sees also, wlio were covetous^ stood by and heard all these things ; ^^ ^4
covetous, heard all ^^^ fjj(,i. contQmxitnousXy derided him^ as a poor
these thing-s : and .. ^ \. ^"^i , lu i-r
tliey derided him. visionary, who did not understand human lite,
or only appeared to despise the world, because
(as they supposed) it was out of his reach.
15 And he said And he said to thern^ Tou Pharisees are they 15
unto them, Ye are that justify yourselves before men^ and find out
yourseTief ' Se ^ S^^^^^ "^^"7 plausible excuses for possessing
men; but God know- and pursuing the world as you do ; but God
eth your hearts : for knoxvs your hearts^ and knows that it is not by
that which is highly j^^.g ^^ ^^ jj^^ jQ yourselves, that vou are
esteemed amonest . i • 1 ' ^ • j
men, is abominution animated, even mthe most specious and pomp-
in the sight of God. ous of your actions : for that -which is highly
esteemed among men^ is^ in many instances, an
abomination before Gody who observes the vile
purposes from which it often proceeds, and
cannot be imposed upon by any glittering mis-
representation or disguise. (Compare 1 Sam.
16 The law and xvi. 7.) But a dispensation is now opening IS
the prophets ivere upon the w^orld which will put you to deserved
until John : since ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ and the trothets [were] the
that time the kmg-- , t^. • 1 - i r ., <, ,
dom of God is only Divme revelation among you untzl fohn
preached, and every the Baptist appeared ; but from that time the
manpressethintoit. ^^^^o-^'om of God is publicly and plainly /^rracAe^,
and every one forces his zvay into it ; * for con-
siderable numbers, notwithstanding all your
sophistry, stand well disposed to receive it, and
are willing to secure its blessings at any rate.
(Compare Mat. xi. 12, 13, Vol. I. p. 320.)
17 And it is easier Tet I would not be understood as if I intended 17
for heaven andearth by what I say to put any slight on former rev-
*?^''ffK^^r''r/-i' eiations ; for I rather establish and vindicate
tie ot the law to tad. , ' . , ,
them, and again declare it to you as a most
solemn truth. That it is much easier for heaven
and earth to pass away^ and the whole system
of created nature to be destroyed, than for one
tittle of the laxv of God tofail^ or the least
»» They derided him.'] The word ously answered for it, as others of their
(^ifxuvx.lifpi^c>i might more exactly be ren- temper and character will,
dered, they sneered. There was a gravity ' Forces his ixay into zf, e/f stw/xy )S/at^«7ee/.3
and dignity in our Lord^s discourse which. Some think this intimates that those who
insolent as they were, would not permit should have been readiest to open the door,
them to laugh out ,- but by some scornful rather attempted to keep the^n out .- it cer-
tur they hinted to each other their mutual tainly implies that there- ver© stror^^
contempt : and they have, no doubt, seri- obstacles m thf way.
VOL. 2 23
168 Rejlectioyis on a due improvement of our stewardship,
SECT, precept of it to be set aside as faulty. (See
cxxiv. ]yiat. v. 18, Vol. I. p. 214.) And, far from 18 Whosoever put-
~T' doine: any thins: to lessen or abate the force of ^eth away his wife,
Luke . T^i ° ... ^ ^^4. 1 and marneth an-
^^i 18 It, I rather assert it m its utmost extent and ^ther, committeth
spirituality ; insomuch that you know I have adultery ; and who-
before declared, notwithstanding all your soever marrieth her
boasted, but dangerous, traditions, th^twhoso- 1" hrba'nrcor
ever puts axvay his xv'ife^ and marries another^ mltteth adultery,
unless it be on account of a breach of the most
fundamental article of the marriage covenant,
commits adultery ; and whosoever marries her
that is put away from her former husband for
any less important cause, commits adultery with
her, as the first contract still continues in force
bv which she is the wife of another. (Com-
pare Mat. V. 32, Vol. I. p. 230.)
IMPROVEMENT,
%tr. 8 May the wisdom of the children of this zvorld in their compara-
lively trifling concerns excite a holy emulation in the children
of light ! Is it not much better worth our while to employ all
the attention of our thoughts in observing opportunities for the
good of our souls, and to exert all the force of our resolutions in
improving them, than to labour merely for the meat which
9 perishes^ for that deceitful mammon^ that treacherous friend^
which will at best only amuse us for a few years, and will for
ever forsake us in our greatest extremity.
1, 2 Let us take occasion, from this parable^ to think how soon we
must part with all our present possessions ; how soon we must
give an account of our respective stewardships as those v/ho must
be no longer stewards. Let us therefore manage them in such
a manner as may most effectually promote the great purposes
of our everlasting happiness. To this end, let us remember
how absolutely necessary it is that we abound in works of
charity and benevolence^ and that we endeavour to abstract our
hearts from an over eager attachment to these lying vanities; for
surely the trifles of earth are no better. Let us not imagine
that our particular address can find out the secret of serving
13 God and mammon^ since Christ represents it as an impossibility
and contradiction.
10—12 May we be found faithfid in what God has committed to us,
whether it be little or much ; and govern ourselves, not by the
maxims of this vain world, but by those of the gospel ! And if
14 the same temper that led the covetous Pharisees to deride our
Lord^ engage the children of this world to pour contempt upon
us as visionaries and enthusiasts^ we have much greater reason
to be grieved for them than for ourselves. Their censures can
The parable of the rich man and Lazarus. 169
be matter of but little account to us, when we consider that the sect.
things which are highly esteemed hi) men are often an abomination cxxiv.
in the sight of God, His law is sacred, and the constitutions of *
his kingdom are unalterable : may the temper of our minds be "^^I'^t
so altered and disposed as may suit it ! For another day, and *
another world, will shew that real Christianity is the only xvis-
dom ; and that all the refinements of human policy without it
are but specious madness and laborious ruin !
SECT. CXXV.
Our Lord^ to enforce the preceding admonition^ delivers the parable of
the rich glutton and Lazarus. Luke XVI. 19, to the end.
Luke XVI. 19. . LuKE XVI. 19.
'"T^ HERE was a ^ I ^HAT his hearers might be more effectu- sect.
J. certain rich X ally dissuaded from addicting themselves *^^^*
do[hed'^n''^pJ4le ^^ ^vorldly pursuits and carnal pleasures, Jesus —
and fine linen, and added another parable, which might have been xvi.l9
fai-ed sumptuously sufficient to convince the covetous Pharisees of
e\-ery day. ^.j^^-j. n;iadness in deriding what he had before
said. And he addressed himself to them in
words to this effect : There was a certain rich
man who lived in the greatest elegance and
pomp ; for he wore robes of purple^ and vests
oi fine linen^ and daily feasted in a w try splendid
^0 And there was a and luxurious 7nanner. And there was in the 20
Ice'rtain beg-gar nam- same place a certain poor 77ian named Lazarus J*-
'was uTaThistate ^ P-^rson indeed of eminent piety, but in the
jfuil of sores. Utmost mdigence and distress ; xvho^ being un-
able to labour, or so much as to walk, xvas laid
down at his gate^ to beg the rich man's charity;
and all his body hom^ full of sores and ulcers^
21 And desiring he was a most miserable spectacle ; Atid^ being 21
o be fed with the almost famished with hunger, he earnestly
desired to befed^ if it were but with the crumbs
A certain poor man named Lazarus.'} history, rather than a parable ; but this
lH exceeding proper naone, which seems must be a groundless supposition, as it is
isLud.Cappellus observes) to be derived plain the incidents are />arrt6o/?ca/. But
Irom njp nS, lo azer, and signifies a help/ess the criticism of Lomeirus, who explains it
erson ; an etymology on all accounts much as a mystical representation of the yev:isk
lore natural than that so generally fol- and Ge?2f//e c/n/rcA, is far more extravagant.
)wed, which derives it from iV/ezer, GW Dr. Lightfoot, and others, have shewn,
■ my helper. Some have imagined, from that the Jews in their Gemara have a par'
le name of Lazarus, and the particular able much to the same purpose.
Uetail of circumstances, that this was an
170
The difference between them when they died.
Luke
XV
^%c-v.xvhich fell from the rich marHs table; yea, he crumbs which fell
cxxv. ^yj^g ii^ so exposed and abandoned a condition, ^''2V^!^ ''^^JofX^
that the very do^s came and licked his sores,^ y^^ ^^^^^ came and
iTl which lay uncovered in the open air. licked his sores.
22 But so it was, that in a little time ^Ac" poor 22 And it came ta
beq-p-ar, worn out with the load of so great a pass that the be.^gar
calamity, died, and^ bei„g a favourite of heaven, f^ »,^:',:;,:"";
notwithstanding all his distresses on earth, he Abraham's bosom -.
was carried by angels into Abraham^s bosom, the the rich man also di-
abode of happy spirits in a separate state :*= the ^^^» ^"^^ "^^^ buned.
rich man also died quickly after him ; for all his
riches were not sufficient to procure the least
continuance of his life ; and he was buried with
03 great funeral solemnity and pomp. But ob-
serve the difference ojf their circumstances be-
yond the grave. This poor sensual creature
was by God's righteous vengeance condemned
to everlasting misery ; and in the unseen world,"^
23 And in hell he
lift up his eyes, be-
^ Tctty the dogs came mid licked his sores.^
Had the connection in the original been
attended to, I think there could have been
no debate among comvientatorsy whether
this were mentioned as an alleviation, or
an addition to his calamity. For however
lenient and healing' the tongue of a dog may
be in such cases, the words u-kkcl »*;
should be rendered, yea ; as Erasmus,
Beza, Schmidius,and Calvin contend, and,
above all, Eaphelius abundantly proves.
(Annot. ex Xen. p. 1 06, 107.) The circum-
stance is surely recorded, to shew that
his ulcers lay bare^ and were not (as Isaiah
in another case expresses it, chap. i. 6)
either closed^ or bound up, or nnoUiJied with
ointment. Some versions add, that no man
gave unto him ; wliich Gi'otius thinks is
intimated in his wishifig to be fed ivith the
crumbs which the dogs used to gather.
(Mat. XV. 27.) If so, it was with singular
propriety that he who denied a crumb is
represented as unable to obtain a drop ,•
but as it is not expressedin the Greek,
either here, or in Abraham's reply, I did
not choose to insert it. Giving alms will
be no security to those that live a sensual
life.
<= Carried by angels into Abraham^ s boso'm'\
The Jews assign this office to angels, (see
Drusius in loc.J and, no doubt, with tlie
Utmost propriety, considering how suit-
able it is to their benevolent nature, and
to the circumstances of a departed spirit.
The Greeks (as Eisner, Observ. Vol. I.
p. 255, and many others ha\'e observed)
assign guides to the sotils-.of the dead, to
conduct them to their respective seats.
It is strange any should render tov hok-tov
ra ACpAAfx, AhrahatrCs bower, or (with
Jac. Cajjpelkis) Abrahani's haven. Our
translation is in all respects much moi*©
just. It alludes to the way of represent-
ing the entertainments of heaven, by sharing
a magnificent banquet with Abraham and
the other patriarchs. (Compare Mat. viii.
11 ; and Luke xxii. 30.) And nothing can
better describe the honour and happiness
of Lazarus, who had lain in so wretched
a condition before the glutto7i's gate, than
telling us that he was placed next to
Abraham, and so lay in his bosovi. (Com-
pare John xiii. 23, sect, clxx.) Thus
Casaubon and Grotius well explain it. Ai
for the rich ma?i's seeing him there, MrJ
L'Enfant thinks the Jews borrowed this
manner of speakipg from tlie Greeks, whc
described the seats of the blessed as separate
from those of the damned by a great impas-
sable river, from the opposite banks of
which they might converse. Many of
them also expressly speak ofagreat chasm
interposed. See Eisner, Observ. Vol. I.
p. 256, 257 ; and Grotius in loc.
^ In the unseen v^orld."] This seems gen-
erally the sense of the Greek word, di'-ric,
as was observed before, in note ^ on Mat.
xvi. 18, Vol. I. p. 566. Both the rich man
and Lazarus were in Hades, though in
different regions of it. See Grotius's
learned and judicious not^e here:
The rich man begs for a drop ofxvater to cool his tongiie, 171
ing in torments, and being in the midst of torments^ aggravated by sect.
seeth Abraham afar ^xx ^X\it induljrence and delicacy of his former c'^^'-
oft, and Lazarus m..^ t rr. j ^ u- • • i i • • —
his bosom. l^e, he lifted up his weepmg and despairmg ^^^^^
eyes^ and saw Abraham from afar^ and\\\Q poor xvi.23
despised Lazarus lying in his bosoju^ as a newly
received guest at the heavenly banquet, placed
next the father of ihe faithful himself.
24 And he cried. And calling out with the greatest earnestness 24
and said, Fatlier j^j^^-j j niportunity, he said^ 0 father Abraham^ have
cy on 'me,' a^id send compassion Upon me^ a poor unhappy descendant
Lazarus, that he of thine, and send Lazarus^ not to reach out to
maydipthetipofhis me any of the dainties of heaven, for I presume
c"oT™v\rgu:';t; ""' t°;-«k so great a favour but only to bring
I am tormented in nie a little water ; and it I may not have a
this flame. draught of it, I should be thankful if he might
be permitted to dip the tip f his finger in water
to refresh my tongue^ though it were but for a
moment ; for I am so tormented in tliis flame^
that it excites an intolerable thirst, which is con-
tinually raging and preying on my very soul.
25 But Abraham But Abraham said^ with awful and inflexil)le 25
said, Son, rernember severity, Son, remember the former days when
that thou m thy hie- -lit i ", »
time receivedst thy ^nou and L,azarus were upon earth, that thou
g-ood things, and like- didst then in thy lifetime receive the good things
-wise Lazarus evil which thou wast SO foolish as to choose for th\^
thinii's: butnowheis • • ^i i ^ r r- j i r ^u T
comforted, and thou Portion, m the neglect of God and of thy soul ;
art tormented. and likexvise Lazarus then received [his] evil
things, of which thou wast witness ; but noxv
the scene is changed, so that he in his turn is
comforted, and thou art justly tormented ; and
neither his joy, nor thine anguish, can admit
26 And besides all of any end or interruption. And besides all 2^
this, between us and ff^- ^^ ^^ ^^^ f^^.^^^, ^j^^^ desirest from the
you there is a ereat i % r t • • i • • -i i i
e-ulf fixed : so that hand ot Lazarus, it is a thing impossible to be
they whicli would granted ; for betrveen us and you there is a great
pass ^rom hence to (>/if2sm fixed ; a vast unmeasurable void is in-
yoti,cannot;neither^^j.p^g^^. 50 that they who would go from
hence to you, if any should be so compassionate
as to desire to help you, cannot ; neither can
« Dip the tip of his finger in toater, &c.] of any thing- that looks like a prayer put up
The Hebrews drank their ?u//ie mingled X.o a. glorified saint f Tillots. Works, Vol.11,
with %)ater ; and large quantities of wafer, p. 142) ; and even here the application was
on one occasion or other, were used at in vain, and no relief was f/i£>5a//jf capable
their fea.-its. (See John ii. 6.) There of giving. It is observable, tiie rich man
seems therefore in this petition a proper speaks OiS knviuing Lazarusy and as suppos-
allusion to that. Archbishop TiUotson ob- ing (ver. 28) that his brethren also might
serves, Vv-ith his usual vivacity, that this is kno^a him on his appearing to them,
the only instance we, meet with in scriptitrt
172 He -would have Lazarus sent to corivert his brethren^
3ECT. they xvho are there come unto us ; but we are can they pass to us,
exxv. still to continue at an unapproachable distance thatwou/(/comefrom
r 11 * ^ thence.
■ from each other.
^f^ Then the rich man, as he perceived that his 27 Then he s^d,
^^^' own case was irretrievable, 5az<3^ unto Abraham, \ P>'ay thee there-
_^, , , ' r . fore, father, that
There may however be a passage from you to ^^^^ ^ouldest send
the other world, as it is plain there is from him to my father's
thence to you ; / beseech thee therefore^ 0 house:
father^ that thou wouldst please to send him to
my father"* s hou^e^ on an errand of the utmost
28 importance ; For I have there five brethren^ 28 For I have five
thoughtless young creatures like myself, who ^-thren ,^.that^^he
are now revelling on those possessions which them, lest they also
were once mine,^ and are likely ere long to fall come into this place
into the same misery with me: I earnestly ^^^^^"^^'^^•
entreat thee therefore that he may be sent to
testify to them the reality and importance of this
invisible world, that they may be awakened to
avoid those evil courses that have been my ruin,
and may not also come into this place of torment,
29 But Abraham said in replv to him^ Thou 29 Abraham saith
knowest they have an excellent Divme revela- -^^o ^h.m, Jhey
tion in the writings of Moses and the prophets ; prophets ; let them
let them but hearken to the warnings and instruc- hear them,
tionsthat are givenby f/zem, and they have means
sufficient to secure them from that danger.
30 And when the poor tormented creature found 30 And he said,
this also was objected to, he pleaded still in Na>'' /^^'?,?^* ^^''^■
1 • 1 1 r 1 • J TiT r ^1 At 7 ham, but it one went
their behaif, and said^ Nay, Jather Abraham, ^^^q ^hem from the
they will slight these as I foolishly did ; but dead, they will re-
surely, if one go to them from the dead, they can- P^'^^-
not withstand so awful a messenger, but -will
imdoubtedly repent, and reform their lives.
3 1 But Abraham put an end to the discourse, 31 And he said
with an assurance of the fruitlessness of , any JJ^^<^, ^JlJ^"^^ J^^^^^^JJ
such extraordinary means for their conviction ; the prophets, neither
and he said to him. The evidences of the Divine will they be per^
revelation are such, that if they hearken not to
Moses and the prophets, neither will they be per-
suaded to a thorough repentance and reforma-
tion though one should arise from the dead to
f / have five brethren^ &c.] As no men- young man, who (unhappily for himself,
tion is made of anv surviving ivife and chit- like many nioJeni rakes), coming early to
dre7i, but his five brethren are described as the possession of his estate, soon broke his
living st-ill togetlier in Ina father's house, constitution by debauchery, and so left his
one would imagine that our Lord intended riches to the younger children of the fam-
to represent this wretched creature as a ily> having ?io other lieirs.
Reflections on the case of the rich sinjier and the poor saint. IT'S
suaded, though one vistthem.s For though it might indeed alarm sect.
rose from the dead. x^^^Xi for a time, the same prejudices and lusts ^xxv.
which led them to despise those metfiods of 7"
instruction that God has given them, would ^^131
also lead them ere long to slight and forget
such an awful apparition as you desire they
might see.
IMPROVEMENT.
Most evidently may we learn from this parable^ that it is im- ver.
possible to knoxv either love or hatred by any thing that is before ^^"^i
us under the sun. (Eccles. ix. 1.) Who that had seen the pomp
and plenty of this rich sinner^ and compared it with the indi-
gence and misery of Lazarus^ would have imagined that the
latter had been the child^ and the former the enetny^ of God P
But let us judge nothing before the time (l Cor. iv. 5). Our
Lord yesus Christ shews us the period of all the prosperity of
the wicked^ and of all the calamities with which good men may
be exercised. And what availed the luxuries oflife^ or the mag-
nificence of burial^ to a wretch tormented inflames ? Surelv the 23, 24
fierceness of those ^a^ne* would be proportionable to the luxury
in which he had formerly lived, and the sense of his torment be
heightened by the delicacy he had once indulged. May God
awaken those unhappy persons, whatever their rank in the pres-
ent life may be, who place their happiness and glory in being
clothed in purple and fine linen^ and faring sumptuously every day /
May they lift up their enchanted, deluded eyes^ and see that
pointed sword oit\\Q Divine vengeance which is suspended over
them by so weak a thread ; and may they take this warning
from one greater than Moses and the prophets^ from one that
came from the dead to enforce it, that they pass not into that
place of torment !
L.Qtpoor afficted saints take comfort in what has now been 22
read, though they may be despised and slighted by men. The
time will shortly come, when those angels who now descend in
an invisible form to minister to them^ will appear as \}!\€\r guard
to convoy them to the regions of glory. Abraham^s bosom 23
g If they hearieji ?wt to Mosesy &c.] It this text. (See his Sennonsy Vol. II. serm.
is true, Moses no where expressly asserts 2.) The impenitence of many who *aw
a future state of regards and punishtnents ; another Lazarus raisedfrom the dead (John
yet the facts recorded by him strongly xi. 46), and the wickedness of the jo/cf:>rc
enforce the natural arguments in proof of who were eyeviitnesses to \ht resurrection of
it ; and the prophets speak plainly of it in Christy and yet that very day suflered
many places. See Psal. xvi. 9, 10, 11 ; themselves to be hired to he^r a false tes-
xvii. 15 ; xxiii. 6 ; xlix. 14, 15 ; Ixxiii. 17, tijnony against it (Mat. xxviii. 4, 15), are
\^seq. Prov. xiv. 32 ; Eccles. iii. 17, 21 ; mostaffecting andastonishing- illustrations
I! xi. 9 ; xii.7, 13, 14 ; and Ezek. xviii. 19, of this truth : for each of those miraclec
li 20, 21. Bishop^ Atterbury has excellently was far more convincing than such an
i! shewnthe justice of AbrahairCs assertion apparition as is here referred to won!ft
*! Here, in liis incomparable discourse on hava beon.
tT4< Reficct'iGiis on the rich sinner arid the poor saint,
SECT, will be opened to them, and the dainties of heaven be set before
cxxv. niultitades, who, perhaps, while on this side the grave, hardly
knew how to procure even the necessaries of life.
Mav we never view those seats of glory ^ as this wretched
sensualist did, at an unapproachable distance ! Let us think seri-
ously of his deplorable circumstances, when he asked a drop of
ver/25 -water from the tip of Lazarus'^s fnger^ and yet was denied.
Dreadful representation ! yet made by Christ himself, who
surelv knew how to describe the case with the utmost propriety.
Behold, O our souls, this son of Abraham^ in that flaming prison,
in all the restless agonies of torment and despair ; and we may
judge w^hat dependence to place on a descent from pious ancestors^
or a participation of external privileges.
27, 28 We inquire not curiously into the motives which engaged him
to request that so extraordinary a warning might be sent to his
brethren ; w^hether it might proceed from a remainder of natural
afl^'ection, from a fear of meeting them in the same misery, or
from a mixture of both. It is enough to observe how and upon
31 what principles it was denied, If they hear not Moses and the
prophets^ neither Tvill they be persuaded though one rose from the
dead. Let none vainly excuse themselves from believing the
evidence of the revelation God has given, on a pretence that if
30 theif sazu signs and ivonders they ivould believe* The heart of
man may be hardefied against the most sensible and immediate
miracle ; but if that evidence were irresistible, it would ill be-
come us to dictate to God when and to whom it should be given.
29 Let us examine and acquiesce in such as he has seen fit to
afford ; and pass through our various scenes of life as those that
have eternity in view, and are persuaded we must each of us,
in a few years at farthest, be with Lazarus in Abraham'' s bosom^
or with the rich man in that \.Qxvc\ti\iin^ fame*
SECT. CXXVL
Christ repeats his exhortations to an inoffensive conduct and a for'
giving temper ; and xvarns his disciples not to arrogate any
merit to themselves, Luke XVIL 1 — H.
SECT. /^UR Lord also about this time repeated to np HEN said h
cxx> i. \y the numerous attendants who were then -*• "»to the disci
around him several things which /ze had formerly
xvii. 1 *"^"^ ^" ^ more private way to the disciple ; and
particularly addressed themin terms like these :
Consideringthe general corruptionof human na-
ture, the snares of the world, and the temptations
We should he ready to forgive a repenting brother* 17^.
pies, It is impossible of Satan, it is impossible but one way or other of- sec r.
butthat offences ^'\\\ fences should come ; many professing mv religion ^^^^;
come : but wo un^ j^ j^^^ ^^^ unworthy of themselves, and 77^
him through whom ,. ' i i i v ' u / 7 Luke
they come. disgrace the holy name they bear: nevertheless^ xvii. 1
wo [be to him] by whom they come; and let me
warn you therefore, as you love your own souls,
to guard against the guilt and danger of being
2 It were better a stumblingblock to others. Fof I assure 2
for him that a mill- y^^ j^ zvere better for such a one, even for him
abTut liirneck"fncl ^^^^ ^V an immoral life proves a reproach and
he cast into the' sea, scandal to my cause, that he should die by the
than that he should hand of violence, and suffer the most shocking
\kt\fonel ""^ ^^'""'^ execution, yea, that a huge millstone should be
hangfd about his neck^ and he should be thrown,
into thesea^ than that he should offend ^nd insnare
one of these little ones that believe in me, so as to
draw the meanest of them into sin and ruin.
(See Mat. xviii. 6, 7, and the notes there,
sect, xciii.)
3 Take heed to Take heed to yourselves^ therefore,* that you 3
yourselves : if thy may govern all your passions aright, and parti-
brother trespass a- cularly your resentments, by which otherwise
him ; and if he re Hiuch sm may be Occasioned both to yourselves
pent, forgive him. and others. And if thy brother trespass against
thee^ do not lay up a secret grudge against him
for it, but plainly and faithfully rebuke him^ en-
deavouring to convince him of the evil he has
committed ; and if he appear to repent of his
fault, forgive him immediately, without insist-
4 And if he tres- ing on any rigorous satisfaction. And if he tres* 4*
pass against thee pass against thee again and again, even though
seven times in a day, j^^ should repeat his fault seven times in a dau
and seven times ma, t-»i -^x-^n 1 • •
day turn again to (compare Psal. cxix. 164), and seven times in,
thee, saying, I re- a day return to M^e", seriously sayings I repent oi
pent; thou Shalt for- ^y ioViy^ and am heartily sorry for the injury
give im. J \i2iN^ done thee, thou shalt forgive him even
these repeated offences. (Compare Mat. xviii.
21,22, sect, xcv.)
5 And the apos- Then the apostles said unto the Lord^ Lord, we 5
lies said unto the ^^^ sensible that in this instance, as well as in
several others,wehave needto pray thou wouldst
a Take heed toyoursehes^ This contains ruptions of those with whom they contend,
a strong and important intimation how but leads others to think meanly of a pro-
much sin and scandal is occasioned by a fession which has so little efficacy to soften
severe quarrelsome temper in the disciples and sweeten th« tempers of tho»^ wh»
«f Christ ; as it not only stirs up the cor- maintain it.
VOL. 2. 24
if$ No merit must he arrogated to ourselves.
SECT, increase our faith :^ oh quicken our apprehen- Lord, increase oar.
*^^^^' sion of the reality and importance of the motives ^'^t^-
Luke ^y which all thy commands are enforced, and
xvii. 5 of the authority by which they are dictated ;
that we may not scruple to submit even to such
precepts as these, how hard soever they may
bear upon flesh and blood.
e And the Lord said. If you had ever so little ^^6 ^?4^hadfa°t?
faith, though it were but as a grain ofmustard- asVg-rJn of muV.
seed, yet (as I formerly told you) it would con- tardseed, ye might
quer the greatest difficulties ; so that you might, say unto this syca-
as it were, be able to say to this sycamoretree, T.ZTJlf'Z
Be thou rooted up, and planted in the sea, and it ^oot, and be thou
should presently obey yOU,^ planted in the sea,
7 Endeavour theretbre to live in the exercise of ^^^ »t should obey
this noble grace, and in a series of such services ^ \' ^^^^ ^j^j^^ ^f
as are the proper fruits of it : but in the midst of you having a ser-
all be careful to maintain the deepest humility, vant ploughing, or
as in the presence of God your heavenly Master, ^;-|-fJ^^^^^^^^
on whom, as you are his servants, you can have by, when he is come
no claim of merit : for who is there of you, that from the field, Go
\i\iQ has a servant ploughmg\Cx^ZXoyiv,Ci, or feed^^;^l^^f ^"^^ ^«
mg hisfock, will say unto him, as soon as he comes
in from the f eld, Come in ^ and sit down at the g ^^^ ^.^^ ^^.
8 table with me ? Or xvill he not rather say to rather say unto
him, if it was a part of that servant's business to him, Make ready
do it. Make ready somewhat for my supper, and, wherewith I may
when it is prepared, ^fr^?//; thy garments close J^'P; ^^'^ Evveml",
about thee,« ajid wait upon me while I am eat- tlU I have eaten
tn^ and drinking; and afterxvards thou shait sit and drunken ; and
9 down to eat and drink thyself? And suppose ''^^'^^it^^V^^^''
he should observe his orders with the greatest 9 Doth he thank
diligence, fi^o^^ A^ think himself obliged to ?/2G?2^ that servant be-
that servant because he hath done zvhat was com^ *:^"^^ ^^ ^}^ ^^®
mandedhim f lapprehendhQ does not, because commanded Z\mX
he has an authority over the servant, and may 1 trow not.
* Increase our faith.'] Woltzogenius him- finally bear a man above all opposition, and
gelf acknowledges that their applying to enable him to conquer the w^orld.
Christ to strengthen their/aiVA shews that ^ Come /».] Raphe li us proves that the
they believed he had a divine influence word tsrx^i^^bm has often this sense,
over the spirits of men. See Whitby in loc. Compare Luke xii. 37, and Acts xxiv. 7.
« Tou might say to this sycamoretree^ See RapheL. Annot. ex Herod, p. 263, and
&c.] I do not apprehend this text to be especially Annot. ex Xen- p. 108.
entirely parallel to Mat. xvii. 20, p. 12. < G/W w/> Mj.^arwe«f* close about thee.]
In this connection the expression seems Compare Luke xii. 37, p. 116- That ser-
proverbialt and to be as if he had said, As vants used to be girded while waiting on
the least degree of miraculous faith will (as their masters is well shewn by Eisner, _
I said before) produce the greatest effects, Obsern). Vol. L p. 258, 259. See nofe ^ Q%
80 th« i«a6t degree of true sincere piety will Luke xii. 35, p. 116.
Reflections on an inofensive and forgiving spirit. ITf
justly claim his obedience as matter of debt. sect.
10 So likewise ye, Now to applv this to your own services ; so like- cxxvi.
<vheu ye shall have ^^^-^^ when ifoii have faithfully done all that — """
^^^t'Te"'''cZ rvas commandedyou in the exactest manner, yet \^^^^^
mamled you, say, should Still saij^ Surely we ore worthless and un-
We are unprofitable profitable servants ^^ who cannot pretend to have
d^r '4ar w'hkh «-^"rited an^- thing from the hand of our Master ;
•wa» our duty to do. for zve have done no more than what we xvere^
by virtue of our relation to God, and depend-
ance upon him, indispensably obliged to do^ at
much as any purchased slave is obliged to serve
his master. And assure yourselves, that no ser-
vices will be so pleasing to God as those per«
formed with such an humble spirit.
11 And it came to These discourses, and those above mention- It
pass, as he went to ^d, happened in our Lord's journey to the feast
iSef th;ou'gl' the ^>f the dedication ;g and as he went to Jerusalem
midst of Samaria to attend it,^ he passed through the midst of Sa*
and Galilee. maria and Galilee^ taking those parts of Samaria
in his way which lay next to Galilee.
IMPROVEMENT.
Let us renew our guard against every thing m our conduct verse
which mi^htgive offence to the meanest and weakest; and against 1, 2
every thing which might by a bad example mislead others, or
furnish the enemies of religion with matter of reproach and ac-
cusation against it. Let us imbibe the forgiving spirit of the gos- 3, 4
pel, and, bearing in mind the numberless instances in which God
has forgiven us, though we have sinned against him 7iot only seven
times^ but seventy times seven ; let us arm ourselves, in some
degree, with the saine^nind^ and endeavour to forbear and forgive
one another^ even as God for Christ^s sake has freely forgiven us*
(Eph. iv. 32, and Col. iii, 13.)
' Unprofitable servants.'] The word has related the fvio little histories contained
«i;t,C«'2' sometimes signifies nvicked (Rom. in the next section at some distance from
iii. 12, Mat. xxv. 30) ; but in this con- each other, it is very difficult (as the at-
xiection it cannot have that sense. I en- tentive reader will observe) to place them
tirely agree with Heinsius, that here, and together without some tautology. I have
2 Sam. vi. 22, Septuog. it signifies mean or therefore inserted the introduction to one
inconsiderable, as the best of men cer- ofthem at the endof fAz>*ffcfwn; leaving
tainly are. out the word lyvtdoi it came to pass, which
^T T j» . , o - isa mere ex6/ef/ve; orat most doesonly
g In our Lord s journey to the feast of ^^ ^ ^^^t what is mentioned in the con-
the dedication.] Seeno^e- on Luke xiii. ^^^x. happened in this journey, or may refer
23, sect, cxvui. and «ofe» on Luke xiv. 1, ^^ ^^e discourses Christ had before deU-
sect. cxix. vered, as w© have observed in the /ara«
^ As he went to Jerusalem.'] As Luke phrase*
IT'S Reflections on the unprofitableness of our service,
SECT. In a sense of the weakness of owrfaith^ let us pray to Christ to
cxxvi. Increase it ; and then those duties will be discharged with ease
" and delight which appeared most difficult in a distant prospect.
tZTiO Yet when faith ixnd pat? efice have had their most perfect work,
when our Master's will has been borne with the most entire sub-
mission, and done with the most zealous dispatch, let us not
pretend to place anv 7nerit in our own actions or sufferings ; but
let us think of ourselves as the servaiits of God, yea, as unprof-
itable servants^ whose goodness extendeth 7iot to our great Mas-
ter : and to the riches of his grace let us ascribe it, that our
feeble powers are strengthened to the performance of our duty ;
and that our worthless services are accepted, and the numberless
deficiencies of them mercifully excused.
SECT. CXXVII.
Christy travelling through Samaria^ rebukes the intefnperate zeal
of James and John against those who refused to grant him en*
tertainment ; and heals ten lepers. Luke IX. 51 — 56 ; XVII.
12—19.
Luke IX. 51. Luke IX. 51.
secT. yx was observed in the close of the former sec- A ND it came
cxxvii J|_ ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^j. Lord was now on his journey •^. to pass, when
lourney -—.-i— .
."^ . \ the time was come
ication :*
ix. 51 <^^d it came to pass^ that as the days were now
Liike ^^^^ Galilee, near the feast of the dedication :*
» Near the feast of the dedication] x«4«*'0 ^^^'^»^"^ the obvious reason hinted
Taking it for granted that the following above, thought of placing it higher ,- and
■word, stvAX«4'*'*?' refers to Christ's ascen- loiver I think it cannot be brought : for
sfon (the reasons for which I shall give be- though I was once strongly inclined to
low), I think this the o?ily place \yhere this take the woi-ds in their most literal sense,
little story can properly come in. Most and to conclude this happened when Christ
harmo-izers place it just before \\\e feast of was going from Galilee to Jerusalem just
tabernacles (of which we had an account in before his ascension^ after having raanifest-
the seventh and eighth chapters of John, ed his resurrection by his appearance to the
from sect, xcviii. to cv. ) ; and chiefly on fve hundred brethren^ 1 Cor. xv. 6 (com-
their authority, without a critical examina- pare Mat. xxviii. 7, 16 — 18) ; I have been
tion, 1 had mentioned it in that connec- obliged to give up that hypothesis^ con-
tion in my Sermon against Persecution, ^lAer'mg \\\2i\. he x\e\er after his resiirrection
p. 3. But I am now convinced that appeared so publicly as in this story (com-
could not be the time ; not only as it would pare Acts i. 3, x. 40, 41), and that he
incre.iSe the difficulty, by supposing Luke had then no difficulties to expect at Jerusa-
then to say that the time of his being re- lem against wliich he should stedfastlv set
ceived up luas fulfilled, though it must have his face. And as for his joiu-ney to Jeru-
been above half a year before his death ; salem just before X\\e pass over at which he
but chiefly because that was not the suffered, he M^ent from Ephraim near the
last journey he made from Galilee to ivildemess {]o\mx\. 5/^), dind passed through
Jerusalem, and because (as we observed Jericho (Luke xix. 1), so that Samaria
on John yii. 10, note, ^ p. 44) he made that did not lie in his way. Nor is there, that
journey with all possible secrecy ; whereas I can find, any proof that he ever went
here he had a train of attendants. No back to Galilee, between ihe feast ofdedi-
f077ime«fator* (on our interpretation of Avat. ca^f on and his death ; which I think suf-
As he went to Jerusalem the Samaritans -would not receive him, 179
tliat he should be almost fulfilled in rvhich he knew he should be sect.
received up, he steel- received Up to heaven £i^a\n,^h?ivmQ dispatched cxxvii.
^ot|:ru^:Jr'°the ministry which he was to discharge on —
earth ; notwithstanding all the paintul scenes r^ ^j
through which he was yet to pass, his heart
was so animated with a regard to his father's
honour and the salvationof men, and so cheered
with the views of his own approaching exalta-
tion and glory, that, in defiance of all his most
inveterate enemies, /zf resolutely set his face to go
up to Jerusalem^ though he knew it was the last
journey "he should take from Galilee thither,
and that tortures and death awaited him there.
And^ as his way lay through Samaria, being a
52 Andsentmes- stranger there, he sent messengers before his 52
sen.s^ers before \^'is Jace^who in their progress entered into avillage
face: andtheywent, ^r ^ Samaritans to prepare entertainment for
and entered into a •/. .... '',11. 1 ''1
villag-e of the Sa- him; only desiring to take a lodging there, and
maritans to make to pay for their accommodation. But the
ready for him. Samaritans had such a national grudge against
ficiently accounts fortlieuse of the phrase former seizure at Nazareth, Luke iv, 29 ;
of the da;s or time bein^fulfilledy &c. urg-ing- farther that avaiKtt/uCsiva! signifies to
^ As the days HMere fulfilled in nuhich he take agaiUi and referring- (I think without
ihould be received up : tv Tct iTvy.7rx>ifii^^dt.i sufficient evidence) to Acts xx. 13, 14,
Tat? iifAifAc rue 4tvjtxi)4«*? etvla.'] In all the xxiii. 31, compared with ver. 10 ; and Eph.
reasoning-s of the former 7iote I have taken vi. 13, compared with ver. 11 ; in proof of
it for granted that dvAXn-^iccc here signifies it But I beg leave, with all due deference,
Christ's be'mg taken up to heaven : and this to observe, that a-v?.K!i.juC'xva is the word
is so generally the signification of the which Luke uses for taking, in the sense
word, that I wonder any learned men this worthy person supposes, as denoting
should have interpreted it in a different fo je/^e (compare Acts i. 16, and Luke xxii.
manner. Sir Isaac Newton, merely to 54); in which he is supported by the au-
suit with his hypothesis of preserving the thority of Aristotle, Euripides, and the
order of Matthew \\x\\-dY\e<\, strangely sup- hesX. Greek Classics. And therefore since
poses that this occurrence happened in the the word is plainly used with reference to
first year of Christ's preaching fNenvt.on Chrisfs ascension, Mark xvi. 19; Acts i. 2,
the Prophecies, p. 153), and interprets the 11, 22 ; 1 Tim. iii. 16 ; as also to that of
passage before us as if £tv4X«4'? were the Elijah, 2 Kings ii. 10, 11, Septuag. and
same with atvaiJ'c;^}*, a renevced entertainment; since in all the places referred to above it
which would make it no exact date at all ; may be rendered by taking up (see Grotius
but might indifl^erently be applied to any on Mark xvi. 19), I scruple not at all, with
other feast. Heinsius confounds it with the most ancient versions, and the gene-
h-l-aa-ii, and interprets it of his being lifted rality of critics, to follow the usual inter-
7ip on the cross ; though it is certain the pretation which refers Ava-hu-^n to Christ^s
ideas of being lifted up to a state of sus- ascension ; especially since no considerable
pension, and taken or received u^, are ex- difficulty would be removed b\ admitting
tremely different. A learned friend, for any of the preceding different' interprcta-
whose judgment I have justly a great tions. That the word days signifies no
regard, observing that >.>i-|'c sometimes more than mne, and is sometimes used to
signifies a. seizure, ingeniously conjectures express what passes in an instant, is very
that fltv*\«4'? may signify CAmf'^ being evident from 2 Kings, ii. 1, and Gen. xxv.
seized again ,• imagining it may refer to a 24, Septuag.
iSo He rebukes the Intemperate zealofjames and John*
SECT, the Jews, that they xuotild not receive hhn^ nor 53 And they did
cxxvii. „j.ant him the common rites of hospitality due not receive him, be-
.__« '-' ^ ; 1 ■ r J' 4. J cause his Jace was
Luke ^"^ any Stranger, became his face was directed .^^^^^^^^^^ he would
ix SZ tozvards Jerusalem ; and they concluded, from go to Jerusalem,
the season of the year, that this visit was in-
tended as a peculiar honour to the temple
there.*
54 And when his disciples^ James and John^ 54 And when his
who attended him,<i sarv it, they said. Lord, f^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
wilt thou that we speak for fire to come dozvn said,'Lord, wilt thou
from heaven to destroy them, as Elijah did with that we command
regard to his enemies (2 Kings i. 10, 12); for 5^^ to come down
° , J . > ^ -u J •:: J fi'om heaven, and
surely one word m such a case will do it, and consume them, eyeii
the artillery of heaven will be much more ready as Elias did \
to avenge such an affront offered to thee, who
art so much superior to any of the prophets t
35 But [Jesus], turning- short upon them, re- 55 But he turned,
buked them with a becoming severity, andl^^ H^^^f.'^^^
said, Te know 7iot zvhat kind of spirit ye are of; n^t what' manner of
you neither consider the genius of the gospel, spirit ye are of.
so much more gentle than that of the law, nor
-do you sufficiently know your own hearts ; and
if you were more dilligently to examine them,
you would soon find that there is a great deal
of personal resentment and ostentation mingled'
with all that zeal for me which you so warmly
56 express on this occasion. But I reject your 56 For the Son of
motion as absolutely unfit to be complied ^'^'^ '^ "«^ ^^^^ ^°
' 1 n ^j n- r • 111 destroy men's lives.
With ;jor the Son of man came not into the world bat to save thtm^
to erect his kingdom by military force, or by
any other method to destroy men^s lives, but to
save them ; and therefore will exert his miracu-
lous power in works of mercy and benevolence,
and not of terror and vengeance. And they
* As a peculiar honour to the temple be resented as something of an afTront,
there.] None of the feasts observed at considering the antipathy of the two na-
Jerusalem could be more remarkable in tions.
this view, as this was kept in commem- ^ jfa^nes and yohut who attended him.T
oration of the temple's being purified, Thatthese disciples, so remarkably distin-
after it had been polluted by Antiochus guished by their Lord's favour, should
Epiphanes, to whose idolatrous imposi- have some distinguished zeal and faith,
tions the Samaritans had willingly offered may seem less wonderful, than that a per-
to submit; as was observed before in son of so sweet a disposition as John should
note g on John iv. 9, Vol. I. p. 169. yose- make so severe a proposal. (Compare
phus observes fAntiq. lib. xx. cap. 6 (al sect. xcvi. /wjbr. p. 36.) The affinity which
5), §1, Is" Bell. yud. lib. ii. cap. 12 (al. this story has to the other, with which
11), § 3), that the Jews going from Gal- Luke has connected it, is (as Grotius
ilee to Jerusalem at their public feasts, justly observes) a sufficient reason for his-
took Samaria m their way ; and it might having thus transposed it.
Ten lepers cleansed, ofxvhom but one gives thanks.
181
And they went to departed from that place, and rvcnt on till they sect.
another village. came to another village. cxxvu.
Luke XVII. 12. And as he entered i?ito a certain nei^hhonrmg ,
And as he entered yiUag-e^ there met him ten men who were lepers, ^y\;\ 12
intoacertainviUage, ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^,^^ account were shut out from
there met him ten , i • i i i i i i •
men that were lep- the towns to which they belonged ; and as m
ers, which stood this miserable state they could have no society
afar off. ^yith any but themselves, both Jews and Sa-
maritans conversed promiscuously together.
13 And they lift- And standing afar off^ lest they should pollute 13
ed up their voices, passengers who might come too near them,
and said, Jesus, , ^3^ ^ p ^^ • ^ -^^ ^^^^i ^^-^ ^y-.|^ ^^^^
Master, have mercy ^^ r . jf.v-f c nZ - ^
on us. earnestness,havmg heard or the tame ot Christ,
yesiis. Master, we beseech thee to have ynercy
upon lis, as thou hast already extended it to
14 And when he others in these deplorable circumstances. And, 14
flaw theviy he said seeing them as they stood crying to him, he said
unto them, Go shew ^^^^^ ^f^^^ q^ ..j^^^ yourselves to the priests;
yourselves unto the . . • i i ^ ^ i • j i i i
priests. Anditcarae mtimating that the cure they desired should
to pass, that as they be performed by the way. And it came to
went they vfei'^ pass, that as they were going m obedience to
* ^^^^ • his word, they were all miraculously cleansed
by the power of Christ, the efficacy of which
was such as to operate at a distance as well as
near.
15 And one of And one of them, perceiving he was healed, \S
them, when he saw ^^^^ ^^ affected with it, that he immediately
that he was healed, , • i i r ^^ r ■ ^ i
turned back and returned with an heart lull or gratitude and
with a loud voice ^oy, gloriJyi?ig God with a lotid voice, 2ind m3.de
glorified God ; ^ frgg ^nd Open acknowledgment of so signal
16 And fell down a mercy. And, presenting himself before 16
on his face at ^is J q^^^^ fig J'^n ^Q^vn on his face at his feet, giving
feet, giving him ^^ ^^^^ affectionate thanks unto him as the
thanks: and he was. * i n • j • •
a Samaritan. immediate Author or his cure ; ana it is re-
17 And Jesus an- markable that he was a Samaritan. And Jesus 1 7
sweringsaid. Were observing it, fl7257X'er^^ flzz^ said. Were there not
tlTZt wherra'; ^^^ ^^P^^^ '^'''^f^ ! ^"^ '^^''' t^'*^] ^''' °^^^^
th« nine ? 7iine, of whom it might have been expected, as
they were Jews, that they should have express-
ed a greater sense of piety, and have been more
18 There are not ready to thank God for their deliverance ? 18
^r^ve^^or^ toc" d^ How is it, that of all who were cleansed, none
sa\?\hi^ stranger. * are found who have returned to give glory to God
19 And he said hut this poor stranger to the commonwealth of
unto him, Arise, go Israel t And he said to him, Aris^, go thy way ; 19
hSh"''m«i^ th« tl'i^ I'^V fi'f' ■'" '"y PO^^"- '"" '"""^ ""'^ ""1
whole. been happily made the means of thy cure ; and
182
Refections on the evil of a persecuting" spirit.
SECT, from these grateful sentiments, with which thy heart is filled,
cxxvii- thou mayest conclude the cure thou has received is given thee
in mercy.
IMPROVEMENT.
Luke^ Who would not have imagined that the blessed jfesus should
IX. 5o j^jjye been most cordially welcome wherever he came, when
there was grace in all his words, and benevolence in all his ac-
tions ? Yet these Samaritans -would not receive him because he
was a Jexv* And thus do unhappy prejudices, taken up on
imaginary grounds, against men, and things in the general,
sometimes injure the best of men, and prove much more hurtful
to the persons themselves by whom they are entertained.
54 The rash disciples would have called for Jire from heaven ; and
let us observe how Christ treated the proposal. He treated it
like himself; like the kind compassionate Friend of human
nature ; and also like one who well knew ivhat rvas in man (John
ii. 25), and how little human terrors and severities can do towards
producing a real conversion. Yet fre from heaven might have
carried along with it some rational ground of conviction, which
penal laws and sanguinary executions can never produce. What
then would Christ have said to these disciples if they had them-
55 selves proposed to smite zvith the sword^ or to cast firebrands
into the houses of these inhospitable men ? Little do they know
their own spirit; little do they understand either the true
genius or the true interest of the gospel, who have recourse to
such violent methods as these to extirpate heresy and to propa-
gate truth. Let us bless God that neither the guilt nor the
misery of such a conduct is ours.
Let us learn to search our own hearts^ that we may form a
thorough acquaintance with ourselves ; which will greatly pro-
mote both the comfort and usefulness of life. Especially let
us attend to our aims and intentions, and be greatly jealous
over our own hearts, lest we indulge our irregular passions
under religious pretences, and set up the standards of malice
and pride in the name of the Lord,
Luke From the story of the ten lepers let us learn importunately to
xv'*»- seek the influences of Christy to purge us from that far more
odious and fatal disease which sin has spread over our whole
nature ; and, after the example of the Samaritan^ let us own the
mercy we have received. Have we not reason to fear that, of the
17, 18 multitudes who are indebted to the Divine goodness, there is not
one in ten who has a becoming sense of it? Let us labour to impress
our hearts deeply with such a sense. Let us remember what it
is that God expects of us ; and let us farther consider that, as the
exercise of ^/YZ/i^Wfl't' towards such a Benefactor is most reasonable.
The Pharisees inquire when the kingdom of God will come* 1 8i
also in proportion it is most delightful to the soul ; it is indeed sect.
fas one well expresses it) like the incense o( the Jewish priest^ cxxviit
whii h, while it did an honour to God, did likewise regale with — "^
its own fragrancy the person by whom it was offered.
SECT. CXXVIIL
Cur Lord cautions the Jexus against expecting a pompous kingdoifi
of the Messiah^ and zuarns them of the approaching national
destruction which xvould be the consequence of rejecting him,
Luke XVII. 20, to the end.
LrKEXVii.20. __„,,, Luke XVII. 20. ^
AN D when he nP^HU S our Lord went on m his journey, and sset.
was demanded X at length came to Jerusalem. And it was cxxviiij
when'the^k^ngdom ^^^^^^^ ^his time th^t, being asked by some o£ the —
«f God should come; Pharisees * when the kingdo?n of God, which he j^Yu.2ft
he ansv/ered them, had SO often mentioned as approaching, should
and said. The km^- actually come ; he ansrvered them, and said. The
not with obscrva- kingdom of God cometh not with that extertial
tion. pomp and observation of men which you expect.
21 Neither shall Neither shall they point to this or that remark- 21^
they say, Lo here, able place, and say. Behold [it w] here, or^
rolth"krngt.':f*^^^'^;'V^]/^f^- /"'■bMj': =>nd observe i.
God is within you. attentively, the kingdom oj God is already among
you : ^ though, because it is an inward and
spiritual kingdom, erected in the hearts of
men, and not attended with outward grandeur,
you overlook it as unworthy your regards.
52 And he said And he afterwards said to the disciples apart, 2^,
Unto the disciples, Though you do indeed undergo some present
The days will come difficulties, in consequence of your adherence
when je shall de- ^ i
sire to see one of ^o me, yet you have so much greater extrcmi-
the days of the Son ties before you, that the time will come xvheii
of man, and ye shall ^^^ ^/^^// ^/^/^ f^ see one of these daifs of the Son.
of man, and shall not see it ; and the whole Jew-
ish nation having rejected Me, the true Mes-
siah, shall yet long for the appearance of him
whom they expect under that character, and
eagerly listen to every one that pretends to it,
» Beif\i^ asked by some of the Pharisees.'] Greek language, Beza and Raphellus fAtir
I pretend not to say whetlier this w.is at not. ex Xen. p. 109, 110), for a more par-
Jerusalem or some neighbouring place ; ticular vindication of it. It is certain our
nor is it any way material to determine it. Lord could not properly say the kingdom
'' The kingdom of God is among you."] So of God was in the Pharisees to whom he
I render the words »v7@' vy-m, referring spoke, whose temper was entirely ahen-
the reader to those exact critics in th? at«d from the natwe and design of it;,
VOL. 2, 2j?
184 Christ represents the rhanner of his comings
SECT. And accordingly they shall say to yon^ Behold., 23 And they shaft
<«xvm. The Is"] here, or, behold [he is] there '; [but] do not say to you See here,
_ '■ -" 1 • ■> ^ ^ 1 u- or, see there : go
you go out on hearing such reports to seek him, ^^^ ^^^^^ ^j^^^^^ ^oj.
xvii23 ^°^ J^^^ ^^ follow {them] in any of their vain follow them.
24 delusive schemes. For he will indeed come, 24 For as the
but in a very different manner from what they ligl^tningthat light-
^ , J J ' eneth out of the one
expect ; even to execute upon them a sudden ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ heaven,
and unavoidable destruction ; for as the light- sliineth unto the oth-
nin^ which lightens from one [part] under er part under heav-
\ ^ 7- • . -.u.i, 4. ^ en ; SO shall also the
heaven, shines m a moment with the greatest g^^^^^^^^j^^j^ ^-^
swiftness to the other [part] under heaven ; so day.
also in as swift and terrible a manner shall the
coming of the Son of man be in his day, when he
appears to plead the cause of that gospel which
has been so generally despised. (Compare Mat.
25 xxiv. 23, 27, sect, clxi.) Nevertheless, he must 25 But first must
first sufTer many thin s^s, and be vet more oppro- ^^. suffer many
•i • 1 J 1 -i ' * JL j^u- *■ thmffs, and be re-
briously and solemnly rejected by this generation jected of this gene:-
of men, who shall by this public and national ration.
act of impiety and rebellion fill up the measure
of their iniquities. (Compare Luke xxiii. 18
— 21 ; John xix, 15 ; Acts iii. 13-^15.)
26 Then shall impending vengeance fall upon 26 And as it was
them at once : and as it was in the days of Noah ^'^ ^^^if^'^u^^^l^^hi
which preceded the flood, so also shall it be in ^^^ ^ .^ ^f ^^^^ S^^.
the days of the Son of 7nan, or in those days of man.
when he shall come in the manner I have now
described for the destruction of his enemies,
27 For, notwithstanding the express predictions 27 They did eau
of Divine iudo-ments approaching?, they went ^^^y. *^^^^^' *J^^>
. , , V ^ , ^^ T Ii married wives, thev
on With their usual course as it there were ^,^^^ '^,^^ j^ ^^,
no danger j they did eat, they drank, they mar- riage, until the day
ried wives, [and^ their daughters were given in tt»at Noe entered m-
marriage ; and with a confident security they fl^od^^Ime ^aJid de^.
persisted in the business, entertainments, and stroyed them all.
luxuries of life, till the very day in which Noah
entered into the ark ; and then the deluge came
with irresistible fury, so that it overbore and
destroyed them all at once. (Gen. vi. 13. vii.
2% 21.) Likewise also as it xvas at Sodom in the 28 Likewise also
days of Lot, they did eat and drink, they bought ^s it was in the days
and sold, they planted vineyards, and built mag- tLy^'^drank, they
nificent houses, and never thought themselves bought, they sold,
more secure, or their pleasant country more they planted, they
29 like to flourish ; Thus did they carelessly go ^"^n ^^ ; ., ^.
J . . ' , . . c ^ ' .,' ° 1 29 But the same
on,despising every admonition ot their guilt and day tliat Lot went
danger : but on the verj' day when Lot went out out of Sodom, it
• of Sodomy an horrible tempest of fir€ and brim^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^i^^*
end foretells the destruction of the unbelieving fews.
185
©tone from heaven, stone rvas rained down by the L.ord from heaven, sect.
and destroyed them ^^jd with a sudden overthrow destroyed them ^^^^'"'-
'"30 Even thus shall «^^- (Gen. xix. 14 24.) Even so shall it be l,^,
it be in the dav tn the day xvhen the Son oj man is revealed^ when xvii. 30
when the Son of he will sensibly display his power in the de-
man is revealed. struction of this sinful people : the Jewish na-
tion shall be as careless and confident as if
there was not the least danger, indulging them-
selves in all kinds of luxury and extravagance,*^
till they shall see ruin surrounding them on
every side, from which it will be as impossible
for them to escape as it was for the sinners of
the old world, or the inhabitants of Sodom and
Gomorrah. (Compare Mat. xxiv. 37 — 39,
sect, clxiii.)
31 In that day, he ^n that day^ if any one shall be taking the air 31
-which shall be upon on the housetops or be retired thither for any
thehousetop,andhis ^^ purpose, and his best dress -md furniture
stuffin the house, let , . S ; 7 , • » • ^ .t.
him not come down ^^ ^^ ^^^ house, let him not come down mto the
to take it away : house to take it away ;^ but lethim flee the read-
and he that is in the j^st way bv those steps which go down on the
SiSacr^'" outside of the building : and he that is at work
in the field, stripped of his upper garment, let
him likewise not return back, though it be but a
few steps, to take it. (Compare Mat. xxiv.
32 Remember 17, 18, sect, clxi.) But remember the awful 32
Lot's wife. example of Lot^s wife, with the dreadful issue
of her delay and looking back (Gen. xix. 26) ;
and take heed lest, like her, you perish in that
sudden vengeance, \^hi(:h shall overtake your
former abode, if you allow yourselves to linger
in it, or turn back for the sake of any thing you
33 Whosoever have left there. For in that day, he that 33
shall seek to save shall seek to preserve his life by retiring into
!:;.d ^Ltvlri'Ili fome fortified city, and especially into that
where it might seem he should be safest, shall
lose it ; but he that shall be thought to take the
ready way to lose his life, shall preserve it; for
<^ Indidging- themselves in all kinds of ^ Let htm not come do-ain into the house
luxury and extravagance ] It is not un- to take it auaj'.] This shews, beyond all
seasonable for Great Britain to recollect, controversy, that this discourse refers not
that when a pompous and luxurious tvay to the Jinai judgment, from which there
j of living has come to its height in many of can be no escape; but to the destruction of
' the most considerable ancient and modern yerusalem^ from which it is well known
nations, there has been a very sudden that many Christians were preserved by
transition to the lowest state of servitude this caution. See Grotius in loc. The
and ruin. All histories abound with in- Jeviish houses were built with a Jiat rooft
stances of this kind ; and God grant that and had stairs on the outside to go down
our own »ge may not add one to the num- from the top. Compai'e txott « on Luke v,
ber! 19, Vol. I. p. 258.
185 Where the carcass w, the eagles will be gathered together.
SECT, they who regard my admonitions, and retire, lose his life, shall
^^^^ however their conduct may be censured as im- Preserve it.
Luke prudent, shall survive the general ruin,
xyii. 33 I tell you ^ in that nighty that gloomy calam- 34 I tell you, in
34 itous time, the Providence of God shall be that night there shall
strangelv seen, in delivering some of mv dis- ^^ two men in one
. , o -, \ . . <=> - , hed ; the one shall
ciples, when others m the very same places and be taken, and the
circumstances shall perish in the common ca- other shall be left.
lamity : there shall^ for instance, he two persons
lying in the same hed ; and Hie one shall be taken
55 by the enemy,® and the other dismissed. Two 35 Two womea
women shall he grinding together at the same shall be grinding
mill ; the one shall be taken, and the other dis- ^^^^Xhl taken, and
36 missed. And txvo 7nen shall be working the other left. *
or walking together in the field ; the one shall 36 Two men shall
he taken, and the other dismissed. (Compare ^^ "^ t\^t^ l v ^^
__ ' Ar^ A^ 1 ••• \ * one shall be taken,
Mat. XXiv. 40, 41, sect, clxiii.) ^^^ the other left.
^* And they answered and said to him. Where, 37 And they an-
Lord, and to whom shall this destruction hap- swered and said unto
pen \^ And he said to them. That common prov- ^^ he^^sl'id unto
erb is applicable to the present occasion, them. Wheresoever
Wheresoever the carcass [w], there will the eagles the body is, thither
be gathered together ;g wherever the impen- ^^^^^\ tolethc^''
itent and unbelieving Jews are, the vengeance
of God will pursue them, and the Roman
eagles shall (as it were) fly upon them as a
helpless prey ; and so, where their numbers
are the largest, there the destruction will be
greatest and most terrible. Compare Mat,
%^iv, 28, sect. clxi»
IMPROVEMENT.
Vftj-.^O May our minds be formed to a true taste and relish for th^
kingdom of God ! and may we learn wherein it consists ; not,
like the kingdoms of this world, in external pomp and splendor,
• The one shall be tahn by the enemy ] Jerusalem above, that I might leave room
That this is the sense of the word for it.
tiirdipa.xn<t>B>iiri}At, and that it<i>tBniri}a.t in the ? Wheresoever the carcass is, he."] Dr
latter clause should be rendered cf/^wme^, Clarke has explained the general sense o
or let go, I think Eisner has abundantly this proverb with great judgment. (Sec
proved; Observ. Vol.1, p. 262, 263. He \\\s Seventeen Sermons, p. o2>l, Isf seq.) I
has likewise shewn there, how customary is, as if it had been said, The like cause
it was for ixovien to grind at the mill. See luill produce the like effects. But it seemi
also Bos, Exerc. p. 30. to suggest so proper an allusion to th<
* Where, Lord, &c.^ I have seen few J?oman standards, and to the carnage the;
paraphrases which do not supersede this made of the Jews, that I could not forbes'
question: I have forbore mentioning introducing" the mention of h.
Refections on the coming of Christ^ 187
but in righteousness^ peace ^ joy in the Holy Ghost^ and that inward sect.
subjection of soul to the Divine government which is the es- ^^'^^"'•
sence of religion, and the grand security and felicity of our
natures ! Many are, like the Pharisees^ talking of it, and ex-
pecting it, while it is among them^ and they know it not ; and, ver. 21
perhaps, despise the humble Christians in rvhom it resides, and
most eminently triumphs. May they who think most lightly of
it never have cause to wfvA at last for the return of those daijs
of the Son of man^ which are now their burden, rather than their
pleasure, while they hear vital and inward religion in vain 22
recommended and enforced !
What our Lord says of his coming to the destruction of feru- 26—30
salem^ ma\' be applied, as it is elsewhere, to his appearance at
the final judgment^ of which the former was a figure. Thus
shall the men of that generation be immersed in business and
pleasure ; and that tremendous day shall come upon them^ even
as a thief in the night ; so that they shall find themselves over-
whelmed with irrecoverable ruin, while they cvy^Peace and safety,
(1 Thes. v. 2, 3.) And thus doth the awful hour of deaths v/hich
consigns men over to judgment, surprise the generality of man-
kind, while they are thoughtless of it and unprepared for its ap-
proach, amidst all the solemn warnings of it which they daily
receive. May we be always in a prepared posture, and daily
live as on the verge of eternity !
And if once we are engaged in a course of serious prepara- 3^
tion, let us remember Lot\s rvife^ and take heed that we turn not
hack again. We flee as for our lives ; let us not look behind i/s.
Whatever is to be left^ whatever is to be lost^ it is enough if our 31
life be given us as for a prey.
If we have any just hope that it w^ill be so given us, we have 34—3^
a great deal of reason to own and adore the riches of Divine
grace to us, of that distinguishing grace which has taken us
when others are left ; some, perhaps, employed in the .9^;??^ busi-
ness^ and dwelling in the someplace ; and, may not I add, some
lying in the same bed too !
In a word, let all seriously bethink themselves, :{T\dfeefro7n
the wrath to come. God spared not Judea^ that favourite coun-
try, when they rejected his gospel, and his Son : let us fear ^
lest he also spare not us, (Rom. xi. 20, 21.) In this respect
also, wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered
together. The same causes will produce the same effects; 37
and when we, in particular, of these happy, but sinful nations,
consider our numerous and aggravated provocations, we shall
see much greater reason to wonder that the judgments of God
have been so long delayed, than that they should at last fall upon
lis with an insupportiible weight.
288 Chriat delivers the parable of the hnportunate widow^
SECT. CXXIX.
Christ presses his disciples to perseverance in prayer by the parable
of the importunate xvidow ; and recommends humility by that of
the Pharisee and publican, Luke XVIII. 1—14.
Luke XVIII. 1. LukeXVIII. l.
SECT. rnpHUS our Lord discoursed with his dis- A N D he spake
c>^^ix- X ciplesof the approaching destruction off^ a parable unto
-■ T 11 tTT. »r 1- them, to this end„
Luke Jerusalem by the Romans ; and^ tor their en- ^1^^,^. ^^^ ^^^y^^ al-
xviii.l coiiragement underthose hardships, which they ways to pray, and
might in the mean time expect, from their un- not to famt j
believing countrymen, or others, he spake a
parable to them ; which was intended to incul-
cate upon them this great truth, that^ how dis-
tressed soever their circumstances might be,
they ought always to pray with faith and perse-
verance, and not to faint under their trials.
2 For this purpose he discoursed to them in 2 Saying, There^
the following manner, sayings There was a was in a city a
judge in a certain city, -who neither feared God^i^^S^'J^^^f^^^
nor reverenced man ; but was wicked enough garded man.
to set light by all regards to both, and to make
his own humour and secular interest the only
3 rule of his actions. And there was a widow 3 And there was a
in that city who had sustained some injury from widow in that city,
an enemy more powerful than herself : and. f"^ ^^^^ ^.^""^ ""'J®
■t ' ^ 1 • 17 him, saying-, A-
havmg no other way to obtam redress, she venge me of mine
caine to him^ at a place and time when she could adversary,
not be denied access, and said^ I come to put
myself under the protection of the law, and to
demand thine assistance as a magistrate, to do
me justice against mine adversary ^^ that I may
4 not sink under his oppressive attempts. This 4 And he would
was her case and plea ; yet as she brought no not for a while : but
^•v U17 ij *y afterward he said
present m her hand, he would not.jor a con- ^^-^^Yx'^n himself
siderable ti?ne^ t^ke any notice of it : ^z/#, as she Though I fear not
still persevered in her petition, he afterwards God, nor regard
said within himself Though indeed I neither ^^^ '^
fear God^ nor reverence man^ and therefore
care not what becomes of this cause, or who
5 has the right or the wTong of it ; Tet be- 5 Yet because this
cause this importunate widow gives me trouble widow troubleth me,
i Do Trie justice against mine adversary."^ taken in the version to express it so as not
This is the undoubted import of the phrase to suggest the idea oi revenge.
iKftnifc-ov //« j and care should have been
and declares the success of perseverance in prayer. 189
I will avenge her, by her continual application, I will do her jits- sect.
lest by her continual fice, lest by her coviing perpetiiallif to me with cxxix.
coming she weary ^^{^^ petition, she even stun and weary me out T
me. • 1 I. • b Lwke
with her cries.'' ^^•••5
6 And the Lord And the Lord said^ Hear^ and observe, what '5
said, Hear what the iJi^ unjust judge saith upon this remarkable oc-
unjust judge saith. ^asion, and how he owns himself to be prevail-
ed on by the continual cries of one whom
7 And shall not Otherwise he would not have regarded. And 7
God avenge his own jf the earnest importunity of a poor widow
elect, which cry day j^^^ prevailed on an unric^hteous person, shall
and night unto him, r & i •>
though he bear long not a righteous God much more be moved to
with them ? vindicate his own electa his chosen and dearly
beloved people, that cry to him day and 7iightj
under the cruel oppression of their insulting
enemies, even though he may seem to bear long
zvith them^ to give them space for repentance t^
8 I tell you, that Yes, I say unto you-, He will certainly vindicate gr
he will avenge them them; and when he once undertakes it, he will
ks's^wLSnofdoit speedily too-, and this generation of men
man cometh, shall shall see and ieel it to their terror. Neverthe-
he find faith on the less^ when the Son of man^ having been put in
^*^'-" ' possession of his glorious kingdom, comes to
appear for this important purpose, xuill he find
faith in the land?^ The persecution will be so
severe as almost to bear it down : but let the
remembrance of what I have now spoken be a
comfort to my people, and a warning to those
that injure them.
^ Sht even stun and lueary me out-l pecially Ecclus* xxxv, 18 ; to which words
The word vTruTridL^n is very emphatical, Grotius supposes there is an allusion
and signifies to stun, or beat dovin by vio- here.
lent and repeated blows on the head. <i JVill he Jind faith in thetatid?'} It is
Compare 1 Cor. ix. 27. evident the word yyi often signifies, not
« Though he may seem to bear long with the earth in general, but some particular
them, &c.] The learned Eisner supposes land or country ; as in Acts vii. 3, 4, 11,
^«tx§i9t;^a)v, with a small alteration in the and in numberless otlier places. And the
accent, to correspond to^cav7«v, and would context here limits it to the less extensive
render it. Shall he not avenge his elect, u-ho signification. The believing Hebrews
ery to hiyn, and luait patiently Jor it, that is, were evidently in great danger of being
for his appearance in their favour ? (^£/j/rer, wearied out with their persecutions and
Observ. Vol. I. Y>. 265,266.) But, as I can- distresses. (Compare Heb. iii. 12—14;
not think the words will naturally bear x. 23—39; xii. 1 — 4; Jam. i. 1 — 4; ii. 6;
such a construction, or that the authori- v. 10 ; 1 Pet. ii. 20 — 25; iii. 14—17; iv.
ties he produces are satisfactory, I choose 1, 2, 12—19 ; v. 9, 10.) Mr. Fleming ar-
to retain our version. Nor can I, on this gues from hence, tliat dtisvi shall prevail
interpretation, perceive any inconsistency very much toward the conclusion of the
between ver. 7 and 8, since it is plain God Millennium (Christology, Vol. II. p. 358) ;
might wa/t /o;j^, and yet at length execute bi t it is evident from the connection, as
a speedy and sudden vengeance on the per- stated above, that this cannot justly be in-
secuting enemies of his people. Com- ^erred irom this text ; nor does the fact it-
pare Psal. Lisiii. 19; Xlab, ii. 3 ; and es. self seem at aU probable.
190 The parable of the proud Pharisee and humble publican^
SECT. -^^ also spake this other parable to certain 9 And he spake
exxix. persons, zvho, like the proud self justifying t^'spa^able unto cer-
Ui • -1 ^ ^v ^f ;u^:„ tain which trusted in
—- Pharisees, with an arrogant conceit of their ^j^^^^^j^.^^^l^^^^j^^^
y. q own merit, trusted in themselves^ that they were were righteous, and
righteous^ and despised others as reprobates, despised others :
10 There were, said he, Txuo men who went up 10 Two men went
to the temple to /.™y there, choosing to offer ;;P;";»,^'-ra'ihl!
up their particular devotions at that sacred 1.55^^^ ^nd the other
place ; and the one of them was a Pharisee^ one a publican,
of that sect so greatly honoured among you,
and the other a publican^ whom you are used
to number with the most contemptible of man-
11 kind. Awd the Pharisee standing by himself 11 The Pharisee
at as jrreat a distance as he could from the stood and prayed
, , . 1 i_ 1 ^ 1 ^1 ^ 1 thus with himselt,
miserable sinner, who had entered the temple ^^^^^ j ^y^^^^ ^1^^^^
with him, as if he feared being polluted by that I am not as
touching him, or anv other person less holy other men are, ex-
than himself,<^ prayed in this manner, 0 God, /^IteTJS, orTen
thank thee, that I am not as the generality of as this publican,
other men are ; but have always had the grace
to withstand those vile temptations which con-
quer and enslave them ; so that I am not like
the rapacious, unjust, adulterous generation
among whom I live, or even like this wretched
publican that stands there at a distance, who
probably is all this, and more ; Thou knowest,
O Lord, that I am zealous in all the traditions
^2 of the elders ; that in conformity to them / 12 I fast twice iri
fast trvice a week / and with the greatest strict- t'le week, I give
ness / pay tithes of all that I possess, not ex- '^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^
cepting even the very herbs of my garden.
(Compare Mat. xxiii. 23, and Luke xi. 42.)
Thus the Pharisee offered his devotions, stand-
ing as near as he could to the court of the
priests ; confident in his own distinguished
sanctity, and desirous to be observed by
13 others. But the poor humble publican standing 13 Andthepubli-
afar off, in the court of the Gentiles, as un- can standing afar ofTj
worthf tobe numbered among God's people, --jf-^.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
and much more unworthy to appear in the pres- to heaven, but smote
ence of so holy a Deity, would not so much as
lift up his eyes to heaven, the habitation of the
Divine holiness and glory ; but smote on his
^ As if he feared being polluted by rally to keep private fasts on Mondays and
touching him, ^c] Thus Camcro well Thursdays, as the primitive Christians did
explains this clause. Compare Isa. Ixv. 5. on Wednesdays and Fridays; unA our Lord
f I fast t-uiice a iveek. It has been ob- had formerly reproved their ostentatious
served by most commentators, that the manner of doing it; Mat, vi. 16— 18. See
3ews,especiallytlie Pharisees, used gene- Dnisiiis, in ioc.
The humble puhlkan is justified rather than the Pharisee* li>l
\ip<Mi his breast, say- breast^ in token of the bitterest remorse and skct.
ing,Godbemerciiul deepest humiliation, sayings O God, I entreat ^^^"*
to me a smner, ^^^^ ^^ merciful to me a miserable sinner,^ who Luke
acknowledge that I have nothing to hope but rviiWU
from the riches of thine unmerited and forfeit-
ed goodness.
14 I tell you, this Now, added our Lord, I say unto you, and 14
man went down to I would have you diligently observe it, that
ri'/,<^Xnihe oth^ '^" P""-"' tumble, selfabasing man went doxm
er : for every one to his house jusfified rather than the other ; and
that exaheth himself would have been far more acceptable in the
shaUbeabased ; and ^j i^^ ^f q^^ ^I^^^j^ ^j^ Pharisee, if he had in-
he that humbleth |° j , , , • i i j
himself shall be ex- tlced been that moral upright man he pretend*
alted. ed : even in that case his pride and confidence
in his own righteousness would have blasted
all ; for every one that exalteth himself shall be
abased ; but he that humbleth himself shall be eX"
alted i^ as nothing is more hateful to God than
pride, and nothing more amiable than lowline&s
of mind.
IMPROVEMENT.
How hateful is the character of this unjust judge, who net- ver. %
iher feared God nor reverenced man, but centered all his regards
in himself! How hateful, and how contemptible, in any cir-
cumstance of life ; especially in a magistrate, the guardian of
the public interest, in comparison of which he ought to forget
his own! Yet even he was prevailed upon by importunity ; and S
! eur Lord mentions it to encourage the fervor of our addresses 1
to the throne of grace. What then, is the blessed God, like ^
1 this unjust judge, to be wearied out with a peal of words, and
' thereby w^eakly induced to do what w^ould otherwise have been
contrary to his designs ? Far from us be so absurd and so im-
pious a thought ! Our condescending Lord only intended to in-
itimate, that if the repeated importunate cries of the afflicted
!may at length prevail even on an inhumane heart, they will be
jmuch more regarded by a righteous and merciful God, who is
'always ready to bestow his favours when he sees we are prepar-
ed to receive them. We may be siire that God will vindicate
t J miserable sinn$r.'] It is very appa- l> Every one that exalteth himse(f shall be
rent that the word sinner often signifies abased; &c.j This appears to have been
mn abandoned profligate, or, as we common- a favourite maxim with our Lord, since
ly express it, a luicked luretch ; and not we find it i-epeated almost in these verjf
merely one who has in some instances words no less than three different times j
violated the divine law ; which, alas, has not to mention a multitude of expressions
been, and is the case with the best of in sense nearly equivalent. See Mat.
men. See Psal. xxvi. 9 ; Amos ix. 10 ; xxiii. 12, and Luke xiv, 11. C<>nipwe
Mat. ix. 10, 11 ; xxvii. 45 ; Luke vi. 32, n9t9 ■*, »9Gt. vlvU.
33 ; vii. 37, 39 ; xix. 7 i John ix. 24, 31 j
and 1 Tim. i. 9,
TOL. 2 &%
192 Refiections on the prevalence of prayer and humility*
SECT, his elect: let this encourage them, though the rod of the wicked
cxxix. j^^y £q^ ^ while rest on their back ; and let it intimidate the
"""^ proicd oppressors of the earth, who, in the midst of all their
^^^' pomp and power, are so wretched as to have the prayers of
God's people against them.
9 How instructive is this parable oi the publican and Pharisee!
and how well connected with the former, to teach us that humili-
ty, without which repeated prayers will be repeated insults and
affronts to heaven ! Let us not trust in ourselves that we are
righteous, and despise others ,• but rather be severe to our own
faults, and candid to theirs.
1 1 Behold this arrogant Pharisee^ standing apart from the publi-
can, but as near as he could to the seat of the Divine Majesty !
And hear him boldly celebrating his own praises rather than
those of his Maker ! God^ I thank thee, that I a?n not as other
men. We see a man may acknowledge it is the grace of God
which makes the difference between him and others ; and yet
while he professes that humbling doctriiie of the gospel may be
blown up with pride: yea, he may nourish and express that
i2 pride by the words in which he declares his faith. Mistaken
creature ! that imagined this encomium on himself was a prayer^
and trusted in this defective inorality^ and these cere?7iOJiies of
human device, while an utter stranger to real vital religion.
Happier, a thousand times happier, the poor publican, when
abasing himself in the dust ; when smiting on his breast ; when
owning himself a sinner, and imploring the divine mercy as his
only hope ! Lord, we equally need it : may we with equal
iS humility seek it! May we habitually maintain those views of
ourselves which may promote that humility so necessary in or-
der to the acceptance of our addresses, and therefore to the
happiness of our souls. And indeed, if in our approaches to
God we can place our confidence in any righteousness of our oxvn,
whatever we may imagine of our own knowledge or holiness,
we have need to be taught again the first principles of both, and
are strangers to the essentials of religion.
SECT. CXXX.
Christ opens the eyes of a ma7i who was born blind; and the san»
hedrim examine strictly into the evidence of the miracle. John
IX. 1—23.
o
John IX. 1. j^„^.
IX. 1.
UR Lord was now come to Jerusalem, at A N D as Jesut^
the feast of dedication, about the middle -^ passed by, he
of December j* and as he was passing along
a About the middle of December.] See Notwithstanding all the pains which Mr-.
Johnx. 22, and the n^ts there, sect, csxsiy. Whiston has t^en to prove that the cum
Christ meets with one that was born blind, 193
saw a man -which through the streets of that city, he saw a poor sect.
was blind from his jj^^n xvho had been blind from his birth, that sat c^xx.
and asked relief from those that went by. — —
2 And his disci- And his disciples, taking notice of the poor ^-^^^
fnt'Masterr'S"^^"'^^^'^^^' applied themselves to Jesus, and '^■''
did'sin, this man, or cisked him concerning it, saying. Rabbi, we de-
his parents, that he sire thou wouldest tell US xvho it was that sinned
was horn Wind ? j^ so extraordinary and aggravating a manner
as to occasion such a judgment ? Had this mmi
himself been guilty of some heinous crime, as
some of our doctors suppose he might be, in a
preexistent state ? ^ or had his parents, before
his birth, committed some notorious sin ? for
we apprehend that he was born blind, as a pun-
ishment to himself, or them, or both.^
3 Jesus answered. But Jesus, waving the curiosity of the ques- 3
man sfnned^^nor Ills ^^^"' answered. It is not because either this man^
parents : but that ^^ his parents, have sinned in such an extraor-
the works of God dinary manner as you suppose ; nor was the
should be made punishment of either the chief design of this
manliest m mm. S. - r ^ • i / ^ ^u • r
dispensation or rrovidence ; but the intent of
it was, that the miraculous works ofGodmig-ht
be remarkably manifested in restoring him to
4 1 must work the sight, as you will quickly see. For however 4
woi-ks of him that ^j^^ ^lalice of the Jews may be irritated by it,
sent me whue it is ^ ^ ^ r ^i i 'r l- ^i . i
I must perjorm the works oj nim that sent mt
while it is day, and the opportunity of dispatch-
of the blind man, of which we have an ac- •» In a preexistent state.] Dr. Light-
count here, happened several months be- foot ( Hor. Htb. in loc.J shews, that some
fore Christ discovered himself to him in Rabbies have wildly fancied a child might
the temple, and indeed at the preceding- sin in its mother's vjonnb : but most com-
feast of tabernacles-, I choose, with the gen- mentatorsy with juster reason, agree that
erality of cn>/M, to introduce it here ; not this refers to the notion the Jews had of
merely that the thread of the story might the transmigration of souls. They thought
not be interrupted, but because Mr. that if a man behaved himself amiss he
7Vhiston*s reasons (inh'is Harmony, i> 385) was afterwards sent into another body,
appear inconclusive. For I see not but all where he met with great calamities, and
here recorded might happen within the lived on much worse terms than before ;
compass of tn.vo or three days at most, nay, whereas a more advantageous situation
perhaps, of o;/e single day. And it seems than the former was supposed the reward
much more probable x.ha.i (nrufnycev [^as he of distinguished virtue : a notion which
passed"] might be used here without any tliey borrowed from the Pythagoreans ;
immediate reference to -rr-ctfa^.jv, in the which seems to be hinted at by Josephus,
preceding I'er^e, (John viii. 7^/^ sect, cv.) andis plainly referred to, Wisd.viii. 19, 20.
than that when Christ was /ee/«^ oMi o/'fAe (Compare Mat, xiv. 2; 5vi. 14) Per-
temple in the hasty manner described haps the disciples might put this question
there, his disciples as he passed aivay from on purpose to learn our Lord'^s sentiments
his enemies, should put so nice a question on this subject of curious speculation;
to him (as in ver. 2), or that he should but he wisely declined an express deci-
stand still to discourse with them, and to sion of the matter, to fix on something
perform such a cure in so leisurely a man- more useful,
ner, as it is plain this was done.
i!>4 He miraculoudy opens his eyes,
SECT, ing it continues ; for I well know that the night day: the mg^ht cora-
cxxx. 2s comings in which no man can zvork : I see ^^^' '^^^^^ "® *"*"
death approaching, which, as it puts a period
1x^4 in general to human labours, so will close the
scene of such miracles as these, and remove
me from the converse and society of men,
S But so long as I am in the xvorld^ lam the light 5 As long- as I am
of the world; and, as a proof of the Divine ijj the world, I am
illumination I am capable of giving, I have ^^^4^ •& ^ ^ ^ ^
often restored sight to the blind ; and I will
do it in this instance.
5 'Now xvhen he had spoken thus^ that he might 6 When he had
exercise the faith and obedience of the patient, tli"s spoken, he sat
and might shew thathe could command efficacy ^^^'^l'' ^{^^""^^ ^^he
on whatever means he should please to use, he spittle, arid he an-
spat on the ground^ and 7nade clay xvith the spit- ointed the eyes of
tie, and aiiointed the eyes of the blind man xvith ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^
7 the clay : And then, for a farther trial of his ^ ^nd said unto
resignation and submission, he said to him, him. Go wash in
Go, wash at the pool of S.iloanu'' C^hich word J*^\P°^! ^f ^l^^^^
Siloam, being interpreted from the Hebrew, pretSion,'sent)" He
signifies Sejit, and so bore some analogy to the went his way there-
character of Jesus, as sent of God.) He there- ^^^^» and washed*
fore presently complied with the direction, and ^""^ ^^^ ^^^'''^'
xvent away, and washed as he was ordered, and
had no sooner done it, but he came from the
pool seeing ; and not only found his sight
given him, but his eyes were at once so re-
markably strengthened that he immediately
could bear the light.^ 8 The neighbours
g The neighbours therefore, and they xvho had therefore, and they
seen him before, and known that he was always which before had
blinds said one to another, Is not this he that sat ^as^ blind satd Is
in the street, and asked [charity"] of those who not this he that sat
and begged ?
^ Wash at the pool of Siloain.'\ Perhaps name which arose in the southwest part
by this command our Lord intended to of Jerusalem. See ;:ofe •= on Luke xiii. 4,
make the miracle so much the more taken p. 127 ; and Reland. Palestin. p. 857.
notice of; for a crowd of people would
naturally gather round him, to observe the ^ Could bear the light ] This is strongly
event of so strange a prescription. And intimated in the phrase, he cavie seeing.
as it is exceeding probable that the blind Compare note ^ sect. Ixxxvi Vol. I. p. 474.
Tnan had a guide to lead him, especially Perhaps he had been taught by the exam-
through the streets of so populous a city, pie of Naaman not to despise the most
he might naturally mention the errand improbable means when prescribed in the
they were going upon, and call those that view of a miracle. Yet it is plain he did
saw him to a greater attention. Accord- not know this was ^esus of Nazareth yet,
i"gly this miracle was afterwards talked and so had no particular faith in him
of with particular regard : John xi. 2)7-> (compare ver. 12) ; which shews, by the
-sect. cxl. As for \he pool of Siloam, it way, that jucA aJ^rtzY/s was not universally
was supplied from the fountain of that required as a condition of receiving a cure:
i
The man tells the people how he received his sight, 195
passed by? Whence is there such an astonishing sect.
§ Some said, This alteration in him ? And some said, It is assur- <=-'^^^'
is he : others said, ^^^^ /^^ ^„^ others. It is indeed verv^ much 7~
He ishke him : but nj- ^ -^ *. u *u v" ^c e iohn.
he said I am he. "'^^ '"'^^' 7^^ ^^ cannot be the person himselt :* ^j. 9
[but'] he said, and confidently averred, Truly /
10 Therefore said am the very man. They therefore said to him, 10
they unto him, How jjoxv then xvere thine eyes opened, which we
11 He answered have SO Strange an effect ? And he replied, a \\
and said, A man that certain man, who is called Jesus, and who is
IS called Jesus, made £^j^Q^g for many Other extraordinary works,
clav, and anomted 7 , , • • • 1 '1 •
mine eyes, and said ^^"(^^ ^If^^j by spittmg on the ground, and,
unto me, Go to the having anointed mine eyes with it, said to me,
pool of Siloam, and ^r^ to the pool of Siloam and wash there: and
wash : and I went i-ir ^ j 1 j j ' j-
and washed, and I accordnigly / zuent and washed, and immedi-
received sight. ately received my sight ; and this is, in a few
words, a true and exact account of this w^on-
derful fact.
12 Then said they Then said they to him. Where is he that per- 12
unto him. Where is formed this, and gave thee such directions ?
he^? He said, I know ^^^ ^^ ^^y^ j ^^ ^^^ j^^^^^ , ^^^ j j^^^,^ ^^^,^^
yet seen him, nor ever conversed with him,
otherwise than as I just now told you.
13 They brought And they brought him who had formerly been 13
to the Pharisees him ^/^^^^ iq ^/^^' Pharisees in the grand sanhedrim,
bUnV^°'^''"'' ^"' that he might be examined by them ; that so,
if there was any fraud in the matter, they
14 And it was the might discover and expose it. Noxv it was on 14t
sabbathday whenje- thg sabbathday zvhen Jesus made the clay, ^ in
and opened hi! eyS the manner before related, and opened his eyes ;
which was a circumstance that some of these
hypocritical rulers pretended to take great of-
15 Then again the fence at. The Pharisees therefore, disposed to 15
Pharisees also asked find all the fault they could, asked him again^
cehed^hTs sf ht'^H ' ^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^^ means he received his sight,
said unto theraj He ^'^^ he said to them, exactly as he had before
put clay upon mine declared to the people, He only put clay upon
anTdo^see^ washed, ^j^^ gy^^^^ ^^^ j ^}^q^^ according to his com-
mand, went and washed at the neighbouring
pool of Siloam, and, behold, I do now see per-
fectly well.
* It is like him,, &C.3 The circumstance ^ It vjas on the sabbathday. Sec] Dr.
of having- received his sight would give him Lightfoot (in his Hor. Hebr. on ver. 6)
an air of spirit and cheerfulness which has shewn, that anointing the eyes on the
■would render him something unlike what sabbathday with any kind of medicine was
he was before, and might occasion a little forbidden to the Jews by the tradition of
doubt to those who were not well ac- ike elders <
quainted with him ; as Bishop Hall justly
ttbservds.
€9S Being^ questioned by the sanhedrim^ a division arises.
SECT. Then said some of the Pharisees, This man, 16 Therefore said
cxxx. though apparently possessed of some extraor- ^°"^^ ®^ ^^^ Phari-
J~ ^iTl P"'''""' '\"°'' *"r''^ ''r^ ^ messenger Tf G^.'-t'^^lliri^^'
ix. 16 ^.t y'^d, nor can he perform these works by a keepeth not the sab-
Divine agency, because he observeth not the bathday.Otherssald,
sacred rest of the sabbath, which the law of God .""^ ?^" ^ T^" ^^f
I . . T^^ , . IS a sinner do such
SO expressly enjonis. But others more wisely miracles ? And there
said, Horv can a man that is a notorious sinner was a division among
and sabbathbreaker, as you suppose this man *^^"^-
to be, do such great and beneficial miracles,^
which wear all the marks of a diyine original
that can be imagined ? And there was a warm
debate and division among them on this import-
ant question ; the few friends of Christ among
them not failing to urge so great an advantage
against the rest.^
17 But, to prevent the offence that might be 17 They say unto
taken at their dispute, they turned and said t^ie blind man again,
again to the blind man (that 'is, to him who had ,^if\S''U^'hath
been blind, and still was spoken of by that opened thine eyes >
title), What sayest thou concerning him, since he He said. He 'is a
hath, as thou declarest, opened thine eyes P And P^<^P^^^^-
he freely said. It is clear to me that he is a most
illustrious Prophet ; for surely otherwise he
would have been unable to perform so great a
miracle.
18 ^ The Jexvs therefore of this great council, be- 18 But the Jews
ing generally displeased with his reply, and yet ^^^ "^^ believe con-
unable to invalidate it if the miracle was allow- r/dL^ei'Minra'd
ed, would not believe concerning him on his own received his si.eht,
credit, that he had formerly been blind, and had ""til they calledllie
now received his sip-ht ; but represented it as a P^^^'^^^ of him that
r t T . 1 • 1 V 1 had received his
contederacy between him and Jesus, by an easy sight.
fraud, to get the reputation of so extraordina-
ry a cure : and in this vi^w they went on
roundly to censure it, till they had called in the
parents of the man, who maintained that he had
thus received his sight, that they might strictly
19 examine them on this question. And they asked 19 And they ask-
^Such great and beneficial miracles."] ^ The few friends of Christ amongthem.
This seems to intimate that they thought Isfc.^ If Nicodemus, and Joseph ofArima-
there were at least some miracles so glori- thea, both members of the sanhedrim,
oust and so benevolent, that no evil agent were now present, they would naturally
would have either inclination or power to distinguish themselves on this occasion ;
perform them ; and that they reckoned this and Gamaliel too, on the principles he af-
in that number. The thought seems both terwards avowed (Acts v. 38, 39), must
rational and important, and is set in a very have been on their side,
strong light by the learned Mr. Chapman,
ill his EusebiuSf chap. ii.
His parents are called^ and examined concerning him. 197
eel them, saying, Is them^ sayings Is this indeed your son^ of whom sect.
this your son, who \i \^ reported that you sou he ivas born blind P c^xx.
ye say was born r^ • 2^ r i » i ,
blind ? How then ^^^f ^^ ^^ account of the whole matter ; and — ~"
doth he now see ? particularly tell us, if you are sure he was /^ ^ 9
blind from his birth, how then doth he now see ?
20 His parents an- His parents ansxvered them^ and saidy We assur- 20
swered them, and edlv kjiow that this is our son ; and aflirm it to
Zi'''our'"s::.td h. try^., that he rvasbc-n MW,and hath contin-
that he was born ued SO from his uifancy ; But as for this strange 21
Ijlin^l '■ fact, how he now sees^ we know not ; or who
me^ans^ie^ws^eut ^""^ opened his eyes.xve knoxv not any more than
we know not; or who ^^ ^^^ told US, not being present when the cure
hathopenedhiseyes, was wrought : he is himself of2i sufficient age
we know not : he is to answer such a question ; if you please there-
shaFspe^ak for^hinT- ^^^^ ^^ ^'^^ ^^^"^ ^^ ^^^^ undoubtedly speak con-
self. ceming himself and is best able to tell you his
own story.
22 These words These things his parents said in this cautious 22
spake his P-yents manner, not that they had any doubt of the cure
the Jews : for the ^^ wrought by Jesus, but because they xvere
Jews had agreed afraid of the Jews : for the Jews^ in this their
ah-eady, that if any highest court, had already agreed, that if anu
man did confess that ^^^ „;,^,.;» „i^ i i*^ t r kt ^
he was Christ, he ^^^ f°^^^^ ^hew such regard to Jesus of Naz-
should be put out of areth as to confess him to be Christy he should
the synagojf ue. immediately be excommunicated and cast
out of the synagogue ;• a censure which was
reckoned very infamous, and attended with
23 Therefore said many civil incapacities and penalties. Not 23
his parents. He is of knowing therefore but such an interpretation
age, as im. might be put on their owning the truth of this
miracle, his parents declined giving any par-
ticular testimony concerning it ; and rather
chose to refer them to their son, and said^ He
is of age sufficient to be heard as an evidence,
and it will therefore be most proper that you
should aii the particulars from him,
IMPROVEMENT.
Oh that the zeal of our great Master might quicken us his too ver. 5
negligent servants ! Still is he the light of the xvorld, by his
doctrines, precepts, and example. May our eyes by Divine grace
' If any one should confess him to be Christ, acter. It also farther appears from hence,
fee] Hence it appears, that though our th^t the parents, and indited the sanhedriniy
ior/was cautious of professing himself to knew iu ho it luas that opened tliis man's
he the Christ in express terms, yet many e>es, thougli he himself was hitherto a
understood the intimations he gave ; and stranger to him, and was not vet acquaint-
that most of A/i- disciples by tins time de- ed with the dignity of his person. Corn-
glared their faith in him under that clur- pare ter. 25, 36.
198 Reflections on the cure of him that was born blind.
SECT, be opened to see, and our hearts be disposed to love and to fol* .
cxxx. iQ^y ti^is light ! It was a governing maxim with him, and he
meant it also for our admonition, I must work the works of him
^*^* that sent me while it is day ; the night cometh^ wherein no man.
can work. We are sent into the world on an important errand,
to xvork out our oxvn sahation^ and that of others : may we im-
prove the present day ; and so much the rather, as we see the
7iight approaching ! On some the shadows of the evening are
already drawing on ; and as to others, their sun may go dotun at
noon. Let us therefore, waving thf^ curiosity of unprofitable
2 3 speculations, apply ourselves seriously to the business of life, and
zealouslv seize every opportunity of usefulness.
6, 7— Our Lord^ as it should seem unasked^ and by the person on
whom it was wrought unknozvn^ performed this important and
extraordinary cure. And the maymer in which he did it is
worthv of notice : He anointed his eyes with clay^ and then com-
manded him to zvash. Clay laid on the eyelids might almost
blind a man that had sight ; but what could it do towards curing
blindness ? It reminds us that God is no farther from the ac-
complishment of any purpose or event when he works with^th^n
without 7neans ; and that all the creatures are only that which his
almighty operation makes them.
i— ? The blind man believed, and received the immediate benefit
of it. Had he reasoned like Naaman^ on the impropriety of the
means^ he had justly been left in darkness. Lord, may our
proud hearts be subdued to the methods of thy recovering
grace ! And may we leave it to thee to choose how thou wilt
bestow favours, which it is our highest interest on any terms to
receive.
\s,\7 It must be a satisfaction to every true Christian to observe
iS, 19 the curiosity and exactness with which these Pharisees inquired
into the 7niracles of Christy and how thoroughly they canvassed
every circumstance of them. A truth like this need not fear any
examination. Every new witness which they heard confirmed
the case, and confounded the obstinacy of their unbelief. But
surely the weakness of the parents was very pitiable, who, in the
midst of the evidence and obligation of such a miracle, were
g0-:3 moreq/rr/i^'of incurring a human sentence than of oflfendingGod,
bv failing to own so great a favour, and to confess the blessed
Person by whom it was wrought. The fear of man bringeth a
snare (Prov. xxix. 25) ; but they whose eyes Christ has opened
in a spiritual sense will see a glor}^ and excellence in him which
wdll animate them boldly to bear their testimony to him, in de-
fiance of all the censures which men can pass, or of all the pen-
alties by which ihey can enforce them.
The man is called again before the sanhedrim* 19#
SECT, cxxxr.
*The man who xvas born blind that had received his sight is a second
time examined before the sanhedrim^ xvho^ provoked by the free"
dom of his replies^ excommwiicate him; but Jems meets him^ and
declares himsef to be the Son of God. John IX. 24 — 38.
THEN a^ain XTOW, as the sanhedrim were not able to sect,
called they cie J^^ j-
John IX. 21. JOHN IX. 24.
\ as the sanhedrim v
^ „ ^ , , , _ , V*. -.cover an/ friud in the miracle men- cxxxi^
niiii that was blind, . , . , ,. . , . . .,
and said unto him, tioned in tlie precedmg section by examining
Give God the praise: the parents, they therefore called a second time -^^ ^4,
mn'i'sa'Iinner ^^'''/^'' ^^^^ "^'^'^ ^''^^ ^^"^ ^^^^^ ^^^'^^' ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^
Give glory to God^ by a free confession of the
fraud, if there be any collusion or artifice in.
this affair;* or, if the cure was really wrought
in the manner thou affirmest, acknowledge
the power, sovereignty, and goodness, of the
Divine Being in working by so unworthy an
instrument ; for ive certainly knoxv that this
Jesus of Nazareth, the man of whom thou
speakest, is a profligate sinner^ and deserves
public punishment rather than esteem.
25 He answered Then answered he and said ^ If he be a sinner ^2B
and said, Whether I knoxv not any thing of it, having no personal
he be a sinner, or ?zo, acquaintance with him ; but one thing /cer-
thing- r know, that tainly knoiv^ and will stand to the truth of it,
whereas I was blind, that xvhereas I xvas blind^ even from my birth,
ROW I see. Inoxv see perfectly well, and owe my sight to
the very person whom you condemn.
« Gi've glory to God) by a free confession *> This man is a sinner.'] I cannot, with
of the fraud, &c.] As it is greatly for the Mr. Loch (Reasonableness of Christianity^
honour of the Divine omniscience and p. 28), imagine this any proof of a frai/zf/o/:
providence that persons who are guilty of among the Jews that the Messiah should
crimes not fully proved against them be perfectly/reeyrom */«/ but rarher con-
sliould freely confess them, and not pre- elude that j;«?;er here, as ver. 16, signifies
sume, against the dictates of conscience, a notoriously viickedman. It was certain,
to maintain their own innocence; there from the principles of their sacred, writ-
is a great propriety in the phrase taken in ings, that a person not entirely sinless might
this sense. (Compare Josh. vii. 19, and perform very illustrious miracles. But
Rev. xi. 13.) Yet some have taken it as how severe an insult was here on the char-
a general adjuration by the glorious name acter of our Redeemer ^ to be pronounced
of God. (As 1 Kings xxii. 16 ; 2 Chron. a kncmn scandalous sinner\iy \\\\%\iv^Q,owvt
xviii. 15 ; and Mat. xxvi. 63.) The words of judicature ! An infamy which has sel-
also admit another sense, which I have dom, in any civilized country, fallen on
comprehended in i\iQ paraphrase i but I any person not legally convicted-
prefer the former.
VOL. 2. 27
200 They are provoked at his replies^
SECT. But they again said to him^ hoping that, In 26 Then said they
exxxi. some minute circumstance at least, he might ^? J^j"* again. What
— ■ contradict his former account, and give them opened "" hT 'thhic
IX. 26 some advantage against him. Tell us once eyes ?
more, as particularly as thou canst, xvliat did he
unto thee P and hozv did he open thine eyes f
27 And as the man perceived that they intended 27 He answered
only to insnare him, he answered them eagerly, tl^em, I have told
J have told you already, and ye have not regarded ^^^^^J^^^l*. ^J^,
what I said, nor would at all believe me : rvhy fore would ye hear /f
would ijou desire to hear it again ? Would you again ? will ye also
also become his disciples, as many have lately ^^ ^^® ^^^^^P^^^'
done, and some, perhaps, on occasion of this
miracle which he has performed on me ?
28 The Pharisees then were filled with indig- 28 Then they re-
nation, and were so greatly exasperated at what ^^ledhim, and said,
appeared to them so insolent a speech, that ^Acz/ ^}^^^ art his disci-
^ '.,,,. . 1-1 7 pie ; but we are
reviled fiim m very opprobrious language, and Moses' disciple*.
said. Thou art indeed this felloxv^s disciple, as
many of the herd of ignorant people are ; but
we would have thee to know that we scorn the
imputation, for we are the disciples of Bloses^
and are too firmly attached to that great and
holy prophet to regard such a deceiver as this.
29 We well know that God spake to Moses ^ and 29 We know that'
gave the most ample evidence of sending him God spake unto Mo-
with a Divine commission : but as for this man, f^^ ' ^^ ^^ *^'^ ^^\'
/ . r 11- low, we know not
xve know not Jrom whence he is^ nor can we from whence he is
perceive any satisfactory credentials of his
bringing any message from God to us.
30 But, not discouraged by their unjust reflec- 30 The man an-
tions, the man replied with a becoming freedom swered and said unto
of spirit, and said unto them, Why, in this re- L^r^'ar^S^'Z^!
spect, it is strange that you know not from whence that ye know not
he is, and yet it is plain that he has opened mine from whence he is,
31 eyes. Now we all know in general that G^^^ ed minel^ef °^^''"
heareth not sinners, and that persons of infa- 31 Now we know
mous characters and immoral lives cannot that God heareth not
« We are the disciples of Moses. '\ Hereby but performed two thousand years before
Ihey craftily, but most maliciously and they were born ; it was much more rea-
falsely, insinuated that there was such an sonable, on their own principles, to be-
opposition between Moses and Jesus, that lieve the mission of Jesus on at least equal
it was impossible for the same persons to miracles, wrought daily among them,
be the disciples of both. when they might in many instances have
been eyewitnesses to the facts ; and one
^ JVeknoio that God spake to Moses."] Their of which, notwithstanding all their malice,
partiality here was inexcusable ; for if they they were here compelled to own, or at
believed the 7nission of Moses, on the evi- least found themselves Utterly unable to
dence of w/rac/«, credibly attestediiideed, disprove.
and excommunicate hintw 201
sinners : but If any expect the divine acceptance in any common sect.
man be a worship- petition which thev offer, much less for the ^^xxi-
Urs'tm^U^'t P-formance of a rniracle -iutif any rnan be —
heareth. truly devout^ and taithtully do his rvzli^ him in- (^ 2i
deeded" heareth with a favourable regard : when
therefore God is found to hear a man in such
an extraordinary instance as this, there seems
the greatest reason to believe he is a person
whose temper and character are approved by
32 Since the world him. And this is plainly an extraordinary 32
beg-an, was it not instance ; iov^from the beginmng of the world
o^entd^hVeyer of ^"^ ^^«* ^«^^^'* ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^V ^^^ Opened the eyes
one that was born of one who^ like me, -was born blind. It is sur-
blind. prising, therefore, that you, who allow that
Moses w^as a prophet, on the authority of his
miracles, should in this case judge so hardly
o^ If this man of my deliverer, whoever he be. But every 33
were not of God, he unprejudiced person may easily see that if this
could do nothing. ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ g^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^ nothing
of this kind.
34 They answered And, not being able to endure so plain and 34
and said unto him, forcible a reproof, w^hich even stung them to
Thou wast aitogeth- ^j^^ j^^^^.^ ^. answered and said to him, with
er born m snis, and . -k \ t,! m
dost thou teach us ? gi"eat hatred and scorn, 1 hou vile presumptu-
And they cast him ous wretch, thou wast entirely born in sins, and
*^"^* didst bring into the world with thee most evi-
dent tokens of Divine wrath and vengeance ;
and dost thou insolently take upon thee to teach
2^5, the guides of the national faith, and members
of the supreme courtof ecclesiasticaljudicature ?
We shall find out a way to correct this arro-
gance. And immediately they cast him out of
the synagogue, passing a solemn sentence of
excommunication upon him, though there was
no shadow of proof that he had deserved it.
35 Jesus heard Now Jesus quickly heard of their arbitrary 3^
that they had cast proceedings, that they had thus passed sentence
him out ; and when q^ the poor man, and had cast him out for his
he said unto him* ^^^^ » and.fnding him sooT\ Sifter, he said to him
Dost thou believe on privately, Dost thou believe on the Son ofGody
the Son of God ? the great expected Messiah ?
36 He answered ^^ answered and said. Sir, who is he, that /gg
and said, Who is he, may believe on him P I know that such a glorious. ' '
Lord, that I might Person is expected ; and if he be already come,
bthe>;e on him ? ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ .^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ j ^^^ ^^^^
with him, and I am ready to express a due regard
to him who shall be pointed out to me under
that honourable and important character^
202 Reflections on the force and prevalence of truth.
SECT. Then Jesus^ to encourage him under what 37 And Jesus said
exxxi. he was now suffering on his account, said ^o ^J^^^^J^^"^' 'f(^"^^*;^^f|
_^__ ,. ., , 9p 1-1 both seen aim, ana
7" him^ With a degree ot freedom which was very it is he that talketk
ix! 37 unusual,* Thou hast no need of going far to with thee,
seek him ; for thou hast both already seen htm^
and had experience of his power and goodness :
it was he that miraculously opened thine eyes,
flW indeed it is even he that is now talking zuith
thee who is that very Person.
3j8 ^72^, immediatelyyielding to that convincing 38 And he said,
arccument which arose from what he had him- Lord, Ibeheve And
Yr ' J ru- 1 • -L.. / . , he worshipped him-
sell experienced or his almighty power, nesaid^ ^
Lord^ I most readily believe that thou art he,
and humbly prostrate myself before thee, to
render thee due homage as such. And^ falling
down at his feet, he worshipped him.
IMPROVEMENT.
vcr. So little does truth fear repeated examinations ; and thus does
24—27 ||.^ after every trial, come forth like pure gold out of the furnace.
So did this miracle of Christ appear to these subtile adversaries ;
so will the Christian cause appear to all who will diligently search
into its evidence.
28, 29 Who can forbear wondering at the obstinacy of these Phari*
sees; and, on the same principles, at that of the present Jews^ who,
while they acknowledge that God spake by 3foses^ because he
wrought miracles^ will not, on the evidence of yet more various
and glorious miracles^^ and those attested beyond all contradic-
tion, acknowledge the authority of the Son of God himstlf ^
30 But we see this poor illiterate creature (for such he undoubt-
edly was), with the advantage of truth on his side, baffles all the
sophistry of his most learned antagonists. Great is the truths and
it will prevail. Great is this truths so fundamental to the gospel,
that Jesus is the Son of God : and this also, which is so important
31 to natural religion and revealed, that Godheareth not sinners ; but
' if any man be a worshipper ofGod^ and do his xvill^ him he hearSy
e With a de^ee of freedom very unu- passed /r/Wfe/y between our XtWand this
sual] We have formerly observed the g-ood man, thou.^h presently after others
wise caution of Jesus on this head. See joined the conversation, as we observe in
«ect. xxix.nofe S Vol. I. p. 173. The free- the beginning- of the 7!exf *ec?/o«.
Horn here used m.ay be accounted for by ' More various and glorious miracles.]
considering the extraordinary circum- A beautiful parallel between the miracles
stances of the case ; this bein^ the first of Moses and Christ is drawn by Orobio
instance in which any one had incurred on the one hand, and Limborch on the
the .great inconveniences attending a sen- other. Limb. Collat. cum Judceo, Scrip, ni.
tence of excommunication out of zeal for ^a:st. 4, N^ 3. p. 131, isf seq. and Resp. ad
the honour of Christ. No doubt this Scrip, iii. p. 151, ^ seq.
Jestts reproves the blindness of the Pharisees, JOa
and most favourably regards. May we be Xrwly devout^ and add sect.
to our devotion an obedient regard to the Divine will, and the ^^^^'
eyes of the Lord will be upon iis^ and his ears be open to our cry / "] TT
(Psal. xxxiv. 15.) Then, being favourably owned of God^ we ^^^"
shall have no reason to fear the censures of men. If thev cast
us out^ Christ will receive us, and perhaps reveal himself to us 35-37
with more freedom^ in proportion to the injuries we sustain
from them.
SECT. CXXXII.
Christ admonishes the Pharisees of their danger ; and represents
himself as the door of the sheepfold through ivhich men must
necessarily enter ^ if they desire their own salvation^ or that of
others committed to their care. John IX. 39, to the end ;
X. 1—10.
John IX. 39. JOHN IX. 39.
A ND Jesus said, TXTHILE Jesus stoodtalking with theblind sect.
-TX For judgment VV man who had received his sight, several cxxxii^
I am come into this , , , . . ^ \
world : that they people, who were then enternig mto the tem- '
which see not, pie, knowing them both, and desirous to hear -^ <^q
inightsee; and that what passed, gathered together about them { ^ '
might \^^ mile ^^^ Jesus said^ so that they all might hear him,
Wind. you ma}' see in this man, and in what has hap-
pened in relation to him, an illustration of the
effects which my appearance is to produce: for
I am come into this world for judgment as well
as mercy j that^ on the one hand, they who see
not^ 77iight see^ or that the ignorant souls, who
are willing to be instructed, might learn Divine
knowledge ; and^ on the other hand, that they
who see^ may be made blind ; that such as are
proudly conceited of their own science and
wisdom may either be humbled or exposed ;
and they who wilfully stand out, and harden
their hearts against my instructions, may bring
upon themselves yet greater darkness.
40 And some of J^^id [.y^w^] of the Pharisees^ zvho xuere then 40
heard these words] bending that he glanced at them, said to him^
and said unto him, Are zve also blind P and dost thou mean to in-
Are we blind also ? sinuate any thing of that kind ? If thou dost,
speak plainly. Now this they said, hoping
thereby to draw him into some dangerous
reflection on the sanhedrim, who had lately
204- He declares himself to he the true Shepherd^
SECT, passed their censure on the man whose eyes
cxxxii. j^^ \^^^ opened.
Jesus said to them^ Ifyouwere indeed blind^ 41 Jesus said un-
and laboured under unavoidable ignorance, z/o?/ [.'J.^j^^^' J^-^f,7^^^
,, , , . . ° • ^ r blind, vesbouldhave
would not then have any sin in comparison oi ^^ ^•^^■. hut now ve
what you now have :^ but nozv you f,ay^ Surely say. We see; there-
we see much more clearly than the rest of man- fore your sin remain,
kind, therefore your sin abides upon you with
greater aggravation ; and this conceit which
you have of your own knowledge hinders con-
viction, and prevents the first entrance of in-
struction into your minds.
John Nevertheless, whether you w^ill hear, or Joh?tX. 1. Ver-
-1 whether you will forbear/ I will for a whUe »^;-rily;^I-y^^^^^^
longer continue my admonitions ; and then;- gth not by the door
fore, verilif ^verily ^ I say unto you who call your- into the sheepfold,
selves the shepherds of the people, Th-Aiheiuho ^'^^ dimbeth up
, r / ■ . ^1 1 . r jj 1 ^ 7- J some other way, the
enters not by the door into the sheepjold^ but climb- g^^^ jg ^ thief 'and a
eth up some other private way^ whatever be the robber,
character he may assume, the same is to be
looked upon as no better than a thief and a rob-
% ber. But he that comes in at the door of the 2 But he that en-
sheepfold is the true shepherd of the sheep; and f^reth in by the door
» -n 1 1 ^ 4. • 1 *u ^ IS the shepherd of
such a one will always choose to enter in by that ^j^^ sheep.
3 which is the regular appointed way. To him^ 3 Tohimthepor-
as soon as he approaches, the doorkeeper opens teropeneth; and the
the fold ; b and the sheep themselves hear his sheep hear his voice.
voice with regard ; and he is well acquainted
« If you ti-'ere indeed bl'nid, you laould not suggested by Sir Isaac Newton, that, as
have any sin, is^c'] Eisner fObserv. Vol. I. these words were spoken near the tempky
p. 326) understands this of corporeal where sheep were kept in folds to be sold
blindness ; as \^ our Lord had said, " It is for sacrifices, Christ here alludes to what
a great aggravation of your perverseness, was peculiar in those folds ,- that, as they
that you Icnow b.y experience the differ- were kept locked, they not only excluded
ence between blindness &nd sight, which the thief, hxxtthe shepherd, uWihe doorkeeper
might convince you of the importance of opened them. (See Neivton on Proph.
such a miracle, and of the Divine power p. 148.) But I cannot think, whatever
by which itis wrought." But the follow- occasion Christ might take from the sight
ing words. But now you say. We see, suit of sheep to represent his.people under that
much better with the sense given in the image, and /»m^e//"as a Shepherd, he would
paraphrase. descv'ihe XhcmYvk^e sheep shut up in a pen X.9
^ The doorkeeper opens the fold.] Gro- be sold for sacrifice ; nor does the shep-
tius docs not attempt the accommodation herd's leading themout, Isfc agree with this
of tiiis circumstance : Mr. Cradock inter- circumstance. In coimtries where there
prets it of the Holy Ghost ; and Dr. Whit- were so many savage beasts it might be
by of God the Father, as giving free admis- ordinarily necessary to have the folds better
sion to those teachers who maintained a jecwrec/ than among us ; and the chief shep-
due regard to Christ : an interpretation herd might often leave a servant to watch
wliich seeras much more reasonable than them while thus shut up, and come hiniself
to referit (as some do) to ministers. It is to lead them out to pasture in a morning-.
tind the door by which rue are to enter in, 205
»nd he calleth his with each of them, insomuch that he ca//s each of sect.
own sheep by name, /lis own sheep by name^^ and leads them out to c^xxu.
and leadeth them pasture. And when he thus puts forth his own — j^
^"4 And when he ^heep from the fold, he himself ^0^6- before them ^" 1^
putteth forth his to guide them to good pastures, and to defend
own sheep, he goeth (]^^^ from any danger which may occur ; and
'heep'SW^him • the sheep cheerfully follow him; for they well
for they know his k?ioxv his voice^ being daily accustomed to it.
voice. But if a stranger come to lead them out, they 5
5 And a stranger ^^^//^^^ /-^//^^^ j^jj^ ^^^ oi^ the contrary, they
will they not tollow, .,; /? r r- 7 ^1 " j
but will flee from Will jiee away Jrom him^ because tliey do not
him : for they know know the voice of strangers,
not the voice of stran- j^/^^^ short parable Jesus spake unto them ; but 6
^^6^' This parable ^^^^If didnot understand what it was that he said
spake Jesus unto to them^ but were quite at a loss to conjecture
them : but they un- his meaning ; though his intent in describing
fhTn^r'^ther were ^"^^ character of the good Shepherd was plainly
which he spake un- to shew how far the Pharisees, who assume
to them. the name, were from answering it ; and to
warn the true sheep, or persons of real integ-
rity and simplicity, of the danger of being
blindly governed and guided by them.
7 Then said Jesus Then Jesus^ to clear up what was most ob- 7
unto theni again, scure in his former discourse, said to them
unTo\'o^^^^^^ V(^rily, verily, I say unto you, and sol-
door of the sheep, emnly assure you, that, however you neglect
me, I aju the door of the sheep^ and it is only
by authority derived from me that the people
8 All that ever of God are to be taught and fed. All that ever 8
came before me are came before me, assuming the Messiah's charac-
ter, or setting up for a despotic authority in the
church, and teaching other methods of salva-
tion than by me,^ are thieves and robbers, per-
* Calls his oKvn sheep by name.'] Dr. must pass (as It were) through him, or by
Hammond justly infers from hence, that his authority, into his office. It is by a
the eastern shepherds, at least those of Ju- simile very near resembUng this that
dea, gave particular navxes to their sheep, Christ elsewhere calls himself the voay.
as most men do to their dogs and hurses. John xiv. 6, sect, clxxiii.
Their custom also was to lead the sheep, ' All that ever came before Tiie, Sec] If
playing on some musical instrument. it could be shewn, by any proper authori-
^ I avi the door, &i,c.'\ It would be very ty, that la-po ijua ever s\gnifies in neglect of
impertinent to run a long' parallel here be- -jjie, or --nrpo d-v^x? passing by a door, 1 should,
tween Christ and a door. The resem- with Eisner (Observ. Vol. I. p. 327), pre-
blance plainly centers in this one circum- fer that rendering to any other : but as
stance ; that as a man must observe and this does not appear, it is evident that the
pass tiirough the door, in order to his muk- words must be understood with the liiiii^
ing a regular and unsuspected entrance tatinn added in the paraphrase ,- for other-
into a sheepfold ; so he must maintain a wise they would imply such a reflection
proper regard to Christ, in order to his on Moses and the prophets as v.'e knov.'
being a Xxmq teacher vi\ the chui-ch, and ©«r Z-trc^ could never intend. Pcrliaps he
206 Rejiections on Christ^ s being the door of the sheep.
SECT, sons of very bad designs, who had no warrant thieves and robbers's
cxxxu. fj.Q^ above for what they did ; and, whatsoever butthe sheep did not
""! their pretences were, their administration has ^^ them,
^ 3 a fatal tendency to make havoc of the souls
they should watch and feed ; but the true sheep ^
or those who are sincere and w^ell disposed
persons, have not heard them^ so as to relish
and regard their doctrine. I therefore repeat
9 it again, as a most important truth. That / 9 I am the door :
myself am the door ; and if any one enter in by ^y ".^e if any man en-
me. and acknowledge mv authority, he shall ''^^ T' ^^, ^^'^l^ ^®
, ,., 1 • -u- r ill r c ^ - saved, and shall eo
be^ hke a sheep m his fold, safe from. the mva- in and out, and find
sion of what might injure and destroy him , pasture.
and shall go in and out under my care and
guidance, and shall still find good pasture ; that
is, in consequence of his regard to me, and
the enjoyment of communion w^ilh me, his
soul shall be fed and nourished with true doc-
trine, and shall obtain substantial happiness.
10 For whereas the thief only comes that he may lo The thief com-
steals and kill^ and destroy ; I am come for the eth not but for to
benefit of all mv sheep, '^Aa^ they may /^^t;^ feal, and to kill, and
,. n 11 11 1 1 .to destroy : I am
true hfe, and that at length they may have 7t come that they might
yet more abundantly /> a most plentiful provi- have life, and that
sion being made for their everlasting comfort ^^^^ might have it
and happiness, even far beyond what has ever "^°'' abundantly.
been known before.
IMPROVEMENT.
John l^£T us hear, with an holy awe on our spirits, that the Lord
'^ ^ y^si^s Christ came into the world for purposes oi judgment as well
as of mercy ; and make it our humble prayer that we may be en-
Ughtenedhy him, and not sealed up under aggravated darkness^
as a punishment for our obstinacy and impenitence ; for then all
the means of knowledge which we have so basely perverted will
rise up to condemn us.
John Let Christ be regarded bv us as the door from whom all true
^' ^ teachers derive their authority, and to whom they direct their
administrations ; and let it be our care that we enter by this door,
luQt mhrioY shepherds\t2iYn their duty, so plainly suggested here;
mtglit refer to such persons as Judas of has made for the future and eternal happt-
Galilee, or Theudas, who had been the i^ess of all his people, seems best to suit
occasion of destruction to their followers, the other parts of this discourse, as well
See Acts v. 36, 37. as the genius of the whole Christian dis-
* That they may have it more abundant- pensation. Perhaps the word .migira-ov
/y.] To refer this latter clause, at least may intimate how much this provision fx^
ultimately, to the provision which Christ ceeded that made by Moses.
Christy as the good Shepherd^ will die for the sheep. 20f
Let them learn to knoxv their sheep^ and take as particular notice sect.
as they can of each single person committed to their care ; and ^^^^i*
let them go before them in all the paths of duty : for what could -
the greatest enemy to the flock do worse than to lead them by ^^^*
example into the paths of destruction ?
Happy souls, w^ho are entered in by this gate ! Their safety, 9
their comfort, is secure ; they enjoy a holy liberty and plenty,
and going in and coming out they find pasture. If we are stran-
gers to that entertainment and refreshment which arises from
ordinances (those green pastures which Christ hath provided for
his sheep in the wilderness), we have a great deal of reason to fear
that w^e belong not to his flock. He came that his sheep might 10
have life^ and that they might have it more abundantly ; that great-
er provision might be made for their instruction and consolation
now, till they are brought to those better pastures he intends for
them above. May his grace prepare us for them ! and his hand
will certainly conduct us to them ; nor need we fear the darkest
passage in our way.
SECT, CXXXIII.
Christ describes himself as the good Shepherd^ who will lay dowu
his life for the sheep. John X. 1 1 — 21.
JohnX. 11. John X. 11.
T AM the good'Y^UR Lord, having thus represented him- sect,
goolXl-ci ,t V self as the door of the sheep, and intimat- cxxxiU.
eth his life for the ^" ^"^ regards to be mamtamed towards him, ""j —
sheep. particularly by those that professed themselves ^ j'i
teachers of others, now changed the similitude,
and said, I may also very properly add, that /
am myself, by way of eminence, the good Shep^
herd,* the Person frequently foretold in scrip-
ture under that character (Isa. xl. 11 ; Ezek. ,
xxxiv. 23 ; xxxvii. 24 ; and Mic. v. 4) ; and I
must fully answer it in all its branch^^s ; espec-
ially in this, that as the good shepherd on occa-
sion layeth down his very life for the defence of •
his sheep^ and will expose himself to any danger
lam the good Shepherd.'] Lamy (in his should be allowed that the \V^ of Isaiah
Marmonpp. 339) very justly supposes that was read in the synagogue at that time of
there might be some allusion here to Isa. the year : for it is certain our Lord does
xl. 11. But nothing can be more preca- not confine himself to the lesson for the dav
nous than the argument he seems to draw m h\s quotatiorut from grcipture, or Us ai-
from hence for placing this discourse at lusigns to H. f ^ > t ♦" «»•
tile /east of tabernaclesy evea tUougb it
VOL. 2. 2S
%.
208 He knows his sheep^ and will gather them into onefold*
SECT, fir their safety (compare 1 Sam. xvii. 34,3?),
cxxxiii. J jjQ^ (jjjiy expose, but sacrifice, my life for the
T^ good of my people.
4° 12 '^^^ hireling indeed^ who is ?iot the true shep- 12 But he that '»
herd, and zvhose own property the sheep are not, f" hireling-, and not
' , . 1 •' c !-• the shepherd, whose
as soon as he is apprehensive ot approaching ^^^ ^j^^ gj^^^p ^^
danger, and sees the wolf, for instance, or some not, seeth the wol^
other savage beast, c<9mi?7P',immediatelvregard- coming, and leaveth
,.°, ,. c ^ ' i" ri thesheep.andfleeth:-
mg nothing but his own safety, is only careful and the wolf catcheth
to secure himself, and leaves the sheep and fees thenn, and scattereth
axvay ; andso the wolf meeting with no resist- the sheep,
ance, seizes on some of them, and disperses the
is rest of the sheep. Now the hireling fees on 13 The hireling
such an occasion, because he is an hireling-, and Aeeth, because he^is
is not concerned about the safety of the sheep, but careth not for the-
takes the work upon him merely for his own sheep.
gain and the wages he is to receive : and thus
basely will those teachers act in a time of dan-
ger who undertake the office merely in regard
to their own secular advantage.
H But lam the good Shepherd, who have a true 14 I am the good
affection for my sheep, and am above the in- Shepherd, and know
fluence of all such mean and selfish views : and EJown of mine ^"^
such is the relation that there is between us,
and such the love we have to one another, that
I know and acknowledge my [sheep^^, and take
the kindest and most tender care of them ; and
I am also known, acknowledged, and confided
15 in, by mine : So that we mutually are dear unto 15 As the Fathef
each other ; and even as the Father knoweth me, knoweth me, even
and owns his affection and regard to me, by ^^«^^^^°7^ j\^^^^^^^^
the sure tokens of his presence and approba- myiifeforthesheepL
tion ; ana J also know, or acknowledge and
honour, the Father, in the delight with which
I do his will ; so the affection is reciprocal be-
tween me and my sheep : andsis it is in love to
them, as well as with an ultimate view to his
appointment and his glory, that I lay down my
life for the sheep he has given me, so also do
my sheep acknowledge and confide in me, and
so do I protect and patronize them.
i6 ^n^ I would farther observe to you, as a point 16And other sheep
o{^YQ^tim^on2incQ,t\i2X I have other sheepwhich ^ have, which are
are not ofthisfold^ (meaning thereby the elect "°^ ^^ ^^'^ ^""^"^ '
* I have other eheep which are not of this Wolfius, to understand this of Jews liv-
fild.'} There seems no reason, with ing out of the land of Canaan? who coul*
The Jews are a^ain divided in their sentiments about him, 209
them also I must of God among the Gentiles) ; them also must I sect.
bring, and they si. all ^t length bring in ; and I know that they it'zV/ cxxxiii.
IheTe^sVaf be- Tne l^^"'' -"^ "bey my voice, notwithstanding that —
fold, and one Shep- ignorance, vice, and misery, m which they are ^ ^^
lierd. now involved ; and so, all being incorporated
into one society, of which 1 am the Head, the
Governor, and Guardian, there shall be one
sheepfold^ [rtw^] one Shepherd,
17 Thereforedoth And/or this reason more especially does the 17
my Father love me, Patfier love me^ and approves it as an act of
mTufeTthaU mig'ht eminent duty and love to him, because I am
take it'again. come with this design into the world, to lay
down my life for the redemption of my sheep,
who are dear to him as well as to me, that L
may take it again, and possess it forever, to be
employed for his glory and for the happiness
18 Nomantaketh of my people. For though I am shortly to 18
ttfromme butllay ^ig bv the hands of most cruel enemies,
it down of inyselt : •' , . p ,.r . j •.
I have power to lay vet no one deprives me ot my lite, or takes it
it down, and 1 have y)-om 772^ against my will; for I have every
power to take it moment a power to rescue myself at pleasure,
Smen^'have""" ^nd could even with mine expiring breath com-
received of my Fa- mand immediate deliverance ; but 1 will maii-
ther. ifestly shew that / lay it down of myself and
voluntarily relinquish my body, sooner than
my soul would in a course of nature have been
dislodged from it :<= and this in me will be a
very regular, though wonderful act ; for, as I
have life in mvself (John v. 26), / have full
power and authority thus to lay it down when I
shall think fit ,^ and I have also power to resume
it at pleasure, by entering into and quickening
my bodv again. And indeed this command'
ment I have received of my Father, and shall ere
long fulfil the charge in both its branches.
not with such propriety be said not to be- reasonably so much impressed. See
long to the fold of Israel. The incorpo- Luke xxiii. 46, 47, and Mark xv. 39,
rating- the Gentiles into one church with the sect. cxci.
Jews was indeed a grand event, worthy ^ Full poi\}er and authority to lay it
such particular notice : and it deserves doviUy &.C.] This the word i^avtttv ex-
our remark, that they are here called the presses, and the manner of Chrkt^s death
sheep of Christy even while they were yet abundantly proved it ; and as no reasona-
in ignorance and idolatry, as he intended ble objection can be made to the equity
at length to bring them home. and wisdom of the Divine Being in giving-
c Voluntarily relinquish my body, Ijfc.'] Christ such a ponuery so tlie use he made
That our Lord did so, evidently appeared of it (as we may farther shew elsewhere)
from the jfron^ crj; he sent forth just before is truly admirable. See no?e ^ on duke
l>is death, with which the centurion was xxiii. 46, sect exci.
210 Refections on the Care of Christ for his sheep.
Sect. When our Lord uttered these remarkable 19 There was a
©xxxni. expressions there was a division therefore a^ain ^'vision therefore
— amon^ the yew., (as there had been before. Jf^^ .^J^^J^ ,^^!
J ig chap. vii. 43, sect. ci. and ix. 16, sect, cxxx.) ings.
20 esptcmWv on account of these last tvords. And 20 And many of
ma?itf of the?n said, He has certainly a demon them said, He hath
dwelling in him, and.hy the operation of that tyhyViearye'him^? '
evil spirit, is apparently distracted with one of
the most malignant kinds of lunacy ; whij then
do you give yourselves the trouble to hear htm
while he goes on in such extravagant absurdi-
21 ties ? But others much more rationally said, 21 Others said.
These are not by any means the words of a demo- These are not the
niac, or a lunatic ; for there is the greatest con- ^^°/j^ ^^ devilTcan^
sistence and energy in them : and besides, could devil open the eye«
a demon that made a m':! mad open the eyes ^s/' of the blind \
the blind, as it is plain this man has often and
very lately done t It is rather madness to im-
agine that an evil ?^pirit has such power, or that
he would employ it to such benevolent purposes.
IMPROVEMENT,
ver.20 There is not, perhaps, any where to be found a greater
instance of the force oi prejudice than in these perverse Jews^
who censured Christ as a lunatic and a demoniac for one of the
gravest and most excellent speeches that was ever delivered.
Let us review it with all due attention and regard.
1 1 Let us consider Christ as the good Shepherd, and humbly com-
mit our souls to him, as ever we desire they should be safe and
happy. We have known his kind regards to the flock in expos-
15 ing and laying- doxun his life for them. And he hath not laid it
down in vain. Delightful thought ! Our compassionate Shep'
herd, even when the sword of the Lord was awakened to smite
him, has not so fallen as to rise no more ; but as in this great and
18 good work he voluntarily laid down, so he has also reassumed
his life ; and still bears on his heart the same concern for his
flock, and uses his renewed life and exalted dignity for their
security and happiness.
15 Let us humbly acknozvledge him as acknowledged by the Father:
let us courageously and gratefully own him, and be ready to lay
down our lives 2\sofor hi?n. We are those other sheep, oi whom
16 he spake, who were not origmaWy of the fold, but by his grace are
now brought in to the great Shepherd aiid Bishop of souls. Let us
pray that the boundaries of his fold may be still more extended,
and the whole number of his elect accomplished ; that all the flock
may at length appear together, and may be conducted by him to
the regions of that immortal life which he determines to give it.
He preaches at the feast of dedication in Solomon's porch, 211
In the mean time let us maintain all proper regards to him, sect.
and especially the most cheerful confidence in his care ; repeat- cxxxiii.
ing with evangelical views, and so with a peculiar sublimity of
sense, those words of David as our own (Psal. xxiii. 1 — 4), ^'^^' ^^
The Lord is my Shepherd^ I shall not want: he maketh me to lie
down in green pastures ; he leadeth me beside the still xvaters : he
restoreth my soul : he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for
his 7ia?ne's sake: yea, though I xvalk through the valley of the
shadow of death, Ixvillfear no evil^for thou art ivith me; thy rod
and thy staff] they covfort me.
SECT. CXXXIY.
Christ, discoursing of his wiion xvith the Father, is charged xvith
blasphemy ; and, being assaulted by the Jews^ retires beyond
Jordan, John X. 22, to the end,
John X. 22. . J^HN X. 22.
AN D it was at \f^^'^ ^^ wi^Y ^^ proper to obser\^e, that the skc r.
Jerusalem the i-V x\vaQ when these discourses were deliver- cxxxiw.
feast of the dedica-^ hj our "Lord XV as the feast of dedication,^ -—
tion, and It was win- I j^cv*^ /• -i John
Igr. which was obser\"ed at Jerusalem m memorial ^ c^
of the purification of the temple after it had
been polluted by the idolatries and impieties of
Antiochus ; and consequently it xvas xvinter,
23 And Jesus And, to shelter himself from the inclemencies 23
walked in the tem- of the weather, Jesus xvas then xvalking in the
^orch''' ^''^''°'°'''* covered walk that went round the temple, and
^^^ ' was now in that part of it which was called
Solomon^s porch^
a Tht feast of dedication^] As it is ex- ^ Solomon's porch.'] Josephus informs u»
pressly said this feast was in xmnter, it is fAntiq. lib. viii. cap. 3 (al. 2), § 2, 9, and
plain it could not be observed in remem- lib. xx. cap. 9 (al. 8), § 7) that Solomon,
brance of the dedication of Solomon's temple, when he built the temple (finding the area
which was just after har'cest (1 Kings viii. of Moiwt Siontoo small to answer his mag-
2) ; nor ofthatof Nehemiah's, which was nificent plan), filled up a part of the adja-
in the spring (Ezra vi. 15, 16) ; but the cent valley, and built an outward portico
feast here intended must be that instituted over it towards the east. This was a most
by Judas Maccabeus on his having puri- noble structure, supported by a wall 40d
fled the temple and altar from the pollu- cubits high, and consisting of stones of a
tions and idolatries of Antiochus Epi- vast bulk, each stone (as it is said) beings
phanes. This was celebrated every year twenty cubits long and six cubits high,
for eight dayssuccessively, in the month of And j'osephus speaks of it as continuing
December (1 Mac. iv. 52,' 59) ; and is men- even to the time of Albinus and Agrippa,
tioned by Josephus as a festival to which which was several years after the death of
great regard was paid in his time. See Christ. This is called Solomon's porchy
'Joseph. Antiq. lib, xii. cap. 7 (al. 11), § 6, Acts iii- 11, and v. 12.,
7, and Sdden. de Syned. lib. iii. cap. 13, $ 7.
212 He asserts that He and the Father are one*
SECT. Then several oithe Jews surrounded him ^ and 24 Then came the.
exxxiv. said unto him^ How long dost thou hold us in an Jews round about
anxious and Mnt^.y suspense? If thou art m.'^^^^ Sl'longdolt
deed the Messiah^ tell us so plainlif and express- thou make us to
ly : which they said with a malicious design to ^oubt ? If thou be
insnare and accuse him. ^tinlv^"'^' ^^^^ ""^
25 And Jesus answered them^ I have \n effect 25 Jesus answer-
told you over and over,^ yet you believe me not ; ed them, I told you,
and," had I offered nothing more, the wof/^* ^"^ ^^ ^,^^^7^^ Ti '
1 ' t T J ' T^ J.I •> rr ' 1 the works that I do
which I do tn^ my lathers natrie sufficiently j^j^^.F^^her's name,
declare it, as it is clearly to be seen that they they bear witness, of
bear witness of me m a language which you ^^'
would easily understand if you were to judge .
26 impartially. But you do not believe^ because you 26 But ye believe
crrenot persons of such simplicity and sincer- "^* ; because ye are
ity as I described under the character of my j g^id u^to you.^'
sheep. For, as I said unto you but just now
27 (ver. 4, 14, 16), My sheep hear my voice^ and I 27 My sheep hear
know and take care of them; and they^ \-^\^Qmy\o\ce,a.r\A\]^r\ovt
sheep accustomed to their shepherd, acknowl- [Jl^J'^^e!'"'^ ^^^^
28 edge and follow me. And the consequence of 28 And I give un-
that will be such as would make it well worth to them eternal life,
your while to lay aside all these prejudices, and ^^^ they shall never
-'.. ' ^ ^ ^ r r • "^ i • pcnsh, neither shall
to jom with them : tor / give unto them an m- ^ny pluck them out
valuable blessing, even eternal life ; and guard of my hand,
them with such almighty power and constant
care, that they shall never perish^ neither shall
any enemy, be he ever so subtle, or ever so
outrageous, be able to pluck thetn out of my
hand^^ or injure them while they remain in it.
29 Nor indeed is it possible that any should ; for 29 My Father,
my Father^ who gave [them"] to me on purpose which gave f/zew me,
that I miffht redeem and save them, is confess- ^''' peater than all :
„ ° , ,, r 1 r 1 and none is able to
ediy greater than all ; ana thereiore they must piuck them out of
needs be safe, as none is able to pluck [them] my Father's hand.
30 out of my Father^s hand. Now it is a most 30 I and my Fa-
certain truth that / and the Father ^r^ ther are one.
* 7 Acrre in effect foWj/ow over and over.] ^ Neither shall any enemy pluck themy
What he had just been saying of himself, &c.] This is the plain import and energy
in the preceding xerses^ as the great Shep- of the original (hk ctpTrtta-ii Tic acvlct), which
herd, was in sense equivalent to a declara- is greatly enervated by adding the word
tion of his being the Messiah. I mention man in tlie translation, as the authors of our
that discourse as what had just been de- English version have frequently done,
livered, because I think it most natural to (Compare Mat xi. 27 ; Mark xiii. 5 ; and
explain the 22d verse as referring to what Jam. i. 13.) The sheep of Christ are ex-
was said before, and not merely to what posed to so great danger from the in-
foUows : for else the evangelist v;o\]Xd prob- femal lion (1 Pet. v. 8), that I doubt not
ably have said, After these things lijas the but this text most eminently refers to the
feast of dedication. Compare John v. I ; care of their Shepherd to gunrd them fr«OT
vi. 4 ; and vii. 1, 2. his assaults.
They are about to stone him, as making himself God. 213
one;^ and the union between us is so strict and sect.
intimate, in nature as well as in affection and cxxxiv.
design, that his almighty power is mine, to be , j^^
employed for the defence of my sheep ; and no x. 30
one can deprive them of eternal life without
prevailing against him as well as me.
31 Then the Jews '-^-^^^ ^^^ J^'^^s^ transported with rage, took 31
took up stones again Up some of the stones which lay in the court
to stone him. of the temple, where they were still repairing
some of the buildings, and armed themselves
with them again, as they had formerly done
(John viii. 59, p. 79), in order to stone him,
32 Jesus answered ^^^ Jesus, with his usual mildness and 32
them, Many good s\.YQV\^\hoi YQ2LSon^ansiveredthem^ I have shelved
works have I shew- you many good works from my Father ; and y^r
Flthe^; for'^whi^h ^^'^'^'^ of these works do you go about to stone
of tliose works do ^^ ^ or what have I ever done among you but
ye stone me I acts of beneficence and kindness ?
33 The Jews an- ^^^^ J^^^ r^P¥^^-> said unto him, Whatever 33
sweredhim, saying, thy Other works have been, it is very apparent,
For a good work we from what has just now passed, that zue do not
forblarLm^ ' and ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^ ^°°^ '^^^^^ ^"^ f°^ ^^^ ^"^^^
because^ that^'thmi, detestable blasphemy ; even because thou., being
being a man, mak- only a wretched, mortal, sinful man, makest
est thyself God. thyself God ; pretending to be one with him in
so extraordinary a manner, that his omnipo-
tence and other divine perfections are thine,
, Jesus^ not judging it proper at that time to 34
34 Jesus answered , y ^v i ^ j^ • r u- ta •
them. Is it not writ- '^^^^S the sublime doctrme of his Deity into
ten in your law, 1 fsLVtherdehsite, answered theni^ Is it not written
«aid. Ye are gods ? in your law, or in those sacred books which you
own to be of Divine original (Psal. Ixxxii. 6),
where it is plain the persons that are spoken
of are princes and magistrates, " / have said^
Te are gods ; and all of you are children of the
35 If he called Most High ?" Now if the Psalmist thus ap- 25
them gods, unto pUed this character, and it appears he called
God"iame, Ind^the ^^^^^ S°^^'> ^^ ^hom the word ojTGod then came,^
« land the Father are one.'] If we attend, by considering how flagrantly absurd and
j\ot only to the obvious meaning of these blasphemous it would be to draw that In-
words in comparison with other passages ference from their union ivith God wliich
of Scripture, but to the connection of this Christ does from his.
celebrated text, it so plainlydemonstrates f To whom the ivordofGod ca^ne ] I ap-
the Deity of our blessed Redeemer, that prchend the coming of the viord of God tv
I think it may be left to speak for itself, thevi which is here mentioned refers to
without any laboured comment. How the ^ne^jo^-e then delivered to them in the
widely different that sense is in which name of God, rather than, in the general.
Christians are said to be one viith God to their receiving a com7n/j*/o« from him ^
CJghA xvii. 21), will sufficiently appear bu^ the- diffei-ence is not yejy joaterial
214 3fagktrat€S bei?tg called gods^ much more may he claim the titl§^
SECT, merely with regard to that office which by scripture cannot be
cxxxiv. Divine designation they bore {^^/z^ certainly ^^'^ken :
TT the scripture cannot be broken^ nor can you,
%!s5 with any shew of reason, pretend to censure
36 the propriety of those expressions which a di-
vinely inspired writer has used) ; How is it 36 Say ye ofhlm^
then that you are so offended now ? or how do whom the Father
you pretend to say concerning hhn whom ^^^ "^^h sanctified, and
Father hath so solemnly sanctified^ or set apart Thou blasphemest ;
to this great work in his eternal counsels, and because I said, I am
whom he at length has sent into the world under ^^^^ ^^^"^ ®^ ^°^ ^
such an exalted character, Thou blasphemest ;
because I said^ lam the Son of God? when you
allow there is a sense in which even oppressive
magistrates may be honoured with such atitle.s
37 And when I claim this character, and speak 37 If I do not the
so high of myself, I do not expect to be cred- works of my Father,
ited merely on mv own affirmation : if I do not ^ ^^^ ^^^ "°^'
the works of my Father^ such glorious works as
could not be performed by any but a Divine
38 agent, believe me not. But if\t be apparent 38 But if I do,
that I do such works, though you believe not fne, though ye believe
and are regardless of mv own testimonv in the "°^ me, believe the
o •" - works : that ve ^n^"
case, yet at least believe the mighty works that know and bel
may
ieve
I perform ; and let the evidence of these that the Father is in
remove the prejudices you have entertained, "^^' ^^^ ^ in him.
that ye inay knoxv and believe that the Father
[i.s] in me^ and I in him^ by such a union as
abundantly justifies the expression whichseems
to give you such peculiar offence.
39 Then^ though they knew not what to answer 39 Therefore they
him, the Jews v/ere so enraged against him, sought again to take
s When you allow — magistrates, Sjt'c] that name would intimate that he was a
A late learned and pious paraparast ap- n//>?ci^/ person ; the consequences of which
prebends that oj^r Zort/ here vindicates lam sure that worthy writer would abhor,
his claim to supreme divinity by pleading (Compare 2 Cor. iv. 4 ) I think myself
that the yeiywA rw/crj diVe called gods, not therefore obliged to acquiesce in that plain
in a general regard to their office as rul- ai\d natural sense of the passage which the
ers, but as types of the Messiah, the great generality of commentators, both ancient
Sovereign of the church; who (as it is ex- and modern, have given. Jesus was charg-
pressedatthe close of this Xx^'sW'^ psalni) ed here by the Jews with ascribing c/zw^z/^j^
was to inherit all Jiaticns. But not to urge to his human nature ; and, in reply to this,
that it seems improbable that swc\\ K'cicked he shews that calling himself the Son of
onagistrates as are there spoken of should God did not imply that ; and that his ivorks
be described as tvpes of Christ, this expli- proved such an union of the human nature
cation seems to imply, that every person with tlie Divi?ie, as he had before assert-
whose office was typical of the Messiah ed, than which no answer could have
might be called a god ,• and, on the other been more wise and pertinent,
hand, that a creature's being called by
He escapes from the Jews^ and goes beyond y or dan, 2XS
kim; but he escaped that they sought again to seize him^ that they sect.
out of their hand, might accuse him of blasphemy before the san- cxxxir.
hedrim : but he withdrew himself, as he had J~*
done before, in an extraordinary manner, and ^^
so escaped out of their hands, (Compare Luke
iv. 30, sect, xxxii. and John viii. 59, sect, cv.)
40 And went again And presently departing from Jerusalem, he 40
beyond Jordan, nito xuent away again into the country beyond for-
the place where John ^^ ^^ the place C2i\led Bethabara, where (as it
at first baptized; and J ji r r ^^ • «^ tr t t
there he abode. has been observed before, John i. 28, Vol I, p.
125) jfohn was at first baptizing ; and there he
abode for a while, till the fury of the multitude
41 And many re- was a little abated. And many of the inhabit- 41
sorted unto him, and ants of that place who had been formerly ac-
said, Johndidnomir- q^ainted with the Baptist, and remembered the
that John %ake" of strong and repeated testimonies which he had
this man were true, borne to Jesus, came to him there, to attend up-
on his preaching, and said among themselves,
John indeed did no miracle himself, but he fore-
told extraordinary things of another ; and we
now find that all the things which yohn said of
this man were exactly true^ which is a Divine
attestation to the mission and authority of both,
42 And many be- And many of them believed on him there^ and 42
lieved on him there, happily improved this little season of his recess
among them, as the means of their instruction
and establishment in piety.
IMPROVEMENT.
It is worthy of remark, that we here see our Lord yesus at a ver.23
festival^ appointed only by human authority, in commemoration
of a national deliverance. He came from Galilee to observe it
in the temple, though it xvas winter ; and brought with him, as
at all times, a heart glowing with the most ardent and amiable
zeal for the honour of God and the salvation of men, even of
those who were studying to insnare and destroy him.
What prudence, mingled with spirit and sweetness, runs 24,25
through his answers to them ! What inestimable blessings does
he propose, to invite them to enter into his fold! May we never
forget those gracious words ! May we ever be entitled to all
the comfort of them ! I give unto my sheep eternal life ; and they 28
shall never perish^ neither shall any pluck them out of my hand.
Lord, may we be found in the number of those secure and hap-
py souls, even of those who know thee^ and who obey thy voice^ 27
and follow thee^ whithersoever thou leadest them, by thine ex-
ample, thy providence, and thy Spirit ! Then may we look on
VOL. 2 29
216 I^ejfectzons on our safety under the care of Christ.
SECT, our eternal life and happiness as inviolably secure. Safely indeed
«xxxiv. jj^gy ^^g trust it in his hands -who could say, in so sublime and
7 so glorious a sense, I and the Father ore one. The enemies of
5K 20 "^^ salvation must triumph then over omnipotence itself before
they can wrest the sheep of Christ out of his hands ; nor will his
fidelity to God, or his love to them, suffer them to be seduced
hy frauds any more than destroyed by violence.
Blessed situation of thy little'fiock I O thou faithful, thou com-
passionate, thou Almighty Shepherd^ gather thou our souls with
theirs ; and never suffer us to forget of how great importance it
is that we still continue near thee, that we look up to thee for
our defence and safety, and confide, not in our own power and
wisdom, but in thine !
31 Who could have imagined that any heart could have been so
base as to have intended evil, or any hands so cruel as to have
armed themselves with instruments of death against such a Per^
son^ while speaking such words as these ? Yet behold, these
Jexus do it ; and that even in so sacred a place as the temple itself;
as the genuine offspring of those who slew the prophet and priest
32 of the Lord^ even at his altar. (Compare Mat. xxiii. 31, 35,
and Luke xi. 48, 51.) But his wise and gentle reply disarmed
them for a few months ; and the Divine care and power in an
39 extraordinary manner provided for his escape^ and once more
rescued him from their murderous hands.
40 Happy the inhabitants of the country about Jordan to which
he retired ! especially happy, in that thev knexv the day of their
41,42 visitation ! The testimony o£ jfohn the Baptist is now recollect-
ed to excellent purposes, though he himself was mouldering in
his tomb : nor is there any thing which a faithful minister will
more earnestly desire than that, even rvhile dead^ he may yet
speak^ for the honour of Christ and the salvation of souls.
SECT. CXXXV.
Christ declares against divorces^ except in the case of adultery^ and
adds some other particulars relating to the married state. Mat.
XIX. 1—12. Mark X. 1— -12.
Mat. XIX. I. Mat. XIX. 1.
^**^* A ND, after the instructions that were given A ND it came to
exxxv. 2\ by o^^j. Loj,ji tQ his disciples at Caper- -^ pass, that when
■ / 1 • 1 J J u r ^ Jesus had fimshecl
j^^^ naum, (which were recorded above from sect. •'
six. 1 xciii. to cxvi.) it cams to pass that when Jesus
Multitudes follow Christy and he preaches to them* 217
Oiese savings, he had finished these discourses^^ he arose from sect.
Urosejvomxhenceyf hence, [and] departed from Galilee, where he c'^^^-
t^:!^ clTe had dweh so long, and through which he had —
into the coasts of made such repeated journies. And after he jj^^ j_
Judea, beyond Jor- had first been up at Jerusalem (as was before
da^ [Mark X. j-eiated, John vii. 10, p. 44), and several other
things had happened, which have already been
considered in their proper place, he came at
length (as was observed in the last section,
John X. 40) i?2to the borders of Judea, beyond
Jordan^ where he spent some of the winter
months, crossing the river as he saw occa-
2 And great mul- sion. And his arrival was no sooner 2
titudes followed known, hxiX great multitudes followed him from
ple'resort umohlm'allthe neighbouring parts ; and, particularly,
again ; and as he the people who had seen him formerly at Beth-
was wont, he taught abara resorted to him again (as was said John
t':^.l^tlt^:> ^l)/' ""f^ occo'-dmgto his u.n^\ custom he
{Mark X. 1.] readily embraced the opportunity oi preaching
to them, and taught thetn there again, as he
had clone elsewhere ; and as thev brought many
sick persons to him, he healed them all there }
which could not but increase the throng.
3 The Pharisees And the Pharisees, w ho always had a watch- 8
ful eye on his motions, and attended him with
the most malignant designs, being now more
especially irritated by the fame of his late
miracles, which they had in vain endeavoured
^ T/henyesxis had finished these discoinses."^ weeks in the journey. Compare ««ftf ♦,
The passages which Matthew and Mark on Luke ii. 39, Vol. I. p. 77.
have mentioned immediately before they ^ Beyond yordan.'] Mark has expressed
introduce tliis story, are those discourses this with some little variation, S^i*. tis «r«^av
on humility and forgiveness of injuries Tn'^c^S'ctyii, by the farther side of yordan ; ov,
which have been considered above, from as the learned Beza, and some other cm/w
sect, xciii to xcvi. And I have some- choose to render it, o;? f^e ^a/z^.yo/'^orc/a/j,'
times been inclined to think that this and and this may seem to be more suitable to
the next following sections might have what is said of Christ's cotning to the coast
been introduced there^ as previous to that ofyudea ; which was bounded by Jordan,
Jeast nf tabernacles which we have so often and had no coasts beyond it. But it appears
mentioned. But most harmonizers, with- from John x. 40, that Bethabara^ nxihert
out any scruple or apology, place them yohnat first baptized {\cA\x\\. 2^) i•w^s^^\t.
here, being determined, I suppose, by the place to which our Lord removed, which
close connection between the passages was undoubtedly Z»e>'onc/ ^orJan, and over
that are here related, and those events against Jericho. (Compare Josh. iii. 16,
that follow them, which happened but a and Jud. vii. 24.) And this was so near
very little while before Christ's death. It to the coasts of yudea that we might very
is of very little importance to us, whether well retain the usual version, and take th«
these discourses were delivered now or a phrase as Matthew hath expressed it;
few months before. However, he might especially as it is probable that Jesus, dur-
truly be said to arise frorti Galiiee, and ing his abode in these parts, might often
come into these parts, though he took a cross the river, and pass from Bethabara
considerable compass, and spent several to Judea, which lay on the opposite side
SI 8 The Pharisees tempt him with a question about divorce,
SECT, to suppress (see John vii. 32, 4r, and ix. 16,24), also came unto him,
cxxxv. came hither also to him, with the view of getting f,7Ji"^>r tng
•— - some advantage over him,bv tempting' him with ^^^^^ ^^^^ j^' -^^ i^w-
•\ what they thought a very artful and insnaring ful for a man to put
^''* question': g?2^, that they might, if possible, away his wife for^ev-
entangle him in his talk so as to find some rea- x.^2.T^^
son to accuse him, or to discredit him at least
among the people, they asked him, saying unto
him. What thinkest thou. Master, Is it latvful
for a man to dismiss his wife for every slight cause
of dislike which may be found in her ?« or is
adultery the only just reason for a divorce ?
4 And he said to them in reply. Have ye not 4 And he r.nswer-
read, (Gen. i. 2r) that God, the almighty and tjfn^e.^tl
allwise Creator, Jrom the very beginning oj the ^ead, that [God], he
creation, when he would not fail to constitute which made them,
human nature in such a way as might be Cf^'on; the be£nnm^
most conducive to its happiness, in lorming ^^^^^^ them male and
the first parents of mankind, made them male female \ [Mark. X.
and female, or one man and one woman ? 6.]
which would neither allow of divorce or
5 poh'gamy. And do you not remember 5 And said. For
that when the woman was at first brought to
him, the man said, as taught by an extraordi-
nary revelation concerning the ends and obli-
gations of marriage, which therefore may in
effect be looked upon as a Divine testimony ,<^
*'' For this cause^ or on account of his engaging
« To dismiss his 'ivifefor every cause.'] It generally prevailed ; and the Phari.seeii
is well known that there was a debate concluding- Christ would, as he had done
between the ancient rabbies (perhaps as before, declare against divorces for trivial
old as our Lord's time) concerning- the causes (Mat. v. 31, 32, and Luke xvi. 18),
interpretation of the law relating to might hope to expose him to popular re-
divorcCi Deut. xxiv. 1. The school of sentment for retrenching a liberty vfh'ich-
Saonmai maintained that the words nai the law allowed : but our Lord feared not
mnw. which we render ^ome uncleanness, the consequence of doing it.
signified adultery ,- whereas the school of ^ May in effect be looked upon as a Di-
Hillel es.p\si\ned ii oi any matter of dislih. vine testimony.] I think the ingenious
(See Selden. Uxor. Hebr.Vih. iii. cap. 22.) Siuthov of I^evelation exatnined ivith Candour
Perhaps a. tneuium between both would solidly argues, from Adam's pronouncing
have been a juster interpretation than concerning the obligation of a child's rela-
either; for it is certain that the />/tra^e may iion to his parents, which had never then
with peculiar propriety express any blevi- existed, that he spake these words in con-
ish or disorder which a woman might un- sequence of some extraordinary Divine il-
iustly and foolishly conceal before marriage lum.ination ; which justifies the turn given
that was afterwards discovered. At least, in the paraphrase : nor could he luithout a
1 think it plain, from our Lord's answer, that revelation have known what had passed in
the disciples of Sammai were mistaken ; his sleep, or ever have conjectured the
•which farther appears from the provision original of woman to have been what he
i^ieMosaiclawmade for -pvimshmg adultery so plainly refers to. See £evelat. exam.
v/ith death. The interpretation of ffillel with Candour y Vol. I. Diss, iii. p. 28—33.
^Divorces were permitted for the hardness of their hearts ; 219
thiscauseshallaman in the married state, shall a man leave both his sect.
leave [his] father r^^ff^^^. ^^^ mother, when those dear relations c^^^^-
anamother,ar.cishalK ^ . i n- i ^ j i n i — — —
cleave to liis wife ; ^^ parental and hlial tenderness shall take
and they twain shall place, «;z^shall closely adhere to his wife; and ^^^ 5
be one flesh. [Mark they two shall be joined in so intimate an union
^eVilreforethey ^^ ^« become one flesh T' (Gen. ii. 24.) So 6
are no more twain, that it appears of persons thus joined together,
but one flesh. What that theij are no longer two, but one flesh, and
therefore God hath ^YiovCidi accordindv regard each other as mem-
joiiied together, let, ^ , ,°-Trr7 ^ » » r / i
not man put asunder, oers oi one body, IVhat hod therejore has thus
[Mark X.— 8, 9.] closely yoked together, let not man separate; but
let the bond of marriage be esteemed as sacred,
and incapable of being dissolved by any thing
which does not make them cease to be one
flesh, by making that of the one common to
some third person, (See "Whitby, in loc.)
7 They say unto They say unto him, by way of objection 7
him, Why did Moses against this. Why then did Moses under Divine
Sveawritrgofd" direction and inspiration, command " a man,
vorcement, and to whose wife found no favour in his eyes, be-
put her away? cause he had discovered," as it is there ex-
pressed, " some uncleanness in her," or (as it
has been generally understood) some cause of
distate and aversion, " to give her a bill of di-
vorce, a7id so to dismiss her .^" (Deut. xxiv. 1.)
Mark X. 3. And And he replied, and said unto them. How is ^|^*
he answered and it that you take this matter ; or what did you
??ju ""'Ta t,^^' allege that Moses did command you f Is there
What did Moses °i • • , • • • , ^ i ,-
command you \ any thmg m his writmgs that recommends di-
vorce and separation upon light occasions ?
4 And thev said, -^^d upon this they said. If it may not be said
Moses suffered to that Moses does command or recommend it in
vrnte a bill of di- itself, it is most evident from the passage we
puUierTway?" ° have mentioned, that he has permitted a man,
in some cases, to write a bill of divorce, and to
give it into his wife's hand, and dismiss her ;
on which foundation thou well knowest how
frequently divorces prevail among us, and how
justifiable they are generally esteemed.
Mat. XIX. 8. And Jesus answered and said to thejn. You Mat.
[And Jesus answer- state the matter now more justly than before : xix. %
them],"^ Moses, "bl^ ^°^ ^^ amounts merely to a permission : but I
cause 'of the hard- must observe to you, that it was on accowit of
ness of your hearts, the hardness of your hearts, and the perverse-
[wrote you this pre- j^ggg q£ ^^^^ tempers,"^ that Moses xvrote you
" On accoimt of the hardness of your hearts."] Jewish nation is too apparent. See Exod.
How much this was the eharacter of the xxxiii 3 ; xxxiv- 9 ; Deut. ix Q ; xxxi.
220 But should not be med but in eases of adultery,
svLCT' this precept, land]g'ave you such a permissron cept, a«(/] suffered
exxxv. to put away your wives *• knowins: that other- you to put away your
.■' ^' y y 1 j^ ^1 Wives : but l! om the
Wise you mig;nt have been tempted to use them be'^-innin^^ it was not
imolerably iii : hnt^ as I just now told you, it so.'' [Mark X. 5.]
"vja-i not HO from the beginning ; and the account
which that writer gives of the original consti-
tution of things proves it to be an irregularity,
how necessary soever he might find it, in some
cases, lo tolerate it, or rather, by making it
irrevocable, to prevent men's doing it without
deep consideration.
Mark And when the assembly was dismissed, and Mark X, 10.
X. 10 Tesus was retired from the multitude, as they .A"^,.'"^. V^^ ^","^?
** . , 1 ' ^7 / 1 ^ "IS disciples asked
were sittmg together m the house where he j^j^ g -^^ ^^ ^j^^
lodged, his disciples asked him again of the same same matter.
matter^ as not being able fully to understand it,
or to reconcile it vv ith the precept of Moses.
11 And he says to them. If you are willing to H And he salth
receive laws from me, you must submit to a ""J" ^^^^rn, [I say
, 2 J 1-1 ^1 T 1 "nto vou], Whoso-
greater restramt than Moses laid on the Israel- gy^j. shall put away
ites : for /expressly tellyou, (as I formerly did, his wife, [except it
Mat. v. 32, sect, xxxix. and Luke xvi. 18, sect. fj^/^r^/^'^In''^'^^^^^
cxxiv.) Whosoever shall dismiss his xvife, ex- another,^commh^etU
cept \it be] for whoredom^ which is a funda- adultery og-ainst her:
mental breach of the main article of the mar- [and whoso marrieth
riage covenant, by which they are one flesh, l;"^,;^^!; ^J^
and shall rr.arry another, commits adultery adultery.] [Max.
against her that was his former wife, and who XIZ.9.]
continues still to be so in the sight of God ;
and he that shall marry her who is so dis7nissed,
without a sufficient cause, C07nmits adultery,
12 And, on the other hand, by a parity of reason, 12 And if a wo.-
tf a woman, not injured in the important ™an shall put away
article just now mentioned, shall put away l;:;.:!:?^-!:!';:
her husband, or extort from him a bill of di-
vorce,e and be 7narried to another man, she
27; Isa. xlvl'ii. 4; Ezek.li. 4; and Acts 105) would explain the word as signifying
vii. 51. Our Lord (as Grotius well ob- anything luhich should be to the husband as
serves) strongly intimates tliat a more grie-oous and intolerable as ivhoredoni. The
tender disposition may justly be expected case o£ obstinate desertion, where the hus-
from his disciples. band cannot by law recover his wife,
^ Except it be for ivhoredovi: tTri'wo^vuit.'] which was the celebrated case of the
Though/&r«2cario;zcommitted before mar- pious GaleaciusCaracciolus, and which we
riag-e, and afterwards discovered, might find to be supposed in 1 Cor. vii. 15, is
be supposed to justify a divorce, aduttery quite of a difierent nature ; nor can a man
must much more evidently do it; and under such a calamity be said to put a%v ay
therefore it is plain tlie word must be his wife. Erasmus has a remarkable note
taken in the extent which is here given on Mat. xix. 3, which shews he was not
it. (See note.^ on Mat. v. 32, Vol. I. p. 222.) far from Milton's opinion.
But it is by a dangerous latitude of inter- « If a nxioman shall put a'aay her husband.}
pretation that Milton C Prose Works, page Though it is certain that the Jeivishlav>
Marriage is objected to^ hut all cannot live single. 221
shecommittethadul- commits adultery^ and as she deserves to be ab- sect.
tery. horred by men, so must she expect to be pun- c^xxv.
ished by God, as guilty of that enormous and
detestable crime, if she do not from her very ^'^2.
heart repent of it.
Mat. XIX. 10. Then Aw disciples say unto him, If this be the Mat.
His disciples say ^^^^ betzueen a man and his xvife^ and the bond xix. 10
unto him. If the case ^ ^^^ indissoluble, surely it is not expedient
of the man be so . ' J ^
with his wife, it is to marry ; smce a man may by that means be
not good to mavry. caught in an inextricable snat*e, which may
make him miserable all the rest of his life.
11 But he said un- But he said to them. All men cannot receive U
to them, AH men ^;^^^ sayinp- of yours, that it is not expedient to
cannot receive this r ^ ' ^ ^t j. i 'j. -
saying, save they to n^^rry ; but only they to xvhom it is given, as a
whom 'it is given. peculiar gift, to conquer those inclinations to-
wards that state which God, for wise reasons,
has wrought into the common constitution of
12 For there human nature. For there are [some'] eunuchs 12
are some eunuchs, -n^fiQ xuere born so from their 'mother'' s zvomb, and
ti\ZrZ^^. whose natural temper and inclination is in thU
womb ; and there respect peculiar J and there are ysome\ eunuchs
are some eunuchs, xvho were made eunuchs by the wickedness of
which were made ^^ ^^^ drive on that scandalous traffic which
•unuchsoimen: and , ? , ^ . p , ,,
there be eunuchs ^be luxury and ettemmacy 01 the eastern world
which have made has rendered so common; and there are \some'\
themselves eunuchs eunuchs zvho have, as it were, made themselves
liea\Vn's sake?"^He ^^^c/woTZ account of the kingdom of heaven, that
that is able to re- is, who, by a resolute guard on their appetites
ceive zV, let him re- and passions, have conquered the propensities
"^^^ ''* of nature, that being free from the incum^-
brances of marriage, and devoting themselves
to a life of more sublime devotion, they might
promote the interest of my gospel. (Compare
1 Cor. vii. 7, 37.) j^e therefore, on the whole,
,that finds he is able to receive \this saying], let
him receive it ; or let him that is in his own «
conscience persuaded that he can glorify God
most by a single life, choose it. Others may,
and ought to marry ; but let none lightly rush
into that state on a supposition that the bond
of it may be broken through at pleasure.
did not put it into a luoman's power to di- having probably learned of the Roman vto-
vorce her husband, it is plain from Jose- ^nen, who in this age are known to have
phus that it was done, not only by several practised it in the most scandalous man-
ladies of distinguished rank, but even that ner. See Juv. Sat. vi. ver. 222—230.
his own Hiiife did it (see Dr. Lardner's Cred- Compare 1 Sam. XXV. 44, and 1 Cor, vii.
ikility, part i. Vol II. page 890, note '^), 13.
222
Reflections on the duties of a married and a single life*
IMPROVEMENT.
iECT. From what we have been reading we may justly take occa-
____^' sion to adore the wisdom and goodness of Divine Providence
jyj^^ in creating the human species male and female^ and providing for
xix. 4 his new formed creature Adam so suitable and so amiable a
companion, to enliven every other object of delight, and to
crown the pleasures o{ paradise itself.
7 Let us also acknowledge the apparent interposition of a wise
and kind Providence in maintaining such a proportion between
the sexes^ even to this day, which so apparently tends to the
benefit of both, as well as the support of the race in future ages ;
as also in perpetuating in their hearts through succeeding gener-
5 ations that mutual tenderness for each other which the purest bo-
soms may feel and avow, and which is the foundation of such
an union of souls as no other friendship will admit.
6 Let those who are married^ considering the indissoluble bond
by which God has joined them together^ make it their constant
care to promote the comfort and happiness of each other : and
let them most cautiouslv guard against every degree of conte72tio7iy
or even of distaste^ which might at length occasion an aliena-
tion in their affections, and render so close a bond proportiona-
bly grievous.
11,12 Let none rashly run into these important engagements, nor
determine their choice by light considerations, of a low and
transitory nature. And if any, on the whole, prefer the free-
dom of a single life to a state which, with its peculiar comforts,
must necessarily have its peculiar cares and trials too, let them
diligently improve that disengagement, as an obligation to seek
the kingdom of God with greater ardour, and to pursue its in-
terests with more active zeal and application.
Mark To conclude ; since it appears in this respect, as well as in
X. some others, that the gospel revokes some indulgences which
^1>12 the /^^ qJ Moses gave, let us endeavour to form our hearts by
Divine grace to a wisdom, seriousness, and spirituality, which
may suit this nobler dispensation ; and while we are reading the
precept of the Jexvish legislator, let us remember we have a
sublimer Master^ and are to do and forbear more than others,
(Mat. v. 47.)
SECT. CXXXVL
Christ blesses the little children that were brought to him^ and re-
bukes his disciples who would have forbid them. Mat. XIX*
13—15. Mark X. 13—16. Luke XVIIL 15—17.
A
Mark X. 13. MarkX. 13.
ND while Jesus continued here, as the ^ND the) brought
inhabitants of the neighbouring country [Lukk, infants
Children are brought to Christ for his prayers, -228
««Jj young chil- on the banks of Jordan found their esteem for sect.
dren to him, that him continually increasing on their acquaint- cxxxvi>
Sren,:'[of p«ntr«rhhim Qohnx.^l 42,p 215), they Mark
hands on them, and brought to him^ not only the sick, that they x. 13
pray :] and [Luke, might be healed (Mat. xix. 2, p. 217), but also
when] his disciples several infants^ \cmd'\ other young childreny
they] rebukedtho'se who, though they could walk and speak, yet
that broiig-ht ^/^ew. were not capable of understanding his doctrine,
[Mat. xix. 13.— ihat he rnight touch them^ [or] lay his hands upon
I.UKE XVIII. 15.] ^j^^^^ jj^ ^ solemn manner, and pray for them ;»
not doubting but prayers so acceptable to God
as his would prevail both for their present and
future happiness. And when his disciples^
and particularly the apostles, who were about
him, saw it^ theij rebuked those that brought
them^ as apprehending them too troublesome,
and thinking it beneath the dignity of so great
a Prophet to concern himself about such little
creatures, who were incapable of receiving any
instruction from him.
44 But when Je- But Jesus seeing it, zvas greatly displeased, 14
sus saw ity he was and moved with some degree of indignation
Td said u,:f rm; against his disciples ; for he had a tender love
Suffer the little chil- to children, and well knew that a proper notice
dren to come unto of these might turn to some valuable account -^
Hie and forbid them ^72^ therefore he said to them. Let the little chiU
not: tor 01 such is the , , , , ' .
king-dom of God. "^^^^ alone, ana do not now, or at any other con-
[Mat. xix. 14. vement time, hinder the7n from coming to me :
Luke XVIIL— 16.] J ^m pleased, rather than offended, to see them
near me : for of such is the kingdom of God :
» Lay his hands upo7i them, and pray.'] present : not to say how instructive this
This was a rite that was very early used, gentleness to children may be to ministers,
particularly by those who stood in any su- and liow much their usefulness may, or
perior relation, when they were praying mig-ht have been, promoted by a due re-
for a blessing- on young- persons. See gard to it. Nicephorus tells us that the
Gen. xlviii. 14 — 20. I see no reason to celebrated Ignatius^ afterwards Bishop of
think, with Eisner, that they were brought Antioch, was one of these infants. Our
to Christ {oY \h& cure of some malady ; for Lord might re>asonably be the more dis-^
in that case it is not to be imagined that pleased with his disciples for endeavouring
the disciples would have been so inhumane to prevent their being brought, as he had
as to prohibit them. so lately set a child among them, and in-
sisted on the necessity of their being made
i* Knew that a proper notice of these, conformable to it. Mat. xviii. 2, 3, sect
^c] Christ's shewing his regard in such xciii. p. 19. I am obhged to Dr. Scott's late
a manner to them not only must have been Version of St. Mattheiv's Gospel, which,
exceedingly pleasing to the parents, but according to the manner of the learned
the memory of this condescension might and ingenious author, is exact to a won-
make tender and lasting impressions on der, for the alteration I have made here,
the children themselves ; and the sight and for some oMer changes, which I take
must be very edifying and encouraging to this opportunity of acknowledging with
other young perso?is' who might happen to be due gratitude.
VOL. 2. 30
224 He takes them in his arms^ and blesses them*
SECT, persons of such a character are the true subjects
®^^^* of my kingdom, and heirs of eternal glory, to
j^^^.j^ which many little children are received ; and
3j_ 14 in token of it the children of believing parents
are to be admitted into my church by baptism.*^
1$ And verily^ I say unto you., as I have formerly 15 Verily I skj
told you, (Mat. xviii. 3, 4, sect, xciii.) and unto you, Whoso-
would now have you to attend with seriousness ^^?^* ^j? "^^ J^^'
while I repeat it, Whosoever shall not be willing ^f qqjJ ^s a liulc
to receive the kingdom ofGod^ox the gospel dis- child, he shall [in no
pensation, and the happiness it promises, as a ^^^^3 ^"^^^ therein.
/z7^/^cy^i/^, divesting himself of those prejudices ^^""^^ ^^"^- ^^'^
and those secular views which men contract
in their riper years, that he may come, as it
were, to the humility and meekness, the sim-
plicity and teachableness of a little child (com-
pare Psal. cxxxi. 2), he shall not in any wise^
or on any terms, enter into it., be his genius
ever so sublime, or his circumstances in life
ever so considerable.
16 And having said this, he would no longer be 16 And he [Lukb,
detained from shewing his regard unto these called them unto
little children, but, having called them to him, 1^'m, W] took them
, , ^ ^ - r "^i i i i ' UD ui his arms, fandj
and ordered the mrants to be brought, he took put his hands upon
them up in his arms., tenderly embracing them them, and blessed
with a holy complacency and love ; and, as a ^^^"* • t^""^ depart-
farther token of the overflowing kindness and xiX^Ts. Luk»:
benevolence of his heart towards them, he laid XVIII. 16.— 3
his hands upon them, and blessed them, recom-
mending them in a solemn manner to the
Divine blessing and favour ; which accordingly
descended upon them, to strengthen their con-
stitutions, and to sanctify their hearts. Andy
after this, he departed from thence to another
place in the neighbourhood, where the young
ruler attended him, as will be presently related.
IMPROVEMENT.
Mark
«. 16
^ Let us make a pause here, that we may more attentively re-
view this delightful and instructive sight ; that we may see this
<= For of such is the kingdom of God, &c.] mig-ht here intend some reference to it ;
I acknowledge these words will not of and I cannot approve of rendering Toialoti,
themselves prove infant baptism to be an such as resemble these. It is the part of a
institution of Christ ; but if that appears faithful translator not to limit the sense of
fromoMer5cn>f?<re* to be the case (which the original, nor to fix what it leaveis.
I think most probable), there will be pro- ambiguous,
portionable reason to believe tUat our Lord
Refections on the kind regard of Christ to Children^ 225
compassionate Shepherd of Israel^ tlius gathering the lambs in his sect.
armsy and carrying them in his bosom with all the tokens often- cxxxvi.
der regard (Isa. xl. 11), rebuking his disciples who forbade their "
coming, and laying his gracious hands upon them to bless them. ^^^'
How condescending and engaging a behaviour ! how encourag-
ing and amiable an image !
Let his viini-iters view it, to teach them a becoming regard to
the lambs of their/oci, who should early be taken notice of and
instructed ; and for and with whom they should frequently /?rfl'z/;
remembering how often Divine grace takes possession of the
heart in the vears of infancy^ and sanctifes the children of God
almost /rom the xvomb. Let every first impression made upon
their tender minds be cherished ; and let not those whom Christ
himself is ready to receive be disregarded by his servants^ who
upon all occasions should be gentle unto all^ and apt to teach.
(2 Tim. ii. 24.)
1.^1 parents view this sight with pleasure and thankfulness : IS
let it encourage them to bring their children to Christ by faith,
and to commit them to him in baptism^ and by prayer. And if
he who has the keys of death and the unseen zvorld (Rev. i. 18)
see fit to remove diose dear creatures from us in their early
days, let the remembrance of this story comfort us, and teach
us to hope that he who so graciously received these children has
not forgotten ours, but that they are swGtily fallen asleep in him,
and will be the everlasting objects of his care and love ; for of 14
such is the kingdom of God,
Let children especially observe this. The great and glorious
Redeemer did not despise these little ones ; nay, he was much dis- ibid*
pleased with those who would have prevented their being brought
to him. As kindly would he, no doubt, have received you, ye
dear children^ who read or hear this ; as kindly will he still re-
ceive you, if you go to him in the sincerity of your hearts, and
ask his blessing in humble and earnest prayer. Though you see
not Christy he sees and hears you ; he is now present with you,
to receive you, to bless you, and to save you. Happy the
weakest of you when lodged in the arms of Christ ! nothing can
pluck you from thence^ or ever hurt you there.
In a word, let us all commit ourselves to him ; and let us be IS
disposed to become as little children^ if we desire to enter into his
kingdom. Let us not govern ourselves by the vain maxims of a
corrupt and degenerate age. Let not pride, ambition, lust, or
avarice, possess, torment, and enslave our minds ; but, with the
amiable simplicity of children^ let us put ourselves into the wise
and kind hands of Jesus^ as our Guardian, and refer ourselves
to his pastoral and parental care, to be clothed and fed, to be
guided and disposed of, as he shall see fit. For this purpose, O
God, may we be born again by thy Spirit^ ^Jid formed anexv hy
225 A rich youngs man inquires the way to eternal life*
8ECT. thy grace I since by this method alone we can be made tneet to be
cxxxvi. partaket's of the inheritance of the saints in light (Col. i. 12), and
be so ine children of Gody as to be at length the children of the
resurrection,
SECT. CXXXVII.
A rich young man applying himself to Christ for direction in the
way to eternal life ^ and aft erwards parting xvith him out of re^
gardto his possessions ogives our Lord an occasion of cautioning
his disciples concerning the danger of riches, Ivlat. XIX. 16,
to the end, Mark X. 17—31. Luke XVIII. 18—30.
Mark X. 17, Mark X. 17.
SECT. AND as he xvent out from thence,* into the A ^ ^^ ^''^^" ^^^
cxxxvu ^ ^ay to some other place which he designed ^^ ;?'"^ ^°"^ ^?^^^
^ , . 7 T 111 11'^" the wav, I be-
r~ to Visit, beholdy a most remarkable occurrence ^^la,] there came
^17 happened ; for there came one^ even a certain one [Luke, a cer-
masristrate^ or ruler, who was a youne: person ^^'" ^'^^^''3 /i^^mpg"*
. «^ t-ri- X ••! and kneeled to hnn,
m very plentiful circumstances, running with ^,^^ ^gj^^^j Y\\my
an eager desire to converse with Jesus before [Luke, saying,]
/ he left that place ; and he no sooner was come Good Master, wliat
near him, but, kneeling down to him v^iih ^^^ ^^^t^tm^.tl^^^^
humblest respect, he asked him with great rev- ete nal life ? [Mat.
erence and earnestness, 5<2z/Z72^, Go(5^3i6?.s7^r,^ X]X. 16. Lukb
I am come to thee as a most wise and gracious XVill. 18.]
Teacher, and beseech thee to answer me a
question of the highest importance : What
good thing shcdl I do that I may inherit eternal
life P for nothing lies with so much weight up-
on my mind as this, and I am determined to
secure it at any rate.
18 And jfesuSy upon this, said to hhn^ Why dost 18 And Jesus said
thou call me good^"" whom thou regardest onlv ^"to him, Why call-
as a prophet sent from God, and dost not look %rf7 ZL^°^
upon to be any more than a mere man ? Thou
shouldst remember upon all occasions, that
* As he went out from thence.] Both might be an additional reason for owr Xorfl^'*
Matthew and Luke relate this story of the remark upon it.
young ruler immediately after that in the
preceding 5€tf2o« ; but Mark is more de- « Why dost thou call me good ?'\ It is cer-
terminate than either of them in the con- tain that some very ancient 'manuscripts
«ecf/o?z, and more circumstantial in the nar- read this clause, T/ /w« i^ajac ^tpt th
ration. etyu^a. Why dost thou ask me nuhat good thing
•» Good Master.'] Wolfius observes that is to de done P But neither the number of
this was a title -which the Jewish rabbies copies nov th& twrn o^ our Lor d^s ans'u^er -wiM
affected ; which, if it were indeed so, by any means admit of such a reading".
Jesus bids him to keep the commandments. 227
but one, that is God : 7ione is perfectly good^ hut one glorious and im- sect.^
[but if thou wilt en- mutable Being, ievenl the ever blessed and eter- ^^^^^"'
ter into life, keep j q^ ^^^ ^^^ qj. ^ngel deserve the ^^-^
tliecommNiidraents. I . , ,> , . ' , r • • i Mark
[Mat. XIX. 17. title ot good in any degree ol comparison with x. is
Luke XVllI. 19.] him, from whom originally stream forth all
those rays of goodness which are but imper-
fectly reflected from them. But as to the ques-
tion thou hast asked. If thou art resolutely de^
termined to enter into l{fe, it is absolutely neces-
sary thou shouldst keep the Divine command-
ments ; the perfect observance of which alone
can give thee a legal claim to it, and in the
wilful neglect of which thou must never on
any terms expect it.
19[Hesaith unto Then the young ruler, that he might fully 19
him, Which ? Jesus m^jgrstand the mind of Jesus, eacjerly says to
said,] Thou kuowest , . „^. . , , *' i ; ^u
the commandments, /^^''^ ^yhich are those commandments on the
[Thou shalt do no observation of which my eternal life depends?
ir.urder ; Thou shalt Jesus said. Thou undoubtedly knowest theconi-
X?Snot1Si; mandments which God gave to Moses, written
Thou shalt not bear on the tables of stone at MoiiUt Sinai, among
false witness ;] De- which those of the second table, however neg-
^therlnd'^fruK^E! ^^^^''^ ^y ^^^ Pharisees, are by no means to be
thy] mother ; [and] forgotten ; such as, " Thou shalt not kill; Thou
Thou shalt love thy shalt not commit adultery ; Thou shalt not steal;
neighbour as thy- 7-/^^^^ ^./^^/^ „^^ ^^^^^. r^^/^,^ witness against thv
self.] [Mat. XIX. . ,1 n-i i u . ^ 4. 'r
18 19.LUKE XVIII. '^^^S""^^^^ » 1 hou shalt not covet any part ot
20.] his property, or take any methods to defraud
him j"'* and that which indeed stands in the
front of all these, " Honour thy father and thy
mother,'''* These are the six last command-
ments, which I now recommend to thy con-
sideration ; and they may all be summed up in
that one comprehensive precept, " Thou shalt
love thy neighbour as thyself^"* (See Exod. xx.
12 — ir, and Lev. xix. 18.)
d Thou shalt not defraud."^ As Mark them to thyself.** But the apostle Paul
seems to put this for the tenth command- strongly intimates that the sense of that
menty Dr. Hammond (in locj and Arch- cominand is much more extensive (Rom.
bishop Til/otson (see his Worksy Vol. II. vii. 7) ; and as the preceding command-
p. 257) suppose it a key to the sense of 7ne«f.s had forbid to invade the /?/e, the ({(e^,
those words, Thou shalt not covet; the the /jro/>er(y, or re/)Mt'af/on of another, so fAr>
meaning of which, they argue, is as if it requires a guard on those irregular appe-
had been said, " Thou shalt not be so de- tites and passions which might by insen-
sirous of thy neighbours possessions as to sible degrees lead men to murder^ adultery,
be willing to injure the owner by depriv- theft) QV falseviitness.
ing him of them, that thou mayest secure
228 He says he has done it ; hut is told that one thin^ was wanting,
SECT. And the young man ^ not apprehending the 20And[theyouri^
cxxxviU |a^,^g extent and spiritual meaning of these pre- "^?"] answered and
— — ° . V J ' L ^u ri J s^id unto him, Mas-
M'lrk ^^P^^^ replied, with great cheerfulness and con- ter,allthese[tlun^s3
^20 fi<Jence, and said to hhn^ Master, I have been have I observed from
early taught these precepts, and may venture "^y youth : [What
to sav that / have conscientiously observed all^^^^^^^r!'^ [Mat.
r • r 1 i 1 • -^IX. 20. Luke
these tvenjrom viy injancy,^ and nave abstain- XVIII. 21.]
ed from each of the vices and immoralities con-
demned in them : •what\}ci^Ti do I farther need^
in order to secure the glorious prize after v, hich
I am seeking ?
^1 And Jesus, looking steadfastly upon him, loved 21 Then Jesus be-
him, and felt the emotions of complacency |^«1^'"? hi^L' loved
.',,., , . . ^ ,-^ him, and [Luke,
mingled with tender compassion, in regard to when he heard these
so young a person, who had maintained so hon- things, he] said unto
curable a character in such an elevated station h™* [Luke, yet]
r-i-r 1 ^ \. t . one thuisT thou lack-
ot hfe, and was under such concern about an- gg^ . nf thou wilt be
other world ; yet at the same time, amidst all perfect,] go thy way,
these hopeful circumstances, was governed ^^^^ whatsoever thou
still by a secret fondness for the possessions he
enjoyed in this : and as our Lord thought fit to
manifest this fondness to himself and others,
rvhen he had heard these things which have been
mentioned above, he was pleased to call him
forth to a peculiar trial ; and therefore said
unto him. Thus far it is well ; but yet, alas, One
thing thou still tvantest^ in order to prove that
integrity of soul and that prevailing lov^e to
God, without which none can be entitled to
future blessedness : by me he nov/ commands
thee, if thou xv'ilt he perfect, and determine
to submit to all that he requires, to go thy
way immediately, and -sr// all thy possessions^
* I hcve observed all these, even from my ^ One thing thou rjaritest.'\ Our Lord does
ififancjr.'] The phrase utto violifioc may in- not say he v;anted but one thing ; so that
deed be very exactly rendered from my nothing- can be concluded from hence
yojith : but as he was yet but a young onan, against the necessity of an acquaintance
it is probably here put for infancy or child- with some truths of which thi^ youth, hope-
hood. It is plain he did not understand the ful and amiable as he was, appears to have
spiritual meaning and extent of the lavi been ignorant. But it was to be charged
according to oicr Lord^s explication of it in on that %.^ant of sincere piety -which his
his sermon on the mount, or he w^ould not conduct presently discovered, that he did
have pleaded his exact obedience to it. But not come to the knowledge of them by a
the Jews in general seem to have thought continued and submissive attendance on
that, if they abstained from gross crimes, the teaching of Christ. See John vii. 17,
sacrifices might atone for smaller neglects sect. xcix.
or offences. And this compound seems to ? Sell all thy possessions^ It is strange
ha%'e been that righteousness of their own in that the learned und accurate Dr. Clarke
which, to their final ruin, they trusted for should suppose that Christ did not de-
justif cation before God, in the neglect of mand this, in order to his being in a state
the righteousness nv hich is of God by faith, of acceptance with God, but in order to his
Compare Rom. x. 3, and Phil. iii. 9. giving a testimony of exalted piety ; or, at
Being called to sell all he has^ he goes axvay sorrotofuU 229
hast, and give to the valuable as they are, and to distribute the money sect.
poor; andthoushalt ^hich arises from the sale of them to the poor ; cxxxvU.
heaven TandT'Tome! ^^ this, and thou shalt have an infinitely more ~^^
take up the cross, excellent treasure in heaven : and^ in the assur- x. 21
and follow me. gd hope of this, I call thee to co77ie and take up
L KE XVIII 22 T ^^*^ cross^ and with courage and resolution to
follow me as my constant attendant, though it
should be even at the expense of thy life as
v/ell as thine estate.
22 [But when the But when the young man heard that sayings 22
young man heard ^^d saw that all his crav and delii^htful pros-
that saving-, I he was ^ri-r ^i • • \ i
sad, and went away P^cts for life must be given up in a moment, he
[Luke, very sorrow- was exceedingly concerned and troubled at it :
ful ;] for he [Luke, Qjid he went axvay in great sorrow ; for he was
S "l^J^''^! ^'^'■y 7^/', [f ;f] f'-d SrecU possessions^ ^VC..h
sions. [Mat. XIX. were lately lallen into his hands; and how
22. Luke XVIIL desirous soever he was of eternal life, he could
^^•J not resolve to secure it at so great an expense.
23 And [Luke, J^j^d xvhen Jesus saw that^ though he was very 23
i!:?wai"e;;"row. ^orrowful,_ yet he chose rather to go away than
ful,] he looked round to part with his estate in the views of eternal
about, and saith to happiness, he looked round on all that were
his disciples ^ov^ about h\xn, and said to his disciples. Observe
hardly shall they that , . . ' . . . i , , "* , , •
have riches enter this instructive incident, and learn to make this
into the kingdom of reflection upon it ; Hoiv hardly shall they that
God ! [Verily I say pQgg^g^ the riches of this world enter into the
Tan sSl Va^rdl/en- kingdom ofGod! Dvvell upon the thought, and
ter into the kingdom repeat it, in order, if possible, to wean your
of heaven.] [Mat. hearts from these delusive vanities which often
XVIII 241 ^^^^ prove so fatal to the soul : for verily I say unto
you^ So many snares attend such circum-
stances, that a rich man will hardly enter into
the kingdom of heaven, or be brought to such a
relish for the gospel, and its future blessings,
as either to resign, or improve his worldly
least, as necessary at that time to his being ual readiness, not only to sacrifice our p04-
a preacher of the gospel. Our Lord's man- sessions, but our lives, at the command of
ner of proposhig the trial, and his reflec- God; and Providence does in fact call
tion on the young nian^s goitig away, plainly some out to trials as severe as this. Ifis
shew that it was in those circumstances refusal plainly shewed he valued his ivorld-
necessary to his salvation. And indeed it ly possessions more than eternal life ; and
is most apparent, that though God does our Lord, with great wisdom, took this
not in fact require every man to distribute direct and convincing method of manifest-
all his goods to others, and so in effect to ing both to himself and others, that secret
become one of the number of poor to be insincerity and carnality of temper which
relieved out of his own possessions, yet prevailed under all these specious pre-
sincere virtue and piety demand an habit- tences and promising appearances.
230 The rich shall hardly enter into the kingdom of God.
SECT, possessions, in such a manner as the laws of
cxxxvii. ^^^ kingdom require.
"JJ^^ And the disciples zvere quite astonished at his 24 And the dlsci-
X. 24 xvords ; for they were ready to imagine that, ^[^hb words -'^^'^
ere long, all the rich and great people of the ^ ^
country would appear for their Lord, and fix
him on the throne of Israel.
But Jesiis^ answering again to that surprise — But Jesus an-
which he saw in their countenances, says to swereth again, and
, ^ J J* T%/r saith unto them,
them m the most condescendmg manner. My children, how hard
dear children^ when you consider what I said is it for them that
more attentively, you will not so much wonder trust in riches to en-
at it : for it is manifest that the generality of ^^/^"J« f ^^ ^".?^«^^
rich men place their chief confidence and de-
light in the things of this present world ; and
you know that true religion requires a heart
abstracted from them, and placed on nobler
objects : judge then for yourselves, hoxv hard
it is for them that thus trust in their riches^ to
enter into the kingdom of God ! And therefore 25 [And again I
25 Isav to you asrain^ in yet stroni^er terms, that say unto you, [It is
^ ^ u I. -^ 1 1- easier for a camel to
your common proverb may have its place here, ^^ through the eye
That it is easier for the huge cable of a ship, Sf a needle, than for
or even for a camel to go through the eye of a^ "ch man to enter
needle,^ than it \sfor a rich man to conquer the God'^'^[Mr?^Xlx!"
snares of his estate and the corruptions of his 24. Luke XVilL
heart so far as to enter into the kingdom of God^ 25.]
and become the faithful, obedient subject of
his Son.
26 Afid when his disci Oles heard [this"] rep ttition 26 And when his
and illustration of what was before said, theu C^^i^ciples heard it,J
, . ,. . . ' / they were rexceed-
rvere struck into exceeding great ana inexpressi- \^-^^\y amazed, and'\
hie amazement at it, saying one to another^ And astonished out ^ of
rvho then can be saved P Who that are rich can measure, saying
, 5 A J 1 . J- anions- themselves,
ever get to heaven ? And what a discourage- who then can be
ment will it be to others to see the rich and saved? [Mat. XIX.
the great neglecting salvation, and turning the 25. Luke XVIII.
means of their happiness and usefulness into '-*
the instruments of their destruction ?
^ Easier fur a camel to go through the eye But I see no reason for departing from the
fjfa needle.'] Theoph\lact, and after him received readiJig and interpretation ; nor is
some otlier critics, for kcl^-^kov read «i^.<xov, there any thing- in this proverbial expression,
which they explain of a cable rope, which as it here stands, but what is very agreea-
might appear more fitly to be mentioned ble to the eastern taste, and may be paral-
nsvihzxi could 7iot pass through a necdWs eye. leled in other Jewish ivriters. See Dr.
Others very precariously assert that there Lightfoot^s Hor. Hebr. on Mat. xix. 24,
was near Jerusalem a low ^'afe called tlie where it is shewn there was sl Jewish
needless eye, through whicli a camel could proverb to the same purpose of the dc'
not pass unless his load were taken off. phurit.
W/iat is impossible with men is possible zvith God* 231
27 And Jesus But J esiisjooking steadfastly upon them^saith sect.
looking- upon them, m^fQ them^ With men it is indeed impossible^ and ^^f^*
Wkh men^S] ^^^ Strength of corrupt nature alone will not be Mark
impossible, but not sufficient 10 encounter such difficulties as these ; x. 27
with God : for with l^f it is not impossible with God to animate
^°^\f ^ rr""!^ ^-^^ ^^^^^ hearts against them : for his grace has
thr\hing's" vv'hidi an almighty energy, and wzYA God all things are
are impossible with possible [even'] the things tuhich are most impos^
men.] [Mat. XIX. ^,-^/^ ^^^^'^/^ ^^^^j and seem so insurmountable
26. Luke ^^^^J- to human Strength as to be reckoned utterly
impracticable , to him therefore let the rich
and poor unite their supplications, that each
may be rendered superior to the snares which
attend their respective circumstances.
28 Then Peter Then Peter replied^ and with some warmth 28
[answered, nnd] be- and. confidence began to say unto him ^ Well,
g-an to say unto him. Master, behold, we have done what this youth,
Lo, we have leit all, , -- , i j i. j ^ ^u ' ^ ^'
and hava followed hopeful as he seemed, had not the resolution
thee ! [What shall to do ; for though indeed we had not much,
we have therefore .g ^^,Q f^^^^^ i^j^ all the little that we had in the
L^rKE "XVIIL 28 ]''* ^^'oi"ldi ^^^^d have at all ^di\^nX\xvts followed th^
with the sincerest zeal and affection : uhat
reward shall zve therefore have P for we per-
suade ourselves thou wilt not permit us finally
to be losers in th}^ cause.
Mat. XIX. 28. And fesus a?isivering said to them^Youn\2Ly Mat.
And Jesi^s [answer- depend upon it that you shall not, but will be ^^^- ^^
ed and] said unto f^^^j ^^poi^ the whok to have acted the wisest
thera, Verdy I say r^ -, t ^
imto >ou, that ye pai't ; loYveriUj I say unto you, and assure you
which have followed of it. That you who have follozved me in my
me hi the regenera- humiliation, shall at length be distinguished
tion, when the Son, ^- i_i u j • ^l
by proportionable honours : and in the great
renovation of all things,' when all the children
'Inthe^Ye^X renovation of all things.] that owr Zorf/ refers in the following' words
I have given what appears to me the most to the time oi final retribution^ which he
natural sense of this difficult passage, elsewhere mentions as that in which he
Mr. Fleming agrees with our translators in should sit on the throne of his glory. Mat.
Connecting the words ev t» <tirAKiy'^i','i(rtA xxv. 31, 32. Mr. Pierce (on Heb, i, 5)
with the preceding clause ; and *para- follows Brcnnius in expounding the regen-
phrases the verse thus : " As for you, my eration of the time when Christ should be
apostles, who have followed tne in this (as it were) begotten again by his resurrec-
new state of the church, which is to be tion from the dead ; but the criticism seems
brought to the birth, when I am to ascend very unnatural, and the objection men-
to heaven, that I may govern the world tioned above lies against it in its full force,
from thence by my word and Spirit, ye The laboured argument whichDr.T/iowo*
shall be to the whole Christian church what Burnet deduces from hence, to prove the
the t'neive heads of the tribes were of old to renovation of the earth at the millenniutn, is
tlie Jewish naiion : my followers shall ap- very precarious ; since the words will so
i>eal to your decisions^ as the rule of their fairly ad-mit of another sense, refenring"
faith and practice." (^i^/emt>:^'#CAmro/o^, them to the general resurrection. SCft.
Vol. I. p. 280 But it seems plain to me Burnet's Theory, Vol II. p. 229, 230..
VOL. 2. 31 - -, ^ -
252 The apostles shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
SECT, of God shall, as it were, be born anew from of man shall sit ia
cxxxvii. ti^^i^ graves ; when created nature shall put on ^^^^ f^^T n^ ^}''''^*
_«^ . r . p . 1 1 7 -^ ye also shall sit up-
Its fairest lorms to receive them, and the Son on twelve thrones,
xix. 28 ofman^ presiding over that august assembly, judgmg the twelve
shall sit on the throne of his glory ^ exalted above ^^^^^ ^L ^!/q ^
the highest angels of God, you also^ my faith- l uke XVIII. 29.— 1
ful apostles, shall sit around me upon txvelve
radiant thrones^ judging the twelve tribes of
Israel ; concurring joyfully with me in the
sentence which shall then be passed on the
Jewish nation, ^nd on all the professed mem-
bers of my church, as fchey have been sincere,
or faithless, in their profession, and in the
observance of those laws which you, by au-
thority from me, their exalted Sovereign,
shall have given them.
Mark ^72^ though some peculiar rewards are re- Mark X.— 29.
^* ^ served for you, with recrard to your apostolic [And] there is no
, ^ -^ ^ A . ^ . -^ \ ^ man, that hath left
character, yet there is no man m any state or house, or brethren,
condition of life, whether in this or any future or sisters, or father'
age of the world, xvho hath left^ or shall here- or mother, or wife,
after leave, his house, or brethren, or sisters, or 7^'fl^^>t^^^'^^.
father, or mother, orxvife, or children, or lands; ^lom of' God's sake,
in one word, none who shall undergo the loss that is,'\ for my
of any temporal advantaQ:es, for the sake of the [name's] sake, and
/ • 1 rn J r^L * • n r •> l ^"^ gospel's, [Mat.
kingdom oj hod, {that is,\ Jor my naines sake -^y^^ 29— Luke
30 and the gospeV s ; But he shall receive man- XVIII.— 29.]
ifold more for it in the inward satisfaction and 30 But he shall
Divine consolations attending real religion, [^,rrmoS';r'.a',TT„'
[yea] even a?i hundred Jold, now in this present hundred fold now in
tirne, more than all the comfort he could nat- this [Luke, pres-
urally have found in houses, and brethren, cind^^^^^ brethren """and
sisters, and mothers, and children, «w^ /^^z^'J/ sisters, and mothers,
such shall be the delights of a good con- and children, and
science, and the secret manifestations of l^nds, with persecu-
Divine acceptance and favour, which shall ^° *
mingle themselves with all the persecutions
he shall here endure -} and when they
^ Shall sit upon twelve thrones."] Our Lord • Shall receive — an hundred Jold noiu in
well knew that Judas would fall from his this present tiTne^ — Viith persecutions.'] Dr.
office and dignity ; but as Matthias filled Massej, in his Vernacula Sacrut p. 18, pro-
his place, and so stood entitled to the poses a very different version of this pe-
ipromise, he did not think it fit to enter riod, viz. " Though he inay not receive
into any particular distinction ; but speaks [«*v yw« xctdf] an hundredfold (or a sufficient
to the whole body of the apostles in words recompense) noiu in this titncy houses, and
which he knew would be accomplished brethren, and sisters, and mothers^ and chil-
to the far greater part of those to whom dnn, and lands i yet after persecution^
they were addregsed.
They that leave all for Christ shall be great gainers. 233
worldtocome [shall are over, as they will quickly be, in the sect.
inherit] eternallife ^^^/^ to come he shall inherit everlasting /j/'e, cxxxvii.
L^kI XVIR.4'' ^"^,^' ^^' "''"" enjoying that happiness which —
God has prepared for all his children, espec- ^ ^^^
ially for such heroic souls as these, when all
earthly relations are ceased, and the world it-
self is dissolved.
31 But many that But such will be the issue and event of things 3 J
art firstshallbe last; under the gospel, that many \xvho are] frst in
2ef fi^rst-^'^VMlx! the advantages and privileges they enjoy, shall,
XIX. 30.] notwithstanding this, fall short of others, and
he last in the great day of accounts ; and those
who are the last shall prove in this respect to
he the first : for some, from whom it might
be least expected, shall embrace the gospel,
and courageously endure the greatest hard-
ships for it ; while others, with far greater ad-
vantages, shall reject it, and, under much
stronger engagements, shall desert it.
IMPROVEMENT. '
Who can behold, without weeping eyes and a bleeding heart,
this lovely youth perishing in sin /"" What could have appeared
more promising than this solicitous concern about eternal life in
a young man rich in the possessions and high in the honours of Mailc
the present world ! To see him running with such eagerness to ^- ^^
the feet of a Redeemer^ kneeling down with such humility before
him, calling upon him by so honourable a title^ and professing
so sincere a desire of instruction, could not but lead us to con-
clude. Surely this man was not far from the kingdom of God; 21
nor do we wonder that Jesus beholding him loved him. Who
would not have looked on such an object with complacency !
Who would not have expected that this pleasant plant should
have brought forth grapes ; but behold, it brought forth wild
grapes I (Isa. v. 2.) So have we seen, in the compass perhaps
of our small observation and experience, many 2ifair blossom fall
[yue7* (f/a;>/xev], and in the n^orld to come, " Lovely youth perishing in sin."] Dr,
he shall receive eternal life" But I Watt's excellent Sermon on this subject,
neither think the authority of Theophylact and with this title, will, I doubt not, be
sufficient to warrant our substituting S^ia>~ recollected by multitudes on this occasion.
y/uLov for S'lonyfjLm ; nor can I find any satis- There is so much beauty and pathos, so
factory example of such an ellipsis as this much wisdom and piety in it, that I could
«emo« supposes in the original, if that va- wish it might be attentively perused, espec-
riation were allowed ; to which we may ially by every one of my younger readers ,•
add, that the parallel passages both in for I would hope there are few capable of
Matthew and Luke lie strongly ag^ainst the reading it without some serious impre§-
version proposed- siotts.
234
I^efection$ en the hnpeful youth forsaking- Christ,
rlnof to the ground. So have the hopes of 7nmv
SECT, witherhig to the ground. So have the hopes of ministers and
cxxKvn. pi^f^^jjts^ and other religious friends, been disappointed with re-
"""^ spect to many young persons^ adorned with a variety of amiable
qualifications, yet lacking one thing ^r\d parting xvith Christ when
put to the trial, after all the regard they have shewn to his name,
and all the pleasingexpectations they have given of a willingness
to serve him. O my young reader^ whoever thou art, I earn-
estly pray that thou mayest not be added to that number !
i'Cf. This unhappy youth imagined himself in the certain way of
19, 20 gf^l^di'iQji because he was free from the stains of fraud and injus-
tice, of adultery and theft, of perjury and murder, or any other
gross and infamous sin. But behold, how awful a method
Christ takes to open to him that insincerity of hearty which he
seems himself not to have known. Observe how strange a com-
^1 mand he gives him, to sell all^ and distribute to the poor. We
cannot say that the very same is directly required of us ; yet, by
this order that was given to him, we are obliged to part with
our all when it cannot be preserved with a good conscience ; and
by the general rules of Christianity^ and by its fundamental
precepts, we are in duty bound conscientiously to use, not only
a little part of our substance, but even the -whole of it for God,
as stexvards who are another day to give up a strict account for
all. And if we like not Christ and glory on these terms, cur end
will be no better than his. Of him rue read, that after all his
morality, and all his zeal, he went axvay from Christ (though
'22 sorrotvful) because he had great possessions. Oh dear bought
wealth, which was the price of his soul !
Let us look upon him, and receive instruction ; let us learn to
be upon our guard against this vai?i worlds that specious harlot^
tvho hath cast down many xuounded ; yea, 7nany stro?ig me?! have
heen slain by her, (Prov. vii. 26.) How universally are riches
desired, how eagerly are they pursued, by persons in all stations
and of all professions of life ! Yet what do they generally prove
but shining mischief and guilded ruin ! If we believe the incar-
23"25 nate xvisdom of God, They make our salvation exceeding hazard-
ous. Yet who does not wish for them ? Who does not think
that he has wisdom and grace enough to stand the danger ? But
God knows otherwise, and therefore he keeps, or makes, so
many of his children poor. Let them be contented with their
safer state ; and let those who are rich be importunate with God
27 for those influences of his grace which can effect those things
which are impossible xvith men.
On the whole, let us not think much of any thing which Christ
demands, knowing that whatever we may lose, or whatever we
may resign, we shall gain far 7nore by his favour. The testi-
7nony of a good conscience before him, a life of friendship with
God, the consolations of his Spirit, and the hopes of his glory_,
The parable of the labourers i?i the vineyard. 235 '
will yield, even for the present, an hundredfold more satisfaction sect.
than' the possessions of the greatest riches, or the enjoyment of cxxxvU.
the most tender and beloved relatives. How much more abun- "~~"
dantlv then will all be repaid in the heaveidi/ state ! And, if we ^'^^- ^^
cannot trust the promise of our Lord for it, we are no more real .
Christians than if we were publicly to worship mammon, or Plu^
tusy with all the idolatrous rites of the ancient heathens.
SECT. CXXXVIII.
Christy bif the parable of the labourers in the mneijard, warns the
Jews against envying the Gentiles those equal privileges to
ivhich they should be called in the Messiah^ s kingdom. Mat.
XX. l— 16.
Mat. XX. 1. . MaT. XX. 1.
FOR the kingdom TN order to illustrate the qbservation which sect-
ofheavenislike X our Lord had been just making, " that cxxxviri.
if an ho "seholder! ^^ny who were first should be last, and many
\vluch went out ear- last should be first," he added the following
ly m the morning- to parable, and said. This will be found to be the
hive hibourers into ^^^^ -^^ many instances ; for the kinoxlom ofhca-
his vmeyard. , -^ a ^• ^ • - n
ven, or the gospel dispensation, zs Like, or may
be fitly represented by the similitude oia man ^
that was the master of a family, xvho xvent out
early in the morning to hire labourers for his
vineyard, at the time when the vintage was to
2 And when he ^^ jrathered in. And having agreed with the 2
liad acrreed with the , ° n \ i • r i
labourer.s for a pen- labourers Jor the usi^l pr^ce ot a denarius, or
ny a day, he sent "Rovd^n penny a day^ he sent them into his vine^
them into his vine- yard, to be employed there in his service.
^^3 And he went '^^'^^ ^'^^"t? ^^'^ again about the third hour ^ 3
Gut about the third (or at nine in the morning), he sazu others
» Is Hie, or may be fitly represented by as a proof of the great scarcity of provi-
the similitude of a man.'] See 7iote ' on sions, when a oneasure or chcenix ofviheaty
Luke vii. 32, Vol. I. p. 322. Those who which was the usual allow^ance to one man
are acquainted with the eastern manners for a day, and was about an English quarts
know that this parable is exactly suited to was sold at that price,
them in a variety of circumstances, which « About (he third hour."] Dr. Whitby in
many learned commentators have observed, his Paraphrase explains the first call in the
but which it does not seem necessary to onorning, of the earliest days of Christ's
enumerate here. See Petav. Dogmat. preaching ; that of the third hour, as re-
Theolog. Vol. I. p. 305, Isfseq. ferring to the viission of the apostles wlien
'' A denarius, a Roman pe7iny a day."] they were first sent forth to preach among
It seems from hence that this (which was the Jews; those of the sixth and ninth
in value about seven pence half penny of our hours of their preaching the gospel, after
money) was the usual price of a day's the descent of the Holy Ghost, to the Jews
service among the Jews ; as Tacitus tells us in Judea, and then to the dispersed m other
it was among the Romans. fAnnaLi. 17.) parts; andthat of the e/e<t;e«?/i hour, oi' the
It is therefore justly raentionedj Rev. vi. 6, calling of the Gentiles : but this seems an
236 The labourers are hired at different hours,
SECT, standmg unemployed in the market^ where it hour, and s^w oth.
cxxxviii. was customary for servants to stand, in order ^^^ standing idle m
to their being hired. And he said to them^ Go ^VTnd^ said ^ unto
^^^4 y^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^i?2c't/^r<y, and zvhatsoever is the them, Go ye also
* . reasonable value of vou;* labour,*^ I will be sure '"^^o the vineyard,
to ^iveyou. And they .vent a.vay to their -/.J^^^-^y,^
work without an}- more particular agreement. And they went their
5 And again going out about the sixth and ninth way.
hour (or at noon, and at three in the after- f ^^*TJ'^ '^Y^"*
^^ , ,. , , , , , out about the sixth
noonj, he did the same^ and sent others to work ^nd ninth hour and
on the same general promise of giving them as did likewise.
much as they could reasonably expect.
6 And once more, abojit the eleventh hour (or 6 And about the
at five in the afternoon), sroins^ out of his house, eleventh hour he
, , , '^ 1 r 1 1 ' went out, and found
he returned to the market, and joitnd others others standing idle,
standing unemployed : and he says to them^ Why and saith unto them,
do ye stand here and do nothing ? Do you Why stand ye here
x, ^x, ^ . -a .• J all the day idle ?
choose thus to trine away your time, and con- ^
7 tinue the -whole day unemployed f They say 7 They say unto
unto him^ No ; but we continue here, because no him,Becausenoman
one has hired us to any kind of labour. Then ^^^} ^"rl""; p^'
, , y-Y 7 • » . 7 saith unto them. Go
he says to them^ ho ye also into the m?ieyard^ ye also into the vine-
where you may be employed, and 'cvhatsoever yard, and whatso-
is fit and reasonable to be e:iven for vour labour, ^y^f, ^^ i*igl}t, that
, „ . ° ' ' shall ye receive.
you shall receive*
8 Noru when eveiiing zvas come (or at six 8 So when even
o'clock), the time when workmen v.^ere wo.s come, the lord
paidofF, and sent home, the lord of the ^i«.- ^^ ^'^ [r^^L^^rf)
yard says to his steward. Call the labourers who Call tlie labourers,
have been working in the vineyard, <2?2f/ /;flz/ -ind give them their
them their wages, beginning from those who JV^'^' '^^^"^"JV^^'^^
were the last hired, and so going on even to the
first.
9 And having thus been ordered to present 9 And when they
themselves, when they accordingly came fore- ^f^™^ '^^^^ ivere hired
most who [were hired'] about the eleventh hour, j^^^j.^ ^^^^y received
and so had entered last into the vineyard, they every man a penny.
each of them received no less than a penny, the
excessive nicety of distinction. The Jews have endured more than the believing);
were ready to look upon themselves with Gentiles, many of whom met with much'
complacency, as a people who had for ma- the same treatment on their embracingij
ny ag-es adhered to the worship of the true Christianity. See 1 Thess. ii. 14- ;
God, and in some periods had endured ^ Whatsoever is reasonable.'] So I think
great extremities out of a regard to it; the word cT/xet/ov may be rendered, Phil, i.:
and it seems natural to interpret what is 7; Col iv. 1 ; and 2 Pet. i. 13; and that;
said (ver. 12), of bearing the 6'urden and heat it signifies not only what a person may
of the day, with a reference to this, rather legally claim, but what he miglit equita-!
than to any peculiar hardship which the bly expect from a person of honour and,
earlier converts among the Jews might humanity.
The first murmur that the last receive as much as they, 237
master having directed they should be thus sect.
generously rewarded. cxxxviii.
10 But -when the ^72^ Upon seeing this, when those who were "TTT"
first came, they sup. ^/iej^r^^ and had been working all the day, xx.lo
S^dhave^received ^^^^^ ^o be paid, they reckoned with themselves
more : and they like- that they should have receiue<5^ considerably more;
wise received every but they were also paid the same, and only re-
"^ U Aifd "^li n the ^^^^^^ every one a penny. And when they had 1 1
had receivrd /f, they received [z^], instead of being satisfied with what
murmured against was promised them, they murmured against the
the good man of the master of the house ^ who had set them to work,
^ir'saying, These ^^^ ^^^^y Truly these last have laboured but 12
last have wrought om hour^ and thou hast made them equal in the
but one hour, and recompense thev have received to us^ who have
fqa^ATJutwhrch *r»^ .f '^ ^hole burden, and gone through all
have borne the bur- the toil and heat of the day from morning to
den and heat of the night.
•To r. . X. But he calmy answered and said to one of them ^ 13
13 But he answer- , i • "^i r i ^ . ^ , . .^
ed one of them, and WHO spoke m the name ot the rest. Friend^ it is
said, Friend, I do most apparent that /fl'i? 770? in any degree hi"
thee no wrong: didsty^^;.^ tkee^ or any of thy companions : didst not
me for^a pinny ?^^^ ^ ^''^^" agree with me to labour all the A2iy for a
14 Take that \kC\\\e penny ^ and hast thou not received it ? Take 14
is, and go thy way : xvhat is justly thine^ and be gone^ without pre-
thee. thou hast no manner of concern ; for I will do
as I see fit, and give to this last man, who came
15 Is it not lawful in but an hour ago, evefi as I do to thee J And 15
for me to do what I ^j^^^^j ^vh^t colour hast thou for a complaint ?
■will witn mme own r r-x^/y/y- 7 » i--i...
Is it not lawjuljor me to do what I will with
what is undoubtedly mine own property :s
« They murmured against the master of % And indeed, is it not iaiiful for me to
the house.] That this was the case of the do vjhat I ivill with miiie okch ?~^ That the
Jews, upon a general notion of the Gen- particle » may thus be rendered, And in^
tiles being, according to the Christian deed^has been observed before, 7iote^, on
scheme, intended to be partakers with Mat. vii. 9, Vol. I. p. 244. And as to
them in the same church privileges, is plain what is here suggested, so many scriptures
from a variety of *cn;,6fMref. See Acts xi. declare expressly that God at the great
2, 3 ; xiii. 45 — 50 ; xvii. 5, 13 ; xviii 6, 13 ; day will render to every man according to liis
xxii. 21, 22 ; xxviii. 29 ; Rom. xi. 28 ; and -jjorks, and intimate that there shall be an
1 Thess. ii. 16. exact correspondence between every man's
_ f / 'vjill give to this last even as to thee.'] character and the reward wliich (through
Since no munnurings can happen among the riches of Divine grace) shall then be
the blessed, ihis must refer to the unbeliev- bestowed, that it would be very unreason-
ing Jews ; but as it is certain f/iey will have able, from such a circumstance as this in
no place in the kingdom of heaven, we the /?fl/-ai?'/e, to infer the contrary. But if
plainly see that it would be very absurd to any should maintain that all the favours
pretend to draw doctrinal consequences of Divine Providence and grace must nono
from every incidental circumstance of a be dispensed only in proportion to the wis-
parable. dom and goodness of the person conc&i'ned.
238 But the master may do wllat he will with his own*
SECT. What if I pleased to give it to one who had done Is thine eye evil,Fe-
cxxxviii. nothing at all for it ? Is thine eye evil,^ or dost <^^^s® 1 »"^ S^^od ?
~Z[^ thou look on with an envious and malignant
sx. 15 countenance, because I am so good^ that out of
compassion to these poor men I freely give
them what they could not justly have claimed?
16 And thus said Jesus at the conclusion of / 16 So the last shall
this parable, You see (as I have iust been tell- be first, and the first
T\/r *. • o\a *i. 1, last : for many be
mgyou, Mat. xix. 30) there are some who ^^^^^^^ ^ut few cho.
seemed to be the last in privileges and advan- sen»
tages, who shall be first in the reward and hap-
piness that shall be given to them ; and^ on the
other hand, there are many in those respects
the firsts who shall be last. And this is a re-
mark peculiarly applicable to the Jewish na-
tion,/ who will murmur at the calling of the
Gentiles to equal dignities and privileges with
themselves, and on that account will reject the
gospel, and persecute you the preachers of it :
for though many are called^ and the messages of
salvation are sent to vast multitudes, even to
all the thousands of Israel, yet there are but
fexv chosen :^ a small remnant only will embrace
the gospel so universally offered, and so be
saved according to the election of grace (Rom.
xi. 5), while the rest will be justly disowned
by God, as a punishment for so obstinate and
I apprehend they would ars^ue directly intend, that persons are called tiie cJiosen
contrary to the whole desig'n of X\\\s para- of God, merely witli respect to the Divine
ble-, and to what daily appears to he fact, complacency in them on account of some
which therefore cannot give way to any distinpi-uished virtue and excellence. Com-
hypothesis. pare Deut. vii. 6 — 8 ; ix. 6 ; John xv. 16 ;
^ Is thine eye evil ?'] Here is an evident Acts ix. 13, 15 ; Rom. xi. 5, 6 ; and 1 John
reference to that vialignant aspect which is iv. 19. To understand the expression here
generally the attendant of a .se'//?,yA and e;i- of chosen and excellent servants (as Mr. Le
'vioiis temper. Clerc, Dr. Wall, and many others do) is-
» Peculiarly ap]:^icable to the Jewish quite to contradict the design of the /)«;«-<
nation.] The remark itself is far more ble. On that supposition the 7^ifl.?fer must ^
extensive, as I intimate both in the para- have said, " These last have done as much'
phrase ^nH improvement. But as this was in one liour as you in many ; or I ehose!
a memorable instance of it, so it is plainly them, because I knew they were men re-j
what Christ had immediately in his view, markable for their diligence." This is the-;
^ Many are called, but fen^j chosen."] Gro- turn which tlie Talmudists have given to
tins has a very learned and ingenious note the parable in their Insipid imitation of it, '
on t-Jiis text ; but no genius or learning can which may be seen in Dr. Li^htfootj Ilor^l
be sufficient to prove what he seems to -fle^.on Mat. xx. 1.
Reflections on our duty to improve our privileges. 239
IMPROVEMENT.
May we by Divine grace appear in the happy number of sect.
those who are not only called^ but chosen too ! If we are first ^^^^^^
in privilegee and opportunities, let us be careful that our im- yerse 16
provement be proportionable ; otherwise we shall be last^ and
see ourselves another day exceeded, and perhaps condemned,
by those who stood in a rank below us.
We are called to a course of holy labour^ even to xvork in our 1
Lord'^s vineyard^ or in every station, whether public or private,
to do our utmost to promote the glory of God and the happi-
ness of mankind. Let us not, with so many calls and so many 6
advantages, stand all the day idle ; but let us be active and 12
patient, and cheerfully willing to hear all the burden and heat of^
the day. in so good a cause ; knowing that ere long the evening-
'will come, and that he who employs us saith, Behold, I come
quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according
«s his xvork shall be, (Rev. xxii. 12.)
Let such as have long neglected the great business of life be 6
encouraged with this thought, that some were called at the
eleventh hour : but let none presume on their having such a
call, nor strain the parable so far as to imagine that an egual
reward 2i\v:iits all, without any regard to their characters or im-
provements ; which is most contrary to the reason of things, to
the word of God, and to the great intent of that day which is
to render to ever?./ man according to his deeds, (Rom. ii. 6.) 9
The Gentiles are indeed now called to equal privileges with
the jfervs, to which this circumstance of the parable refers : and
we all see how odious a temper it was in that favourite nation 11, 12
to be offended with the gospel on that account, which should
rather have recommended it to their more joyful acceptance.
Let us be careful to avoid every degree of envy, whoever may
be put on a level with us, or preferred to us. Let us acknowl- 15
edge the sovereign right of God to do -what he will with his own^
and let not our eye be evil, because he is good. To prevent this,
let us labour after that unfeigned love to the brethren which never
will allow us to repine at their advancement to the greatest priv-
ileges, but will engage us to behold the favours that are shewn
them with delight and satisfaction, and to rejoice in their hon-
our and happiness as our own. So shall we exchange the basest
and most uneasy passion of human nature for that which is of
all others the noblest and most deli^htfij.
VOL. 2. 32
.*240 While Jesus was beyond Jordan^ Lc^arus is sick*
SECT. CXXXIX.
Our Lord^ hearing of the sickness of his friend Lazarus ^ and after »
wards knowing that he was dead^ determines to go from the
country beyond Jordan to Judea^ though against the persua*
sion of his disciples. John XI. 1 — 16.
John XI. 1. John XI. 1.
SECT. \J0W while Jesus was on the other side 'M'OW a certain
cxxxix. i V Jordan, whither he had retired when he -'^^ j"%" ^^« ^^^^^
, ^ T t /"T 1 • \ earned Lazarus or
John left Jerusalem, (John x. 40, sect, cxxxiv.) Bethany, the town
xi. 1 there was one Lazarus of Bethany^ which was of Mary andher sis-
also the town of Mary ^ and Martha her sister^ ter Martha.
who was sick of a very dangerous distemper.
2 And, by the way, it is to be observed, that it ^ ^ ^ hiT^ tioi^d
rvas [that] Mary who afterwards at a public H^ ^J^f^ wkh'dnt-
entertainment, in testimony of her high regard ment, and wiped his
and veneration for him, anointed the Lord with feet with her hah-,
a most precious ointment,^ and wiped his feet ^sTas Tick^) ^^^^*'
with her hair^ xvhose brother Lazarus was sick.
3 The sisters therefore^ full of concern for their 3 Therefore his
diseased brother, knowing where Jesus was, f\^^^^^ .^^"^ J^"^^^
1 • 1 ' 1 T 1 1 u ^ ^1- hi"™j saying-. Lord,
sent to him^ and saidy Lord^ we beg that thou behold, he whom
wouldst be pleased to favour us with a visit, thou love^t is si^fc.
whatever difficulties may lie in the way; for
behold^ he whom thou so tenderly lovest^ even
Lazarus thy friend, is so exceedingly i//, that,
without thy interposition for his deliverance,
nothing but death can be expected.
4 But when Jesus heard \it\ he saidy This sick- ^ When Jes.^s
7iess is not designed by Providence, to end in ^^^^ skkness^rnat
his deathy and final removal out of this world ;'^ unto death, but foi;
» It ivas that Mary nxsho anointed the Lord who was of Magdala, a town of Galilee at
li^ith ointment."] Some comvie7itators huve a considerable distance. Nor is there any
supposed that this refers to the story re- ground from *c;7/>ft^re to conclude that Ma«
tated by Luke, chap. vii. 37, tf seq. (sect, ry Magdalene was the person who anointed
Ix.) and have argued from thence that Christ in Luke, which appears rather to
Mary Magdalene, whom they think to be be there described as the action of a wo-
the person there described as a ivonian man of Naim, where Christ restored the
that ivas a sinner, was the same with this uvVo^u',? ^o?* to life (Luke vii. 37). Compare
Ma7y the sister of Lazarus. But it seems yiote ^ on Luke viii. 2, Vol. L p. 334. Be-,
much more probable that John himself sides, the stories are i-elated with such
sl.iould mention the fact that he has here different circumstances, that it is strange
referred to ; which, if he has done at all, they sl»ould betaken for the same Jact i
it must be that which he relates, John xii. and as Luke no where tells us that the
3, Isf seq. (sect, cxlv.) where there can be person he speaks of was named Mary, so
no doubt but that the person who perform- neither have we any reason to suppose that
ed this instance of respect to Christ was the satne person should anoint him, twice.
Mary the sister of Lazarus, who was of ^ This sickness is not to death, &c.] Com-
Bethany near Jerusalem, and therefore pare Mat. ix. 24, and Mark, v. 39, Vol. I.
'nitu^t be 4iffere;nt from Mary Magd^ae* p- 399. Oup Lord afterwards so full>^
He tarries two days Before he sets out for Judea* 241
the glofy of God, ^w^ shall serve /or the remarkable illustration of sect.
that the Son of God the ^lory of God^ and is suffered to prevail, cxxxix.
might be glorified chie'flv with a design that the Son of God may be "777
thereby. , -r , j -^ ? u- t^- • • • . J*^"*^
glorified by it, and his Divme mission most xi. 4
signally confirmed.
5 Now Jesus lov- Nozv it was well known that jfesus loved Mar- 5
ed Martha, and her (ha, and her sister Mary, and this their brother
sister, and Lazarus. ^^2:«rz^5, with a peculiar affection, and had
often visited them, and lodged at their house ;
and, in consequence of this, he was deter-
mined to order the affair in such a manner
as he knew would be most for their final ad-
vantage, though it might for a while be an
occasion of greater affliction.
6 When he had When therefore he had heard that hexvas sick, d
heard therefore that he then, without declaring he had any thought
he was sick, lie abode q£ going to him, abode yet ttvo days longer on
same place^ where the other side Jordan, in the same place rvhere
he was. he was before. And then after that, that is, 7
7 Then after that, q^ t^g third day, he saifs to his disciples. Let us
Judea again. The disciples say unto him. Rabbi, it is but 8
8 His disciples just noxv that the Jews sought to stone thee,
say unto him, Mas- 'q^^j^ ^ 3. ^^^^^ cxxxiv.) and dost tliou intend
ter, the Jews of late ^•' ' ... ^ . . ^ .
sought to stone thee: SO soon to go thither again, as 11 it were to
and goest thou thith- tempt the danger from which thou hast so late-.
er again ? \y ^yj^h such difficulty escaped ?
9 Jesus answered, Jesus anszvered. Are there not titxelve hours 9
Are there not twelve iji the day P Now if any man take the advan-
™rw:.kT„the '^'ge oft'^em .ndroaliin the day, he is pre-
day, he stumbleth pared lor all events, and does not stumble at
not, because he seeth any obstacle which may lie in his way ; because
^%l}^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ the sun is then above the horizon, and he sees
10 But if a man ^^^^ ^^gf^t of this world. But if any man will 10
walk in the night, he rather choose to walk in the night, it is no
stumbleth, because wonder at all if he stumbles then, because there
explains what he meant by this ambiguous and in the following venes happened dur-
speech, that nothing reasonable can be ob- ing the interval of Christ's delay to go to
jectedtoit : but it is a remarkable instance Bethany, after he had heard that Lazarus
of the candour and fidelity of the evajigelists was sick : but I do not find that Christ ivent
here, and in the forecited places, so ex- to Jerusalem r^ovr ; andif he did, it seems
actly to record the very nxords of Jesusy that those events happened in his very last
tliough malice might so easily cavil at journey thither, and consequently should
them. not be introduced here ; especially as they
'' After that he says to his disciples, &c.] breakthe thread of the story, out of regard
From comparing Mat. xx. 17 ; Mark x. to which, I think, some small transposi-
32 ; and Luke xviii, 31, (sect, cxlii.) many tions may well be allowed in other places,
critics m^tVi that what is recorded there though none be needful here.
242 & ielh his disciples that Lazarus is dead,
is 710 light in the air around him. In like man- there is no ll^ht io
ner I am desirous, as I lately told you, to do 1""^-
the will of my heavenly Father while the day
of opportunity of life lasts, (John ix. 4, sect,
cxxx.) and I doubt not but I shall thereby ap-
prove myself in his sight, and secure his pro-
tection and favour.
11 These things he said to silence their objec- 11 These things
tions, and to prepare their minds for what he ^f ^^ ^,^ • ^?f ^^^^^'
' 1 J 7 /\ .7 • 1. r ^1 that, he saitb unto
yet concealed : and after this, as he perfectly t]^em, Our friend
knew what had passed at Bethany, though so Lazarus sleepeth i
many miles distant from it, he says to them^ but I go that I may
Our friend Lazarus is fallen asleep; but I am ^^^^^^ ^"^ ^^^ «^
going to him, that Lmay axvaken him ; thereby
referring to his death, and to that raising him
from it which he intended quickly to eifect.
12 His disciples therefore^ not apprehending his 12 Then said his
meaning, immediately said^ Lord^ if he sleeps disciples. Lord, if
naturally and quietly, as thou seemest to inti- 1^!.^^^^^' ^^ ^^^^^^ ^^
mate, he will probably recover ; and there is
the less reason for thy running the hazard of
going thither to heal him.
"i-^ But Jesus spake this conce7mzng his deaths 13 Howbeit, Jesus
which for many apparent reasons he chose to pake of his death :
represent unde'r this gentle image j^ but they ^^l^ ,^^^^ad spoken
thought that he had spokeii of his taking rest as of taking of rest in
a living man does in a common sleep, • sleep.
14- Then Jesus therefore^ that he might not hold 14 Then said Je-
them any longer in suspense, or leave them un- sus unto them plain-
der a mistake, said to them plainly, Lazarus is ^^* Lazarus is dead.
15 indeed dead. And, as I could not have per- 15 And I am glad
mitted this to have happened in my presence, /for your sakes, that
am P- lad on your account that I was not there ;\ '^^^\ not there (to
, ^ ^ r 1 T 7 7- • the intent ye may be -
that you may more confidently believe m me,
and may find your faith confirmed by a farther
d For many apparent reasons he chose and to command him back to life again ;*'
to represent under this gentle image.] but, avoiding all parade and ostentation.
Our Lord might choose the expression of he chooses the simplest and humblest ex-
Lazarus sleeping partly out of tenderness^ as pression that can be thought of This fine
being least shocking, when he spoke of so remark (which Mr, Blackv^all makes in
dear a friend ; as Homer y when he repre- his Sacred Classics, Vol. I. p. 297) is ad-
vents Antilochus as reporting the death of mirably illustrated, in a great variety of
Patroclus to Achilles, used the word y,ulu,iy particulars in the present story, by the in-
he is fallen, rather than he is slain. C Iliad genious Dr. Lardner'm his Vindication of it.
lib. xviii. ver. 20.) And it may also be He has treated the subject with a candour
farther considered as an instance of our and rectitude of heart equal to the accura-
Lord^s modesty •• he does not immediately cy of this critical skill, and even equal to
say, ** He is dead, and I go by my almighty that malignity and baseness qf soul with
jiower to burst the bonds of the sepulchre, which Woolsion attacked it.
Rejlecthm on the sickness and death of Lazarus. 245
Ueve) ; nevertheless, remarkable display of my Divine power, in sect.
let us go unto him. some respects exceeding any thmg you have ^^ *
yet seen : but let 2ts now go directly to hiin at ^^^^
16 Then said Tho- ^^^^^^^y* ^^'^^
raas, which is called Then Thomas^ xvho was also called Didymus,
Didymus, unto his ,9^2^ (q his fellotv discifiles and brethren in the
usdro'^'o'^'fe w^e ^P*^^^^^^^ ^^^^^'' ^^^^^ ^"^ ^^^^ Master will
m\y cUe^withhfnT^ expose himself to so much danger among his
inhuman enemies in Judea, letusalso go^thou^h
it be only that xve may die with hi??! ; for what-
soever he may suffer, it is infinitely better we
should take our portion with him, even in
death, than that we should desert such a friend
in an article of the extremest danger.
IMPROVEMENT.
Hov/ happy was this family of Lazarus in which Christ was verse 5
so frequent a guest ! how happy Lazarus and his sisters^ who
were so peculiarly beloved by him ! Yet sickness and death in- 1, 3, 14
vaded that family ; and this excellent man, as it should seem,
in flourishing circumstances (ver. 19), and perhaps too in early
youth, was snatched awav, on a sudden, by what appeared a very
untimely stroke. The friends of Christ must be sick, and die, as
well as others ; and no man knoxveth either love, or hatred, by all
that is before them under the sun. (Eccles. ix. 1.) Let us
therefore ^W/^e nothing before the time. (1 Cor. iv. 5.) This
sickness and death of Lazarus was for the glory of God: and may 4
all our personal and domestic sufferings be so ! " To this, O
Lord, may our life be cons&crated, and to this may our death be
subservient ! We shall not then feel our dying pangs in half their
bitterness, when our hearts are inflamed with a zeal for thy glory,
and when we see that even those pangs are promoting it."
Our Lord delayed his coming to this dear friend in his extrem- 6
ity ; and perhaps it occasioned, not only many an anxious, but
many a suspicious thought both to Lazarus and his sisters ; yet
the intent of this delay was both gracious and important. Let
us not limit our Divine Master as to the time or manner of his
appearance for us : let us not censure him if it be for a while
put off. It is to exercise our faith and patience, and to make
the mercy more signal and more welcome.
At length a resolution is formed to go into Judea ; though 7^ p^ ^^
but a little while ago the Jews had assaulted him, even in a
sacred place, v/ith burning malice in their hearts, and the instru-
ments of death in their hands. But when Providence called,
none of these things could move our blessed Redeemer, neither
counted he his life dear unto him, that he might finish his course
with joy, (Aces xx. 24.) May we shew the like intrepidity
^44 When Christ came to Bethany Lazarus was dead four days.
SECT, of soul in his service ! walking in that day^ that we 7nay not
cxxxix. stumble^ and taking all proper opportunities of performing the
"~~" duties of life while the season of it lasts : and then, when the
9 10 "^^S^^ of death comes^ it will close our eyee in peaceful slumbers.
' J I The repose of the breathless corpse^ insensible of alarms, and sor-
rows, and cares, will be a lovely emblem of the sweet repose of
the soul in the arms of Divine love, till ere long ClA-'ist shall
come to awaken lis out of our sleep by that general resurrectiofi
of v\'hich this of Lazarus was a figure and pledge.
Let these glorious thoughts and expectations animate us to all
the returns of affection, duty, and zeal. Let them teach us the
temper of Thomas when he said, Let us go mid die with hi?n,
^" " Blessed Jesus / how much better is it to die with andy^r
thee, who art the resurrection and the life^ than to prolong these
wretched days of absence, meanness, and affliction, by forsaking
thee when thou art leading us into danger !"
SECT. CXL.
Our Lord raises Lazarus from the dead after lie had been buried
four days, John XL 17 — 46.
John XL 17. , yj .^
CT^Z/'^iVy^.sz^^, according?tothe resolution he rr^HEN when Je-
^ had declared to his disciples (ver. 7, 15), A sus came, he
departed from the countrvbeyondTordan, where f'^P.'^ }^^^^ '^^ ]^^^
V S 1 ■ J r '1. J ^ ^ lain ni the srrave foul-
he had contmued lor some time, and went to- ^^.^^ already.
wards Bethany ; and when he came near the vil-
lage, h.t found that his friend Lazarus was dead,
and that he had been noxvfour days in the tomb,
18 Noxv Bethany^ the place where Lazarus had is (Now Betliany
lived, was very near to Jerusalem^ being but was nigh unto Jeru-
about fifteen furlongs o/'Cor somewhat less than \^^^^ f^'}^ ^^'^^^"
two miles) ; so that he was well known in the
19 city, and had many friends there. And many 19 And many of
of the yezvs who dwelt there,^ when the fu- the Jews came to
HQY^lwsiS ovtY^ came to Martha and Mary, ^ that ^^^'^^^ ^"^ ^^^T*
a Ma7iy of the ^fU'?, S;c.] It might be able authorities to vindicate our venioa
one reason why Jesus delayed his cum- here, and to shew that there is no need
ing- till iha fourth day, that he might meet to render or paraphrase it as Beza and
a great number of them, as, for wise pur- Wolfius would do, '< That the men came
poses, he determined to make this miracle to join with t\\o%e female friends who
very public. had before attended the mourning sis-
'' Came to Martha and Mary."] The orig- ters, and were now with them." The
vialhsis it tjrp©' TdLc 'wriptMap^div Ktti Mciptetv; word laJsiiav, Jews, to be sure, includes
but the learned J^c^iu.9, in his Notes on persons of hotk sexes. See aliso JRapIiij^
F«//rtonthis t-ext, hj?s produced inconfesl- Not. e.v. Xenoph. p. 137.
On meeting' Martha he declares her brother shall rise again. 245
to comfort them they vilght comfort them concerning the loss of sect.
concerning their ^y^^^y beloved brother^ cxl.
brother. a j t • ,
20 Then Martha, .-^"^ Jesus was no sooner come into the ""^
as soon as she heard neighbourhood, but presently the news of his \^^^%^
that Jesus was com- approach was brought to the afflicted family^*
hiS :Tut'MaryTaf ^^at had so long been impatiently desirous to
still in the house. see him. Martha therefore^ as soon as she
heard that Jesus was comings immediately
xuent out to fneet him : but Marij^ who was mourn*-
ing with her friends in private, was not as yet
informed of his approach, and {stiir^ sat weep-
ing in the house. ^
21 Then said Mar- The7i Martha, he'm^ told where she might 21
thauntoJesus,Lord,jneet with him, and having hastened to the
if thou hadst been , -^ ^ cv r j ^ ,
here, my broUier place, sazd unto Jesus, Lord, we have been
had not died. much surprised at thy delay, and cannot but
be exceedingly troubled at it, that thou didst
not immediately take notice of the message
that we sent thee ; for, surely, if thou hadst
been here, fny dear brother had not died, but
would have been given back to thy prayers,
which in so many instances have beensuccess-
22 But I know, ful even for the recovery of strangers. But 22
that even now what- ^^^^ /zo<:i^ / know, that ruhatsoe^jer thou shalt
soever thou wilt ask ^1. , ^ i r r^ j ' in i^i* o#twtc.
of God, God will ^"^"^ "^ ^^ ^'^^ V ^^"'> ^^ ^^'^^ assuredly be
give i?thee. gf anted ; and I am satisfied that God will give
[it'\ thee, however great the favour be, if there
be any method to repair the grievous loss we
have sustained.
23 Je.<5us saithun- Jesus, beholding her distress with a compas- 23
lUuLra^ab?'^'^^^ ^^^^^^"' '"^y^' ^''^'^ M^^tJ^^' do not
■^ abandon thyself to overwhelming grief ; for I
assure thee that thy beloved brother shall rise
again from the dead.
24 Martha salth Then Martha, conceiving some secret and 24
Jhat h^'shall^ rlsl ^^^'^^bling hope from these words, yet desiring
again in the resur- ^^^^ farther confirmation of it, says to him^
rection at the last Lord, /well know, and steadfastly believe, that
^> • he ^hall rise again in the general resurrection at
the last day (compare chap. v. 29, and Luke
xiv. 14) ; but the distance of that leaves me
still under a load of sorrow.
^ That they onight comfort them, Sec.] ^ Sat weeping in the house.'] She prob-
IWanyceremoniesusedby the ancient Jews ably sat on the ground, which was the
in mourning for the dead and in comforting posture of mourners. Compare Job ii. S ;
the mourners are collected by Dr. Lightfoot Ez^k, viii, 14 j and Mat. xxvii- 61.
(in his Hor. Hebr. on this place) ; but the
mention of them here woujld be tedious^
father tV^i edifying.
246 Martha declares her faith iii Jesus as the Messiah.
SECT. Jesus then said unto her^ lam the resurrec- 25 Jesus said untQ
cxl. tion and the life (compare chap. v. 21, and ^^^^•' ^ ^"U^,t ''IT'
T-k . ^^ 1 1 ^1 rection and the life :
—• Deut. XXX. 20) ; by me the general resurrec- he that believeth in
•s.\ 25 ^^^^ shall be accomplished, and by me a most me, though he were
glorious and happy life shall be given to all my ^^^^> y^^ shall he
people, and be maintained even to eternal '
ages : he therefore that believes in me^ though
he be dead^ yet he shall ere long live again, and
his reanimated body shall be again united to
that soul which in its separate state continues
its dependance on my power and faithfulness ;
and even at present I can loose the bonds of
death,- and though thy brother now is holden
by it, I can recal him when I please to life :
26 And every ofie that is now living, and believes in 26 And whosc^v-
me, shall never die :^ death shall be so disarm- ^^hyeth, and believ-
ed and transformed that it shall hardly deserve ^^ ^ci\T.^' Mievest
the name ; the better part of him being imme- thou this \
diately conveyed to immortal life and glory,
and the body only sleeping a while in the dust,
till I come to awaken it to everlasting vigour
and joy. Dost thou, '^IdiYth^, believe this to hQ^
true ?
27 And she saijs to him, Tes, Lord, /firmly be- 27 She saith untc
lieve every thing thou sayest ; for I am fully ^^^™' Y^^» ^m-d : %
persuaded that thou art the Messiah, the Son e/^the Xil\f the^s^on
God, zvho -was to come into the world, and has of God, which should
been so long promised, expected, and desired ; come into the world.
and that all power therefore must belong to
thee.
28 And Martha having said these [xvordsl, and 2^ And when she
testified her faith, Jesus inquired for her sister j jj^^, '^^'y^' amuXd
and presently she went away, and called her sister Mary her sister
e That is living and believing in ine^ shall fVernac. Sacra, p. 8), ** Whoever, tohile he
never die."] The sense that I have ^iven in lives, believes on vne, shall 7iot die for ever,
the paraphrase appears to me the most or eternally," is both obscuring- and ener-
consistent sense tliat can be made of these vating- their sense, and (as I have shewn
remarkable words, and the equivalent elsewhere, note ^ on John iv. 14, Vol. I. p.
passages : John V. 24, and viii. 51. And a 170, and ho^ca- b, c, on John viii. 51, 52,
very sublime and important sense it is, Vol. II. p. 76, 77) is grounded on a criti-
perfectly agreeable to the height of senti- cism which cannot agree with the use of
jnent and language with which Christ is the phrase in question in pai-allel passages,
saidelsewhere to liavc rtW/sAec/f/eafA, and Compare Mat. xxi. 19, sect, cxlix. The
to have destroyed the devil (2 Tim. i. 10, and opposition between this and the preceding
Heb. ii. 14), and with which Christians verse plainly shew^s that the former refers
are said to be come to the heavenly yerusa- to the spirits ofthose who were dead, who
letn, to the general assembly and church of are yet spoken of as believing in Christ ;
the firstborn, &c. (Heb. xii. 22, 23) ; and and is, I think, no contemptible proof of
to be raised up viith Christ, and made to sit their remaining in a state of activity : but
together in heavenly places in Christ ^esiis. the doctrine is so very plain in scripture
(Eph. ii. 6.) See Vitring. Observ. Sacr. as not to need thg aid of SUCh COnsequen-
lib. ii. cap. 7, § 9—18. To render tlie ti^ arguments,
words before us^ as Mr. Massey would dQ
Mary comes to him^ and isfolloxved by the Jews. 54^
secretly, saying, The Mary 2iS privately as she could, whispering in sect,
Master is come, and h^^. g^r, and saying^The Master is hard by^ and ^^-
IfAslo^a" she ^'^I'^thfor thee. And as soon as she heard [it] —
heard thau she arose she iminediately arose^ and^ having left the com- ^i. 39
quickly, and came pany that were about her, came forward with
"""nxr"^' T the utmost eagerness to meet him. Noru Jesus 30
0\J v^ O'W J CSUS WHS _, _ •«« J cil
not yet come into the ^^^^ riot yet entered into the milage^ but still con-
town, but was in that tinned in the place zvhere 3Iartha met him^ \w2i\t-
met him'^"^^ ^^"^^^^ ^"^ ^^^^^ ^°^ Mary's coming.
31 The Tews then ^^^^ Jews then zvho were zvith her in the 21
which were with her house, attempting to comfort her under her sor-
in the house, and j-qw, seeinsc that Marti arose up hastily andxvent
comforted her, when ^ c j r n j l • c; u '
they saw Mary, that ^^'^ ^^ doorsjo lloived her, saying. Surely she zs
she rose up hastily, going to the sepulchre of her brother, that she
and went out, follow- may weep there} which will only aggravate and
ed her, saying. She j-enew her sorrow ; let us therefore endeavour
g-oeth unto the grave, ,. , , ... » i i i i •
to weep there to dissuade her from it. And thus, by their
going after her, they were naturally led to be
eyewitnesess of all that followed.
32 Then when Then Mary, when she came to the place where 32
Mary was come Jesus was, and saw him, was so far from being
unrsTvv&eTii ff^^° ^^-"^^ her regards to him, (compare
down at his feet, John IX. 22, sect, cxxx.) that she Jell down at
saying unto him, his feet, and embraced them with the greatest
be^^ni ^^ ^^^"^ '^,^^,^^ respect, saying to hi?n, as her sister had done
er had not died. before. Lord, if thou hadst been here soontr^
surely my dear brother had not died. And she
was so overcome with grief that she could utter
no more.
33 When Jesus Jesus therefore, rvhen he saw her thus weep^ 33
therefore saw her j^jg-^ ^nd the Jews also Tveeping that came with
Fews^afso weeping ^^'*' g^oajied with a deep concern, as feeling a
which came with Strong commotion in his own spirit ; andyudg-
her, lie groaned in ing it proper in this instance to indulge it
tlwbled?' ^"'^ '"'"' (though he always had every passion under
the most entire command), he voluntarily af-
ficted himself by opening his mind to a set of
34 And said, melting and painful ideas. And looking with 34
Wliere have ye laid a tender pitv on the mourning relations of his
JZ/Jordf/orrd deceased friend, he said. Where have ye laid
5ee. him ? They say unto him, Lord,\ve desire thou
wouldst co?ne and see ; wishing to bring him to
the sepulchre, in some uncertain hope of what
was afterwards done.
^Sfie is going to the sepulchre, that she was among the ancients is particularly
may tveefi there.^ How customary this observed by ^/.y?j^r, O^^^/t, VpL I. p. 330.
I VOL. 2 33
S48 jfesits xveeps^ajidgoes with them to the sepulchre.
s-KCT. And as they were going along, Jesus him- 35 Jesus wept,;
«^'- self wept^ at the remembrance of the dead, in
- . sympathy with the living, and in compassion
ji 35 to the obstinate Jews, whose final impenitence
he foresaw, and knew how much the guilt of it
would be aggravated in consequence of their
being spectators of such a miracle.
36 The Jeivs therefore^ seeing him in tears, sa'id^ 36 Then said the
Behold, hoxv he loved hhn, and how his heart Je7o;gd^hl?^^'^ "^""^
35^ overflows with sorrow for his death. But some 3^^ p^^l some of
ofthem^ who had a sacred aversion to him, said, them said. Could not
Could not this man, xvho is said to have o^e-Tze^ ^^^i^ man which open-
the eyes of the blind, have caused that this man bUnd^havr'caused
also should not have died 7 Could he not have that even this man
come to cure him, or, as it is reported m some should not have died^
other instances, have effected it even at a dis-
tance ?
38 ^^".9^/5 ?/z^r^r^, understanding this invidious 38 Jesus therefore
insinuation, 2iXi& groaning a^^ain within himself, ^^^"^ groaning in
as in great anguish of heart, comes to the sepuU th^^lve"'' Tt was'a
chre. Now it was a cave, and a large stone was cave, and a stone lay
39 laid upon the mouth of zV. Jesus says to them "pon it.
that stood by, Reinove the stone which stops up 39Jesus said,Take
^, r, 1 T r 7 , - z' , » y^ away the stone.
the entrance :S but Martha, the sister of the de- Martha, the sister of
ceased, says to him. Lord, he has been dead so him that was dead,
long, ^^i-xx. he now smells in an offensive man- f ^^t"^"^^'^'!"'^?^^*
_,»,/',,. r, T , , by this time he stink-
ner ;^ Jor he has been [here] no less than part eth : for he hath been
of four days^ this being the fourth since his in- deadrouv days.
determent. (Compare ver. 17.) Jesus says to 40Jesus saithun-
Aer,Why dostthou objectagainstwhatldirect? to her. Said I not
Did I not say unto thee, that if thou wouldst be- J^"^^ ^^'^^',^ \^*V '^
». 7 » 7 J 1 , r ^ 1 1 thou wouldst be-
lieve, thou snouldst seethe glory oj hod remark- Heve, thou shouldst;
ably displayed in a work of signal power and see the glory of God'
t yesus saysi remove the stoncy &c.] ruins of Lazarus's house are still shewn^
Our Lord (as Bishop Hall justly observes) and not far from thence his sepulchre^ into
oould with infinite ease have commanded whicli there is a descent of twenty five
f/ze5fo?2e to roll away of itself, without em- steep stairs, which lead into two small
ploying any to remove it; but he judi- rooms, in the-farther of which the body is
ciously avoided all unnecessary pomp and said to have been laid. But one cannot
parade, and mingled all the majesty of much depend on the genuineness of suck
this astonishing miracle with the most antiquities. SeQ Sand's Travels y^.l9&.
amiable modesty and simplicity. There is •» He has been dead so long that he
no reason to imagine, as some do, that novj smells^ &.C.] The word o^u has the
the stone lay on the top of the cave, and that same ambiguity with this which I have
the corpse was let down with cords ; for used, and seems rather more decent than
then Lazarus could not, without a far- that in our translation^ though the mean-
ther nniracle-, have ascended of himself ing is plainly the same. Martha's mind
It is much more reasonable to believe seems to have been in a painful struggle,
the entrance was at the side of the sepid- tossed with a variety of passions, whick
chre. Mr. Maundrel tells us (in his prevented a perfect consistency in her be-
.journey t9 Jerwalemy p. 79) th^t the haviour.
yesus having caused the stone to be removed^ calls Lazarus forth. 249
41 Then they took mercy ? Then they took away the stone from sect,
away the stone/rmji ^j^g mouth of the tomb where the deceased lay. ^^-
tT:L tr^Ti And when it was removed Je.us lifted up —
Jesus lift up A/i eyes, his eyes^ and said. Father, J thank thee, that ^^^-^
and said, ^i^^^^^T^* fhoti hast graciouslv heard me m those secret
ll'XLt::ktf. groanings of soul which I have been pouring
42 And I knew forth in thy presence : A?id mdeed 1 knew 42
that thou hearest me (hat thou always hear est me, and art most ready
''f'^h^''eo''le whkh *^ answer all my petitions ; hut I now speak
stand by.^Vsrid />, [thus], because of the multitude that is standing
that they may be- by^ that they, comparing what they hear with
lieve that Uiou hast ^y|^^^ ^^i^y ^^^ ^^^y ^q behold, may have in-
sent me. creasing and more effectual engagements to
believe that thou hast sent me.
43 And when he And having- said these xvords^ he cried with a 43
had thus spoken, he /^^^ voice, suitable to the majestic part which
vorctLazarulcomt he was now acting, and the dominion he had
forth. even in the empire of death itselr, as well as
that he might be heard by all the multitude that
44 And he that were present, Lazarus^ come forth. And 44^
was dead came forth, such an almightv energy went along with his
bound hur.d and foot j ^^^^ immediately, according to his com-
with gr IN e clothes : , , , , , y y 7 7/
and ills face was m and, he that was dead Came jorth, bound {as
bound about with a the dead usually were) about [hi9] feet and
napkm. J^^^^^^^^^ /lands with p-ravc clothes, or with several rolls
unto them. Loose , r 1 ,• r t ^tl >. ^ 1 ^
him, and let him go. ^^^ foldings of linen that were wrapt about
him, but which were so far loosened by the
power of Christ as to permit him to move ; and
his face was also bound about with a napkin?
And Jesus, on his coming forth in this confined
posture, says to them that stood by, Unbind him^
and let him go : for nothing more was needful
to be done in a miraculous way, and he had
strength enough to walk, his health and vigour
being perfectly recovered with his life.
4j Then many of Thus was this illustrious miracle completely 4$
the Jews which and publicly accomplished : and such was the
^rseenSk^gt -«^^' "^ "' *at numy of the Jews therefore,
which Jesus did, be- "^'ho had come to Visit Mary, and beneld what
lieved on him. Jesus did, were so affected with this marvel-
lous instance of his power, that they believed on
46 But some of hini as the Messiah. But some of them were 46
them went their ^^ obstinate and perverse, that they went away
• His face vias bound about ivith a napkin.'] the chin, so that on his returning to life
If the Jews buried as the Egyptians did, he might easily see his way out of tl^S
'the face was not covered with it, but it sepulchre.
' 6nly went round the forehead and under
250 Rejiections on Christ's raising Lazarus from the dead,
SECT, to the Pharisees^ and told them what things Jesus ways to the Phari-
cxl. haddone,^ on purpose that they might inflame s^ees. -^"^ told them
them, and stir them up to take some method to ^^^^ done.
^°4g preventhis growing influence amongthe people.
IMPROVEMENT.
25 Let us by faith continually regard Jesus (as his discourses and
actions concur to represent him) as the resurrection and the life ;
believing on this glorious specimen here given of it, that he
can, and will finally cause all that are in the graves to hear his
voice^ and to come forth, (John v. 28, 29.) A most delightful
thought, which we should often apply both to ourselves and to
our pious friends ! Let the consideration, that they are to arise
in the resurrection at the last day^ moderate our sorrows for
24 their removal, and forbid our mourning as others that have no
hope, (1 Thess. iv. 13.) Were a resurrection on earth ex-
pected, though at the distance of several years, we should con-
sider them only as persons absent on along journey, and expect
their return with patience and cheerfulness : but oh, how much
more certain is the resurrection of the just than the issue of any
of our journeys or expectations in life !
31 We often go^ in our thoughts at least, to the grave to weep ;
but let us not forget to raise our contemplations higher, even to
35 Jesus^ who here expressed such tender sentiments of compassion,
and wept when he saw the tears of others, though he knew he
was going to wipe thein away by restoring that friend whom
33 they lamented. He afflicted himself and it may be proper for us
sometimes to do it, and to hold down our thoughts to those views
of things which may give us pain and regret ; if that attention
be so adjusted and attempered as only to produce a sadness of
the countenance that may improve the heart. (Eccles. vii. 3.)
39 Let the modesty with which our Zor^conducted this grand and
solemn scene teach us to avoid all mean transports of selfap- ^
41, 42 plause, and all fondness for ostentation and parade. Like JesuSy
let us in all our ways acknowledge God^ and maintain a continual;"'
dependance on his influence, to be sought by fervent prayer
and then we may go forth to every duty with a courageous an<
cheerful assurance that he v/ill carry us honourably and com^
40 fortably through it. Let us but steadfastly ^^/z^v^, and we shal
see the glory of God : he will manifest his power for our help
^ Went aixiay to the Pharisees^ &c.3 We mark, If they hear not Moses and th
have in this a most amazing- instance of prophets ^ neither luill they be persuadei
incorrigible hardness of heart, and a though one rose from the dead. Luke xv
dreadful confirmsition of our Lord^s re- 31, sect. cxxv.
The sanhedrim consulting hoiv to deal with Jesus. 251
and when our case appears to be remediless, then is the time for sect.
his almighty hand to save. cxl.
Let us adore and trust in him who was armed with so divine """"*
a power as to be able to rescue the prisoners of deaf h^ and to re- xo^J;
cover the trophies of the allconquering and devouring grave, 25
And if we are true believers^ let us learn to take our part in the
triumph with a joyful assurance, that though we putrifij in the
dust, and after the skin -worms devour our bodies^ yet in ourfesh
rue shall ^.X. length see God, (Job xix. 26.) 39
It was surely a happy time that succeeded all the lamentations
of these affectionate mourners. With what mutual congratula-
tions and unutterable endearments did Lazarus and hv< sisters
behold each other ! With what humble gratitude and adoratijon
did they all prostrate themselves at the feet of their Almightij Sa-
viour / But who can conceive the greater transports which shall
run through the whole redeemed world at the resurrection day^
when piety and friendship shall be perfected, and those who were
dearest to each other, both in the bonds of nature and of grace,
shall spring up together to an immortal undivided life ! In the
mean time, let us trust our friends zvith him (with whom, if we
are Christians indeed^ we have trusted our souls), believing that
the separations he appoints are prudent and kind, and that even
our prayers for their recovery are denied in mercy.
SECT. CXLL
The sanhedrim being informed of the resurrection of Lazarus^ hij
the advice of Caiaphas^ agree that Jesus should be put to death.
He retires to Ephraim^ and they issue an order for apprehend-
^ hig him, John XI. 4r, to the end,
John XI. 47. JoHN XI. 47.
'T^ HEN gathered TT was before observed (at the close of the seci.
1 ^[^^ ^'ef priests X last section) that some who had been pres- cxli.
and the Pharisees a.^^i '' . tt • ir
council, and said ^"^ ^^ ^"^ resurrection ot Lazarus, mstead of
being duly wrought upon by the miracle, went J°'^"
away and made an invidious report of it to the ^^" ^
Pharisees : the chief priests therefore and the
Pharisees^ who were united in their enmity to
Christ, being exceedingly alarmed at so aston-
ishing an information, convened the sanhedrim^
which was the great council of the Jewish na-
tion, andsaid^ What are rve doi?ig in this strange
conjuncture of affairs ? and why do we seem
to be dreaming, when things are come to such
a crisis ? It is of absolute necessity that some
effectual method should immediately be taken ;
252 Caiaphas advises that one should die for the people*
sECT./or it is not to be denied that, by some means What do wc T for
cxli. or other, this man, whom we have been so solic- Jj||ra3es^''^^' ""^^
" itous to suppress, does many of the most sur-
ii!^47 Poising miracles that were ever seen or heard
48 °^ • "^^^ if ^^'^ '^'^(fff^f hi?7i [to go 077] thus 48 If we let him
uncontrouled, all the populace will believe on ^^Vf,^\?"^» all men
^. , ' . , S»/ . , J -n will believe on him ;
him as the promised Messiah, and will ac- ^^^^ ^j^^ Roman*
knowledge him as the king of Israel ; and what shall come and take
can we expect ^vill be the consequence of this, away both our place
but that the power of the Romans^ so vastly ^"^ nation,
superior to ours, will be armed against us, and
their legions xvill come and take axvay both our
place and nation ; they will destroy Jerusalem,
and this sacred temple where we are now as-
sembled, and will extirpate all the people who
are committed to our guardianship and care.
49 And^ while some of the council seemed ap- 4-9 And one of
prehensive of the clanger of attempting any ^-; ,--f,^C^-
thmg2.^2imst]Qsws^ one oj them^\even\Caiaphas^ priest that same
xvho^ among the manv sudden revolutions which year, said unto them,
happened in the government about that time, ^^ ^^^ nothing at
7vas high priest that year in which Christ v/as *
crucified,^ said to them^ while they were thus
deliberating, 7'ou seem to knoxv notlwig at all
of what the present urgency of affairs requires,
or you would easily find out a remedv in the
death of this Jesus, who occasions such an
50 alarm : Nor is this to be scrupled, because he 50 Nor consider
does not appear to have committed any crime ^^^^ *^ ^f expedient
, . , . ^ ^ , • 1 1 1 r J lor ^is, that one man
which IS made capital by our law ; tor do you should die for the
not consider that the extreme danger of a state people, and that the
will justify such extraordinary steps as are whole nation perish
necessary for its preservation ; and that it is
undoubtedly much better for us^ that one inno-
cent 7?2«72 should die for ^/ze security oi thepeople,
than that the xvhole nation he belongs to should
perish by our scrupling to take away his life ?
51 Noxv this, by the way, was a very remarkable 51 And this spake
saying ; and it is to be observed, that he spake it '^e not of himself :
not merely of himself but being high priest that butbemg high priest
y ear, ^nd so a person of the greatest dignity and
authority, he was moved by a secret impulse
» Was high priest that year.'} It is well fies no more than in those days, or at that
known that the high priesthood among- the time. (Compare Deut. xxvi. 3 ; Josh. xx.
Jews was not an?.' wa/ ,- buttiie many rev- 6; Ezek. xxxviii. 8; and Mai. iii. 4/)
uhitions about that time might justify See Dr. Lardner's Credibility, Part. i. Vot
such a manner of speaking, which signi- IL p. 878, 879.
They resolve on his deaths and Jesus retires to Ephraim* 25^
that year, he pro- from God to Utter these words, which might be sacr.
phesied that Jesus esteemed as an oracle, and were capable of a <^'^^**
should die for that ^^^^ higher sense than he apprehended ; and "— *
nation : ■, 1 , ' rr I • 71 » k^ Tolm
by them he m eftect propnested^ that Jesus ^- ^y
should shortly die for the security, redemption,
52 And not for and happiness of the Jewish nation: And in- 52
that nation only, but deed, not for the Jewish nation alone^ but for all
that also he should ^ nations of the earth, even that he also might
gather together in , ^ ., • i • 11 "^
one the children o\' gather together into one glorious and happy so-
God that were scat- ciety all the chosen children of God that are dis-
tered abroad, persed abroad in the most distant places and
ages, among the Gentiles as well as the Jews.
53 Then from that Fro7n that very day^ therefore^ the members 53
day forth they took of the sanhedrim in general (though some
council together for particular persons were averse to their pro-
to put him to death. ^^^^^^^^>^^ having thus resolved upon the death
of Jesus, sought for an opportunity to execute
the malicious purpose they had formed, and
united their counsels^ that they might find out
some convenient method to slay him,
54 Jesus there fore For this reason Jesus^ who knew the secret 54,
walked no more resolution they had formed to take away his
jetvs^ TuT^went ^^'^^ ivalked no more openly among the Jews m
thence into a coun- those parts till the appointed hour for his suf-
try near to the wil- feringwas come ; but^ instead of visiting Jeru-
derness, into a city galem, he went away from thence^ even from
called Ephraim, and „ , 1 , -^ ^ ■ . \u *
there continued with Bethany where he now was, into the country
kis disciples. near the zuilderness of Judea, to a little city
called Ephraim^ which lay not far from Bethel
on the confines of the tribe of Benjamin ; and
there he continued a v/hile xvith a few of his
select disciples^ and afterwards took a litrle
journey eastward, towards the banks of the
river Jordan,^ from whence he had lately come
to Bethany on account of Lazarus's death.
*• Being high priest that year^ he prophe- comiytg of the Messiah. See his ffor. Hehr.
i/ei/.J The 'Jewish high priests had in on John xi. 4S, 51.
former ages been often under tlie inspira- , ^^ ^ ^.^^ ^^^^^,^^ Ephraim:] This cltir
t.on ofuprophet:csp:ra : there was there- .^^.^^ .^ mentioned with Bethel, 2 Chron.
fore some pecuhar congru.tv in putting i-j, ^cn is by some called Ephreni, and is
fA..ornc/.mtoh>s mouth, and the dignity ^^^^^^ siipposed to iiave lain in the
ot/^.<#c^ would add some pecidiar weight ^ .^j^ ^/^^ ^^\,^ ^^ ^^^^ 1^,^ of Benjan.i.u
andreg.u-dtowhathesaid It.sastrange j^^landi Pulestin.p.376, and compare
fancy ot Dr. L.ghtfoot, that Caiaphas knew ^^^^^ , ^^ j^uke xiii. 23, p. 134.
Jesus to be the Messiahy and that the san- _ "^
At.Yn'j/if lunded their apprehension of dan- "^ Took a long journey eastward, ^c]
ger from the Romans, in consequence of This we have reason to suppose, or Jcri-
the regard shewn to him, on a ridiculous cho would not have lain in his way to
interpretation of Isa. x. ult. and xi. 1 ; Jerusalem, which yet we find that Jesus
whence they inferred that the destruction passed through In his return. See Luke
tf the temple should quickly suc<;eed th? x-ix. 1, sect, cxUiU
•254 the sanhedrim give orders to all to discover him,
SECT. And soon after this the Jewish passover drew 55 And the Jews
^^^^- 7iear; and manti xvent up from all parts of P^^^.^^'^"- ^^^.^ '"^^ ^^
*u . . cv^ 1 \'^*^ *• i hand: and many
Tohn country to Jerusalem^ some little time be- ^ent out of the
xi. 55 fire the passover^ that they might purify them- country up to Jeru-
sehes by some preparatory sacrifices,^ in order salem before the
to be readv for the celebration of that solemn thernsefves.° ^^^^ ^
56 festival. (Compare 2 Chron. xxx. 17.) Then^ 56 Then sought
as the people came together, they diligently ^^^y for Jesus, and
sought for yesus there, some of them being J,^: -»Vs™i
desirous to see and hear him, and others want- in the temple, What
ing to discover him to his avowed enemies the think ye, that he
Pharisees : and as it could not but be generally J^^^^^^ ^o"^^ ^^ ^^^
known that the surprising miracle which he
had latety wrought had very much inflamed
the rage and envy of his persecutors, they
were suspicious whether he would venture to
appear in public, and said ofie to another^ as
theif stood in the temple^ What think ye of his
coming to the passover ? Do you suppose that^
after this alarm, he rvill not have the courage
57 to come to the feast ? But both the chief 57 Now both the
priests and the Pharisees, concluding that he ^^^^ P^'^^^l^ ^"^ ^'^^
^ . . p., i-^i- 1 Pharisees had criv-
would not fail to come according to his usual g^ a commandment,
custom, no longer dissembled their malice, but that if any man
published a mandate, by which they had given '^"^^ where he
an express command, that if any one knexv where ^^^^^ i. ^l^ th^v
he was, he should immediately declare \it'] to mi^ht take him.
them, that they might apprehend and bring him
to his trial, as a disturber of the public peace,
and a person dangerous to the state.
IMPROVEMENT.
ver.4r Where shall we find such restless, such causeless, such incor-
rigible malice, as was in the hearts of these rulers against our
blessed Saviour f What but Divine grace can reclaim men,
when to have heard of the resurrection of Lazarus from their
own friends and confidents, who had just been eyewitnesses of
it, instead of conquering their hearts, served only to inflame
their murderous rage !
48-50 This is an instance where we evidently see the place of Judg-
ment, that xvickedness was there ; and the place of righteousness^
that iniquity zvas there, (Eccles. iii. 16.) The high priest lays
^ That they might purify themsehes by might happen to multitudes which would
some preparatory sacrilices.] Dr. Light- require purif. cation, so some sort of clean*-
foot (in his Ilor' Htbr. on this place) has ijig required no less than sQ'=vcn days^
shewn, that as a variety of circumstances
Reflections on the 7nalice and rage of Christ^ s enemies, 255
down a most dangerous, though plausible maxim, which is in sect.
effect no other than this, " That the murder of^n innocent per- ^^^'
son by forms of law" (which, as a noble sufferer observed, is "
surely the worst kind of murder), " nay, even of a person who
by miracles demonstrated that he was an ambassador from God,
was to be chosen, rather than by protecting and obeying him, to
give umbrage to an earthly power, which seemed superior to
their own." When will the politicians of this earth learn to
trust God in his own ways, rather than to trust themselves, and
their own wisdom, in violation of all the rules of truth, honour,
and conscience f Till then, like this foolish ruler^ they will be
caught in their own craftiness ; and it is more than possible that
they may, in many instances, hasten the very distress they are
contriving to avoid. For this was here the event : the Romana
(called therefore the people of Messiah the Prince^ Dan. ix. 26)
were sent as executioners of the Divine vengeance, and the
yews were given up to a spirit of discord and madness, the
terrible effects of which were such as cannot be read without
horror, till their place and nation xvere taken away ; nor could
even the Roman general forbear declaring that the hand of God
was apparent in their destruction.
Let us attend to this Divine oracle which God saw fit to put Verse
into the mouth of so wicked a man. Jesus has actually died for 5l> 52
the people^ even for all the children of God that are scattered abroad^
His death is substituted instead of theirs ; and by it they are
redeemed and delivered, and shall ere long be incorporated tO'
gether^ and all the happy colony be raised to an abode of
eternal glory. Blessed harvest, which springs up from redeem-
ing blood ! Heroic love of the dear Redeemer, which at the
proper time brought him to yerusalem^ where he knew that e^il
was determined against him I Let us follow him, in a courageous 56, 57
adherence to God and our duty, in the midst of danger and
opposition ; and not wonder if we are set up as the marks of
infamy and reproach, when we see Jesus marked out hy^i public
mandate^ as if he had been a robber or a murderer ; and find so
numerous and grand a court of judicature requiring their sub-
jects to seize this most generous Friend of the whole world *^s
the grand enemy of God and his country.
VOL. 2. 34
256 yesits sets out on his last journey to Jerusalem^
SECT. CXLIL
Christy setting out on his last journey to Jerusalem^ prophesies of
his sujerings there ; rebukes the ainhition of James and John ;
and renews his exhortations to humility. Mat. XX. 17 — 28.
Mark X. 32—46. Luke XVIII. 31—34.
Mark X. 32. Mark X. 32.
SECT. A T length our Lord departed from the A ND they were
cxlii. j\ place of his retreat, and though he knew ^^ in the way go-
— the resolution that his enemies had formed ^^.^esuf went Tel
X 32 ^g^'^st him, yet he set out with his disciples, fore them; and they
and (taking Jericho in his road) was determin- were amazed, and as
ed to make his appearance in the temple at the '^^^ ^^J^^Ld he
approaching passover : and as^ in pursuance ^^^^ ^gain [Luke,
of this design, they were in the way going up unto him] the twelve
to Jerusalem, Jesus, to shew his readiness to [disciples apart in
-^ ~ • "^ 1 1 ^1. • T_ * the wav, J and beg-an
meet sufferings and death m such a cause, went ^^ ^^^X them what
before them ; and they xvere exceedingly amazed things should hap-
at the spirit and ardour which he discovered pen unto him ; [and
in so dangerous an expedition ; and as they foU ^^at^XX. ir"—
lowed h.\m they zvere afraid^hoth for themselves lukeXVIII.31.— ]
and him. And, while their hearts were thus
impressed, he took the tivelve disciples again
apart to himself into a convenient retirement
which they met with by the xvay, and began
particularly to tell them what things should befall
him in that important journey, that he might
thus prepare them for the sufferings he should
undergo, and that the accomplishment of his
predictions might be some confirmation to their
faith during a series of events which he knew
would so severely try it. And he said to them,
ZZ Behold, and observe wjiat I say ; We are now oo Behold, we g«
going up to Jerusalem, and it is the last journey "P J^^ "^^and^^^ali
of this kind we shall ever take ; for now all things that are writ-
things which are written by the ancient prophets, ten by the prophets
concerning the sufferings of the Son of man, shall concerning the Son
be exactly fulfilled ; and the Son of man shall be complislfed :] and
betrayed by one of his own company, who has the Son of man shall
professed the greatest duty and affection to him, ^e [betrayed and'}
[and] shall be ungratefully /e/rc;.r^^ to the chief l^l'l^^^^^"" '^^
priests and the scribes^ particularly to those who unto the scribes \
constitute the sanhedrim, and who have already
published so severe an edict against him ; (John
3 Shall be betrayed and delivered^ &c.] Judas and given up into the hands of his
The word 'sr'xg<*.S'(ibi]a,t is the same both in enemies. I have therefore retained the
Matthew and Mark ; but plainly includes different words by which our translators
both liis being treaQheroiisly discovered by render it, in the one place and the other.
and by the way foretells his death aJid resurrection, 257
and they shall con- xi. 57, sect, cxli.) a?id^ when they have him sect-
demn him to^ death, ^j^^s in their power, they shall with great for- <^^^"-
LukeXVIH.— 31.] Tnality condemn htm to death as a public enemy .
34 And shall deliv- and disturber : and^ as they have not now the ^ 34
cr him to the Gen- power of capital executions in their own hands,
moc'k [LuKErand ^^ey shall deliver him up to the Gentiles, even
spitefully entreat] to the Roman governor and his soldiers ; and
him, and shall they, instigated by the malice of the Jews, and
scourge^^hjm^,^ ^and utterly ignorant of the dignity and glory of his
and shall kill him' person, shall mock and spitefully entreat him in
[and crucify him .] the most contumelious and reproachful manner,
and the third day he ^^^ ghall cruellv scour^e him, and carry their
shall rise aerain. , ^ " ^^^'^^^^^.^%
[Mat. XX. 19. ^tide outrage to such a height, that they snail
Luke XVIII. 32, even spit upon him ; and, when this scene of
53-3 mockery is over, they shall put him to a most
ignominious and painful death; and, as if he
was a common slave, shall even crucify him^
and leave him to expire in the gradual agonies
of th5 cross : coid yet all their malice shall not
be able to triumph over him ; for on the third
day he shall rise again, victorious over the pow-
ers of darkness, and take possession of that glo-
rious and universal kingdom which the prophets
assign to the Messiah. (Compare Mat. xvi. 21,
sect. Ixxxix. and Mat. xvii. 22, sect, xcii.)
Luke XVIII. 34. And, plain as this declaration was, their pre- Luke
And they under- judices were so great, that they did not under- xv"^'
tCgVT"a°!'d''thrs stand any of these things thoroughly, being at a 3*
saying was hid from loss to reconcile his being slain with the posses-
them, neither knew sion of that kingdom which he was to inherit :
they the thmgs ^^^^ ^^^^ matter zvas hid from them to so e:reat a
which were spoken. , , p ii"^t iii-i,
degree that, auer all our Lord had said, they
knexv not the meaning of the things zvhichxuere
spoken. (Compare Luke ix. 44, 45, p. 15.)
Mat. XX. 20. Nevertheless they apprehended thus much, Mat.
Then came to him that whatever difficuhies lav in the wav, they ^''- 20
the mother of Zeb- i u ^-i i-i l- ^ ii
€dee's children, with should certainly end in his triumph and glory.
And upon this presumption then the mother of
^ They shall — seoiirge him, and spit upon threatened. Indeed when the Jews con-
htm, — and crucify him.'] This prediction demned him for blasphemy, for which the
is a remarkable proof of the prophetic Spirit punishment appointed in the law was ston-
whicli dwelt in Christ ; for, humanly ing, and Pilate at last gave them a gen-
speaking-, it was much more probable that eral permission to take him and judge him
he should have been /?ri-ra?e/j/ awfl,y«/2a?e(/, according to their onxin laiu (Mat. xxvi. 65,
ov stoned {^s was before attempted), bv 66; Johnxviii. 31 ; and xix. 7), it is won-
some zealous transport of popular fury, derful they did not choose to stone him .-
than that he should have been thus sol- but all this was done that the scriptures
femnly condemned, and delivered up to might be fulfilled. (Compare Mat. xxvi.
crucifixion ,- a Roman punishment with 56, and John xix, 36.)
which we do not find he had ever been
258 James and John ask for the highest posts in his kingdom.
SECT. Zehedee's children came at their instigation to her sons [James and
cxlii. him^ xvith her sons James and John, who were /""'^"'^ worshipping
— peculiar favourites of our Lord; and they all ^r/ii^^^jJ/J-'i:';!:
XX. 20 ^"^^^ ^^^>- down at his feet, -worshipping \Jlim'\ in [saying. Master, we
a most respectful manner, and desiring a certain would that thou
Uavour^ofhlm with great importunity, weakly tSstvtweshru
saying. Master, we zvould earnestly beg, that desire.] [Mark X.
thou shouldest give us a general promise to do 25.]
for us whatsoever we shall request of thee ;
for it would be a very great grief to us if we
should not succeed in the important petition
we have to present.
Mark And he said to her \and'\ to them. You can- Mark X. ':^e>.
X.36 not expect that, whatsoever kindness I have /^""^ ^'^ "''^'f ,^""^^
r Till 11 1 her, rtnt/J unto them,
tor you, 1 should at all adventures enter mv- [what wilt thou \
self into so rash an engagement ; tell me there- or] What would ye
fore particularlv. What wouldest M^w have ? *^^^\^ «!}"y^^ ^V^^
r T iiri . 7 7 11-, ^you ? [Mat. XX.
\or\ lVtiat7.vould you so earnestly desire that /21.]
should do for you, if I was fully dispose'd to
grant your request ?
'^*^ She says unto him, I entreat thee to grant oT [She salth un-
that these my ttvo dear sons, to whom thou hast *P ^"'"' ^^'^"^ ^^^^
1 *^ 1 111 1 these mv two sons, 1
shewn so much regard, and who are so zeal- ^^^^ ^^' g^-^^
ous for thy cause and interest, may be prefer- Grant unto us, that
red to stations of the highest dignity, trust, we may sit, the one
and profit ; [and] they ]o\n.d with her in the ^jl.'li^e ^i^^!; j:,\t
same request, and said. Grant us, that when left hand, in tliy
thou art established in thy glorious kingdom, [kingdom a^rflg-lory.
which, as we apprehend, willshbrtly be erected [Mat. XX.— 21.]
in the world, zve may not only have a place
there, but may be fixed near thy throne, and
sit in distinguished honour and authority, the
one at thy right hand, and the other at thy left^
as thy chief ministers of state.^
Mat. But Jesus said to them in reply, Alas ! you are Mat. XX. 22.
XX. 22 under the force of such carnal prejudices and f^'JJ ^^ g" id^'^'Ttmto
mistaken views, that you knozv not what you ask, tj^em,] Ye know not
or you would be ashamed of so unseasonable what ye ask : Are
a petition. This is not a time to think of tem-
poral grandeur and authority ; but it is much
more proper that I should ask you, and that
you should put the question to yourselves, Are
- We may sit, the one at thy right hand, president of the court ; the one called Ab
and the other at thy left. ~\ There may per- Beth Din, ov the father of the justiciary y
haps be an allusion in these words to a cir- who sat on the right hand of the president ;
cumstance which the Talmudical writers the otiier Cha:cham, or the sage, who sat
relate concerning the sanhedriin ■■ that on the left. See, among many other writers
there were tivo officers of peculiar distinc- on tliis head, TVhits. Miscell. Sacr. Vol. \.
tlon, who sat on each side of th(f nasi, or lib. ii. Dissert. 3, § 46, 4Z-
They are only for those for whom the Father has prepared them. 259
ye able to drink o^ you able to drink of the bitter cup of which lam sect.
the cup that I shall ^ow about to drink so deep,'* and to be baptized '^^^'^''^•
t^Ji wiV'th>^^^ (^^^' ^^Z'^"-^". and plunged into that sea of —
baptism that I am sufferings xvith which I am shortly \to be'\ bap- xx.22
bapti zed with ?[ And l^^'ze^, and, as it were, overwhelmed for a time?
W^arl^iblTf M AR^' ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^"'^' ^^^^^ ^ selfconfident assur-
X. 38, 39.—] ^^ ance, Yes, Lord, we doubt not but that for thy
sake we are able to undergo all this.
23 And [Jesus] And Jesus says unto them^ Ton shall indeed 2S
saith unto them, Ye u^^^j^ of you drink of this my cup ofrvhich I am
shall drink indeed ot ^ 7 • ;" 1 1 i i ^- j -^i A l jx c
my cup filiat I drink ^^ drznk, and be baptized zvttfi the baptism 01 ex-
of,] and be baptized treme sufferings xvith luhich lam to be baptiz-
with the baptism that^^^.e for \^ou shall endure great extremities for
brt'o^'lrt^my the sake of my gospel, and hazard your lives
rig])thand,andonmy in its defence : but as to what you have now
left, is not mine to desired, to sit on my right hand, and on my left^
give, but it shall be - kingdom of glorv, this is not a privilege
given to them for , . ; . ^. ^ \_ ^- 1 r • 1 u*
whom it is prepar- which IS mine to give by partial rrienclsnip, or
ed of my Father, to the first and most importunate asker -, nor
[Mark X.— 39, 40.] ^.^^j^ j dispose of it to any but [to those']for zvhom
it is prepared by my Father, who has appoint-
ed that the exaltation and happiness of the
other world shall be proportioned to the de-
grees of piety and holiness which are attained
in this.
24 And when the And when the ten other apostles heard [ofit,"] 24
ten heard it, they and were acquainted with this motion which
[be^an to be much j ^£ Zebedee had made, they be^an to be
displeased, and] , ,. , ,1 1 i 1 1 • '^
were moved with in- much displeased th^t they should aspire to a su-
dignation against the periority to which each of them imagined he
twobrethren[Jamesj^^d himself an equal claim; [and^ as thev
andjolin.] [Mark , ., . ;• ^. - t. ^l *
X. 41.] xvere moved with indignation against the txvo
brethren, James and John, they were going to
expostulate the matter with some severity.
"^ To drink of the cup, &c.] It was cus- John was scourged by the Jews (Acts v.
tomary among the ancients to assign to 40) ; and afterwards banished by Domitian
each guest at a feast a particular c«/), as into the isle of Patmos, where he speaks of
well as dish ; and by the kind and quanti- himself as a companion of Christ'' s tribula-
ty of the liquor contained in it, the respect tion. (Rev. i. 9.) Not to mention Ter-
of the entertainer was expressed. Hence tullian's tradition, that at Rome he was
cup came in general to signify a portion as- plung'ed into boiling oil; by which it is said,
signed (Psal. xvi. 5, xxiii. 5), whether of instead of being destroyed, he was sensi-
pleasure or sorrov) ; and many instances oc- bly refreshed (TertulL Prescript, cap. 36) :
cur in which it refers to the latter. Com- nor what the ])retended Prochorus says of
pare Psal. xi. 6 ; Ixxiii. 10 ; Isa. li. 17, 22 ; the attempt made by some heretics \o poi-
Jer. XXV. 15, 17 ; Zech. xii. 2 ; John xviii. son him ; which is generally referred to in
11 ; and Mat. xxvi. 39, 42- the/j/crz/re*ofthis apostle, where the venom.
e You shall indeed drink of my cz//),&c.] Ac- is ridiculously represented as coming out
cordinglv it is observable that this James oUhe cup in the form of a serpent, to sig-
■was \\\e first of all the apostles who suffered nify that the poison did not take effect.
viart^rdom for Christ. (Act. xii. 2.) And
260 He that would he chief should he the servant ofalL
SECT. But^ to prevent the evil consequences which 25 But Jesus call-^
cxlii. might arise from such an illjudged debate, and ed them unto him,
— to root out that envy and ambition ivhich pre- tTem,]'\e know
^ 25 vailed among them, Jems called them alUt? Am, that the princes of
and said unto thern^ Ton well know that the the Gentiles exer-
princes of the heathen nations^ lord it over them tiem'^rind'^rtheTr
in a very imperious manner; and their great ^YQ^tones^e^erci&e:
men, in stations of subordinate government, authority upon them.
imitate their tyrannical masters, and exercise [Mark X. 42.]
an arbitrary authority upon theyn that are more
immediately subject to their command ; and
that ambition, which is so natural to the de-
praved heart of man, engages them eagerly to
pursue such distinguished stations which may
26 give them an opportunity to gratify it. But 26 But it shall not
my kingdom is of another nature, and it shall^^^ ^^"^ ^^'^''^ ^^^
^ , ° r • J r ' ^' but whosoever will
not be so among you ; tor, mstead or appomimg ^^ ^g^t among you,
any one among you as the chief who shall gov- let him be your min-
ern the rest,g I'tell you plainly, that you are to i^^er. [MarkX.43.]
look on each other as brethren and equals, or
rather, each to esteem others as worthier of
regard than himself : indulge not therefore an
ambitious temper, hut whosoever would indeed
he great amo?ig you, let hifn, instead of aiming
at power and authority, choose to be your min-
ister, and attend on the rest with all the hum-
27 blest offices of condescension and love. And 27 And whosoever
whosoever would be chief amon^ you, or first in ^^^^1 be chief among
. . c 111 • vou, lethira be your
my esteem, and m tuture honour and happi- servant, [j/ea, the
ness, let him be ready to behave himself on all servant of all ]
occasions as your servant; [yea,'] let him be [Mark X. 44.]
the servant, not only of your little fraternity,
but of all that are about him -^ with all
f The princes of the heathen nations.] 3'ou as the chief, ^c] As the request of
Mai-k expresses it by oi S'r.aavliz ctg^yji^ toov these two brethren plainly sliewed that they
sSvav, which we render, f/2(°vii'Aic/i are «c- did not understand our hordes words to-
counted to rule over the Gentiles ; but this Peter (Mat. xvi. 18, 19, sect. Ixxxviii.) as'
(with Gataker, Cinn. lib. i. cap. 3) I take to designed to invest him with any authority. -^
be di pleonasm, and think it should be over the rest of his brethren, so the answer^
translated, they vc ho rule over the Gentiles; which Christ here gives them, far from^
and so it coincides with the clause insert- intimating any tiling of that kind, con-'
ed from Matthew. (Compare 1 Cor. xi. eludes as strongly against any such az^Mor-
16 ; xii. 23 ; xiv. 37 ; and Phil. iii. 4, Gr J ity as a negative argument can be supposed:
Instances are produced of the like use of to do, and seems abundantly to justify the
the phrase in the best Greek authors by turn given in the /)rtrrt/)/2raAr.
Mr. Black wall, in his ^acrw/C/awiw, Vol.1. '> The servant of all.'] There is a. gra-
p. 74, to which may be added, t8? ^okh/Ici? dation here not commonly observed Thel
aSiiciiVi for dS^iKniOt^, Polyb. lib. i. cap. 5, word ^idi^ov®' in the former verse, which, '
and Toov zv u7ri^ox» JoKuvlm', Epictet. En- for want of a better word, we render 7ni«-
chirid. cap. 30, § 11. ister^ is a name which might be given to
3 Instead of appointing any one among any who occasionally attended others, or
Reflections on Christ* s readiness to meet his sufferings. 261
humility submitting to the meanest services, sect.
by which he may promote the spiritual mterest cxUi.
and benefit of others.
Mark X. 45. For And wonder not that this should be required ^^^'^
rrdu: b:'Z" °[ y°". -"^^ y°« f --^er how great an exam. ^- ''
istered unto, but to F^ you have ot this temper m him who is so
minister, and to give iar your Superior ; for eveji the Son of man
Ilian'^^ I'Mat'xx'^ himself, though a person of such illustrious
nmny. l at. . ^jgj^i|.y^ ^^^ constituted to so glorious and last-
ing a kingdom, came not to be waited upon^ but
to serve others ; and was not sent into the
world to exercise a temporal dominion, and in
a lordly way to rule over men, but to take upon
him the form of a servant, and not only to la-
bour, but to die for their good, and to give his
own life as a ransom for many who had for-
feited theirs to the justice of an offended God,
Think not, therefore, that the disciples of such
a selfdenying Master are to dream of secular
power, dominion, and grandeur ; but rather
study to mortify these very unbecoming
desires after it.
46 — And they And^ quickly after this, they came to Jericho^ 46
f^ame to Jericho.- ^^^^^^ ^^^^ y^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ Christ,
which was soon after followed with the
remarkable conversion of Zaccheus, as will
be seen in the next section.
IMPROVEMENT.
Astonishing grace and compassion of the Son of God m go- Mark
ing up to Jerusalem at this passover, when he so circumstan- x.
tially knew all the things which were to befall him there ! not ^^ 34
only that he should be put to deaths but in what manner he
should suffer ; and what cruelty and what scorn should intro-
duce the last scene of his agonies ! Yet, with so sad a prospect
in his eye, he marched on with distinguished alacrity, leading
the company^ as if he longed to encounter what they could not 32
bear to see, or even to hear of. Glorious Captain of our salvo-
tion^ give us the like alacrity in all the sufferings we are called
to bear for thee !
Who would not grieve to see these good apostles still so 35.-37
much possessed with the spirit of this world, and still dreaming
was statedly employed to render them ness it is to serve, and who is indeed the
any particular kind of service ; but (Tsx®*, property of anotlier. The words, of allg
servant, signifies one whose whole busi- do likewise increase the gradation.
262 Jesus passes through Jericho^ and many follow himl
SECT, o^ preferment in a temporal kiJigdom f Who would not especially
cxlii. lament it, that his most intimate friends, James^ and John the
beloved disciple, should be the persons who should come to him
with this strange request ? Justly did our Lord answer them,
ver.38 Tou knoxv not xvhat you ask. And may not the same answer of-
ten be made to us P When therefore he denies us the great
things that we are seeking for ourselves, let us be satisfied with
the denial he sees fit to give us ; believing that it is wisdom and
love, and not unkindness, that produces it.
38 Let us often ask ourselves, Can we share the sufferings which
our Lord endured ? If we do not desire to do it so far as he
shall appoint, we are not worthy to be called his disciples. Let
us then gird up the loins of our minds^ and wait our Master's sig-
nal to go forth to any suffering or service that he shall require ;
44, 45 ever ready to make ourselves the servants of all ^ and therein to
imitate the humility of the Son of man,, who ca7ne not to be admin-
istered unto^ but to ininister : yet, after all we can do or bear for
him, let our trusts still be in the merits of his righteousness and
blood who gave his life a ranso?n for inany. So shall we be
fitted for those distinguished honours in the heavenly world, in
comparison with which thrones and sceptres on earth are but
empty pageants and childish toys.
SECT. CXLIIL
Our Lord^ passing through Jericho in his xvay to Jerusalem^ cures
txvo blind 7nen as he came out from thence^ and converts Zaccheus
the publican. Mat. XX. 29, to the end, Mark X. — 46, to the
end, Luke XVIIL 35, to the end; XIX. 1—10.
Mark X. 46. ^ Mark X.— 46—
SECT. 4 N D Jesus, being come to Jericho, pro- A ^D as he went
cxliu. f^ ceeded on his iourney towards Jerusalem; ^ out of jericha
— — ,, . , 11 1 • With his disciples, Ta
M^^Hc and bemg observed by many as he was passmg ^^.^^^ inultitude fol-
X. 46 through the city, they were all ready to run lowed him] [Mat.
after him : and accordingly, as he weiit out of^^- 29-3
Jericho rmth his disciples in his train, a great
multitude oi other people followed hi}n.
Mat. ^;i(:/^e/w/(^, an occasion offered for a remark- Mat. XX. 3d.— i
''''• ^^ able disDlavofhispowerand grace at hisdepart- And behold, [LukeJ
^ ^ •' r ' . 7 * r» -J it came to pass, thati
ure thence ; for zt came to pass^ that l^rovidence ^g j^^ ^^s come ni.^h
so ordered it, as he was yet nigh unto Jericho^ unto Jericho,] Two ■
a As heivas yet nigh unto yericho.'] In sv n-a> iyyt^uv, only signifies, ivhen, ovivhilei
our translation it is rendered, as he was he ivas near it : compare Luke xix. 29 f
co7ne nigh unto Jericho ; but the original, to which may be added [in confirmation oj
Blind Bartimeus and his companion beg to be cured. 26*3
tlind men, \jthe one that Txvo blind men sat begging by the wayside., sect,
Bartimeus, the son ^s beggars used to do in places that are much ^^^"-
the hTgliwV^s^icle^ ^i"equented ; [Me owe] of whom was well known ^^^
begg-ing.] [Mark by the name of Bartimeus^ that is, the son of -^^j^, ^q
X. —46. Luke Timeus :^ And hearing the noise of a great Luke
^ Lu^KE^XVIII 36 '"w/^?^"^^ passing by, he, together with his com- ^^"^'
And hearing the panion, asked what that unusual concourse of ^^
multitude pass by, people meant, and how it was occasioned. And 37
meant'^^'^ ^^^^ '^ they told him that Jesus of Nazareth, that cele-
27 And they told brated Prophet who had performed so many
him that Jesus of miracles, was coming by, and a vast number of
Nazareth passeth the people of the town were with him. And Mark
Mark X. 47. And '^^^^'^ ^^ heard that it tvas Jesus of Nazareth, as ^' "^
when he heard that he had frequently been told what remarkable
it was Jesus of Naz- cures of this kind he had performed in other
Teteirtocry out"! pl^ces,he could not but look upon it as a happy
and say, Jesus,' thou circumstance that he was now passing by the
Son of David, have very place where he sat ; and immediately he
mercyonme: [jj/fcr, ^^o-^^j iq Q^y Q^f ^vith a loud voice, and with
they both cried out, ^ ^ "^ ^ c/ ^to r r>t
saying. Have mercy g^^at eagerness to say, Jesus, thoii Son of Da-
en us, O Lord, thou vid, thou great and glorious Messiah, pity my
Son of David.] gad condition, and have mercy on me ! [yea.
[Mat. XX. — 30. ,, 7 ^7, • , , • -^ ^1 ^ '
Luke XVIII 381 ^^ ooth^ cried out, saying m the same man-
ner, and with one voice, Have mercy on us, O
Lord, thou illustrious Son of David, and exert
thy almighty power to deliver us from this
deplorable darkness and distress !
Mat. XX. 31. And s>Qrci^ of the multitude who went before Mat,
And the multitude Jesus, rebuked them for their making such a xx. 3^
b^fore^f'^MS clamour ; and as the voice of Bartimeus dis-
them ;' [and many tinguished itself on this occasion, many paf-
charged him that ticularly charged him that he should be silenty
he should hold his and not be so importunate and troublesome :
peace; but they cri- ,^^, , -it i
edthemore[agreat ^"^ ^'^^^Z? 1^^°^V^"S ^bat it such an opportunity
deal,] saying. Have as this was lost it might never return, regarded
nothing but the success of their petition, and
therefore cried out a great deal the more earn-
the justice of this remark, which has been to mother as he came out ; (see Lightf oat's
called in question by a writer of great Harmony, §lxix.) but this is improbable,
eminence in the learned world], Luke x. especially considering how the multitude
9 ; XV. 1 ; xviii. 40 ; Rom. xiii. 12 ; and rebuked Bartimeus for his importunity,
the Septuagint version of Isa. 1. 8 ; Jer. xxiii. which surely they never would have done
23. And it is necessary to understand it if such a cure as this had but just now been
tnus, in order to reconcile Luke's account wrought at the other end of tjie same town,
of this miracle with that of Matthew and ^ The son of Timeus.'] It is very proba-
iMark, who both expressly say it was per- ble Timeus might have been a person of
fovmed as he departed or nvent out of Jericho, some note in that neighbourhood, whose
Some have indeed fancied that he restored son, by a complication of calamities, f^W
sight to one blind man as he entered in, and both iflio pQ^•erty an^^ blindness.
: VOL. 2 2o
264- Jesus orders them to be brought to him.
SECT, estly, saying as before, Have mercy upon us^ 0 mercy on us,OLor^;
-li- Lord, thou Sonof David! and Bartlmeus espec- ^"^^^Sonof David*
■~" ially repeated It again and again, saying, Itwu ^ave mercy on me.j
XX Vl ^^^ of David have mercy on me^ and help me !. [MarkX.48.Luke
Mark And yesus, as he was advancing forwards in ^J^"^'^^x'49 And
^'•49 his way, observed how earnestly they cried ; j^g^^gj^^^g^/lj^^"^
and as they still repeated their request, he commanded [theml
graciously stood still, and ordered them both to to be called, [Luke,
be called [and] brought to him, that they might ^}^ ^^'^^f^heyTaU
tell him what it was they so earnestly desired, the blind man, say-
% And upon this the people had their expecta- ing unto him. Be of
tions raised, and as they now concluded that p^^ ""T^^^^* !}^^'
. , , t 1 • 1 • 1 ^L "® calleth theCv
they should see him work a miracle, they ran qmat. XX. 32. —
immediately to call the blind man and his com- LuKEXVlli.40.— ]
panion, saying to him, as also to the other, Be
of good courage, and ri^^ up, for he calleth thee
to him ; and you may therefore hope that he
50 intends to grant your request. And Bartimeus 50 And he casting
joyfully received the message, and throwing *way his garment,
aside his upper garment, that it might not hin- Jesus. ""^^ *""
der him a moment, he arose, and came to jfesus
with all possible haste and eagerness ; the other
blind man also following as fast as he could.
51 And when he was come near, Jesus, to try his 51 And [Luke,
faith, and to encourage his dependance on his when he was come
J J ° J I 'J * near,] Jesus answer-
power and goodness, answered and said unto ^^ ^-J^^j ^^^^ ^^^^
him. What is the mercy you so earnestly en- him. What wilt thoa
treat ? or what dost thou desire I should do for that I should do un-
thee f And the blind man said unto him, Rahboni, ^" ^^^^ .• , "^^f f:^^
, . __ , T 1 1 r rti^Xi said unto him,
that is, my Master and my L.ora, the favour Lord, that I might
which I beg is obvious from the circumstance receive my sight i
in which thou seest me, even that I may be so t^^^^ ^^^' Lord,
happy as to recover my sights the loss of which hTovtened^J^lMTJ.
I cannot but lament as a great calamity tome, XX.— 32,33. Luke
from which I know that thou art able to de- XVIU. — 40, 41.^
liver me. The other likewise by this time
came up, making the same request ; and they
both joined to say, Lord, we beseech thee, that
cur eyes might be opened.
Mat. Then Jesus had compassion on them both, Mat. XX. S4. —
^^- 34 and touched their eye. ; and, as a testimony of ^^ jr^n'thlm^ri
his approbation of that eminent degree of faith touched their eye§ ;
c That I may recover my sight."] This sensible of the calamity. Yet I acknowl-
the word civACwt-|» exactly signifies, and edge it appears from John ix. 11, 18, that
seems to import that he wag not bom blindt the word is sometimes used in a greater
but lost his sight by some disease or acci- latitude*.
d.ent, which made Uim so much the more
They have their sight restored, and follow hint* 263^
tLuKE,andsaidun. which they had each of them expressed, and sect.
to him. Receive thy Bartimeus in particular in the strongest terms, ^xliii,
sight,] and go thy , -j^ l- j v • n •
way; thy faith hath ^e said to him, and his companion, Be it unto ~^
made thee whole.] thee as thou hast desired; receive thy sight, ^^\^
[M^ARK X. 52_— \and'\ go thy way ; thy faith has saved thee
LuKEXVia.42.3 £j.Q^ ^i^g g^^j condition thou wast in ; and if
thou continuest to exercise it in a reliance up-
on me, thy eternal salvation and happiness will
be secure.
Luke XVIII. 43. And immediately their eyes were opened, and Lufce,
rlhLe'^sTecdv^ed r^^^^'^'^^d sight, SO that they now could see dis- ^viii-
sigh^ and\hey]Vol- tinctly ; and, with a grateful sense of their de- 43
k)wed [Mark, Je- liverance, they joined the company, and foU
sus in the way,] glo- [Qi^ed Jesus in the way to Jerusalem, P'lorifyinp-
nfyingGod: and all /-r i r^ ^u • • • / ri.- j ^
the people when ^°" *°^ ^"^^ amazing instance ot his goodness
they saw it, gave to them : and all the people YiVtwfist, when they
praise unto God. saw \it'], gave praise unto God, who in remem-
Mark X -^52 t"^^ brance of his mercy had sent them so great a
Prophet, to appear and act among them under
the character of the Son of David,
Luke XIX. 1. And presently the news of this surprising Luke
fnd^ a^sed \l^m\i miracle was spread abroad,- andijesus'j having ^'^- 1
Jericho. entered (as was said before) into the city, and
hsLVing passed through Jericho, a vast number
of people had followed him from thence ; and
this new instance he had given of his miracu-
lous power increased his fame through all the
neighbourhood, and drew the multitude as he
passed along in crowds about him.
2 And, behold. And as he thus proceeded on his journey, be- 2
there was a man /iqU another most remarkable occurrence hapr
named Zaccheus, j - v* v ^i. rr ri.*
which was the chief P5"^d» m which the efficacy of his grace was
amongthe publicans, signally displayed; for [there was] a man in
and he was rich. that country whose name was Zaccheus, who
was the chief among the publicans, or head col-
lector of the customs in those parts ; and, hav-
ing heaped up abundance of wealth by his gain-
3 And he sought fui employment, he was very rich. And the 3
to see Jesus who he great things which he had heard of Jesus made
for'^he prest"^ It '"^^ ^ powerful impression on his mind, that
cause he was* little when he was informed that he was coming by
of stature. that way, he diligently sought an opportunity
to see this celebrated Jesus, what sort of a per-
son he xvas ; hut he could not compass his design
because of the crowd about him ; for he himself
4 And he ran be- xvas very little of stature* And running there- 4
fore, and climbed up fore /,^/ore the rest of the company, without
regarding what they might think or say of him.
266 Jesus goes to the house ofZaccheus the puhlicaiu
SECT, he got up hito a sycamoretree^ that he might see Into a sycamoretree
cxliii. him there distinctly ; for he perceived he was *« ^f j^^"^^; f«^' J^J
. -^ y , ^ 1 was to pass that way.
to pass that xvay^ and the tree stood so near
xx'^S ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ "^"^^ S^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^* ^^^ ^ ^""^ ^^^"^ •^^'
y..^.., ri;^.;z he came to the place where he was, ;;^^,,;^^,^^i,4",a^;;;
looked up^ and saxo him ; «?z^ knowing his cl is- j^„^j sa^ l^ii^^ and
position, character, and circumstances, he im- said unto him, Zac-
T)\Qdi\2i\.^\Y said to him. Zaccheus^ make haste aiid ^'^^^^^^ "^^.ke haste,
, -^ f, .J r 1 • ^u • -4. and come down ; tor
come doxvn; for today I design thee a visit, ^^^^^ j ^^^^^ ^^.^^
and must abide for a while at thine house ; and, at thy house.
fully satisfied that 1 shall be a welcome guest,
I take the liberty to invite myself thither.
6 Afid Zaccheus was so overjoyed that Jesus 6 And he made
should distinguish him in such a manner, that ^aste, and came
° . , 11 1 7V ij .down, and received
he came down with all the speed he could, «'?« him joyfully.
gladly entertained hijn at his house, thinking
himself highly honoured by the presence of so
excellent a Person.
*T And the Pharisees, and other sdfconceited 7 And when they
persons, who saw [it J were very much oifend- saw it, they all mur-
■» , , 'I 1 ^1 / T I, J mured, savmff. That
ed at the particular regard that Jesus shewed j^^ ^^^s g-one to be
him J and they all jnurjnured, sayijig^ He is guest with a man
gone in to refresh himself at a marHs house'* xvho that is a sinner.
is certainly a notorious sinner^ since he follows
the scandalous employment of a publican.
8 But as Zaccheus now was quite another man 8 And Zaccheus
than he had been before, and Divine Grace ^tood^ and s^dunu>
had changed his heart, that he niight fully ob- ^ord, t°he hal/of^my
viate these reflections, and manifest the truth goods I give to the
of his conversion, he stood forth in the face of pooi": and if I have
all the company, and said to the Lord >vith ',^- -y,«™f^™^
great reverence and affection. Behold^ 0 Lord^
I acknowledge the sins of my past life, and de-
sire to testify my repentance for them by an
entire and immediate reformation ; as the
first fruits of which, I openly declare, that the
half of my goods I give to the poor ; and out of
the remainder, if I wrongfully have taken
any thing from any man by injurious charges
or oppressive claims,^ / am ready, not only
^ He is gone in to refresh himself, Stc] signify any kind of oppressiont especially
The phrase xA'Jatxvait/'nr^tgat Tivi, properly under the pretence of law. (Compare Ec-
sigmfies, to bait at a perso}i's house on a jour- cles. iv. 1, and v. 8, Septuag.J It seems
ney, referring to the laying down theirown therefore not so proper to limit it, as our
burdens, or loosening them from their fra?z5/«?io;z does, to an injury done ^j/aya/^e
beasts at such times and places. See accusatiori, which implies something of a
Wolf. Vol. I. p. 733. formal trial, and defence of the party accus-
« If I ivrongfully have taken any thing, ed ; whereas many frauds and oppressions
Stc] The word «3-t;xo<t>*v7»o-A (as Hein- might be practised by such a taxgathen^
:y^^>^has^abundantly shewn) may properly where nothing of this sort pcsuri-ecK
The conversion of Zaccheus. 267
cusat'ion, I restore to restore a fifth part more than the principal sect
A/^fourfold. {yf\nc\i is all that the law requires in such cxliU:
cases besides the trespass offering, Lev. vi. "
2 — 5, and Numb. v. 7, 8), but even to return ^"^^
[him-] four folds ^'^- ^
9 And Jesus said And fesus said to Zaccheus, and to them 9
unto him, This day that were about him^ Siirelu today is salvation
Thif hous'e^rXso" '''^' ^' ^^^' ^?^''> a"d it is evidently to be
much as he also is seen that spiritual blessings are imparted to it,
jJie son of Abraham, and designed for it, when such a penitent and
religious temper is expressed ; since^ notwith-
standing all the sins he has committed, it is
now manifest that even this man also is a true
son of Abraham^ not only descended lineally
from him,s but of a character in some measure
10 For the Son of worthy of so honourable a descent. And 10
Zl''"^T"TJ^lx^^^>^^^^''^^^ "^^^^^^^ ^"7«^^ murmur-
whicii was lost. i^gs, I rejoice in the consequences of this
happy visit to him, as answering the great pur-
poses of my life ; for the Son ofman^ as I have
formerly declared, (Mat. xviii. 11, sect, xciv.)
is come to seek and to save that which was lost ;
and it is the grand design of his abode on
earth to recover those who, like this poor
Zaccheus in his unconverted state, were wan-
dering in the way to everlasting ruin.
IMPROVEMENT.
Thus did our Lord Jesus 6'/^rw?, wheresoever he came, scatter
blessings around him, both to the souls and the bodies of men.
Who can wonder that Zaccheus had a curiosity to see such a
^ I restore him fourfold.~\ This was the guilty of extorting by force ; whereas be -
utmost that the yev^ish laiv required, even fore conviction it was enough to make res-
in cases of a fraudulent concealment and titution of what had been taken ; and even
conviction (unless where an ox had been after it, in common cases, all that the law
killed or sold, and so its labour lost to the required was restoring twice as much.
owner, and the discovery rendered more (Leg. locatio Vectigal. % quod, illic. and L.
difficult ; Exod. xxii. 1) ; for the phrase of hoc edicto effic. Digest, de Publicanis.) Arch-
restoring seven Jo Id (Prov. vi. 31) seems bishop Tillotson }us\ly observes, that had
only proverbial, to express making abund- more than an eighthpart of Zaccheus's pos-
ant satisfaction. But if a man not legally sessions been unjustly gotten, he could not
convicted or accused, voluntarily discov- have been able to make such restitution,
ered a fraud he had committed, besides after having given away half of what he
his trespass offering, he was to add to the now had to the poor, even though he had
principal only affth part. Lev. vi. 5. stripped himself of all. Tillotson's TVorh,
Zaccheus therefore shews the sincerity of Vol. III. p. 86.
his repentance by such an offer. Some
coininsntators (with Salniasius, de Fan. p. g Descended lineally from him.] The
'242) have remarked, that oppressive /)«6- name of Zaccheus) which is the same
iica?}s were by the Roman lav: required to with Zaccai, Ezra ii. 9) shews he was a
resore four fold ; but this was only after Jew. ^^^ high foot, Hor. Hebr. in loc.^vA
judgment obtained, where they had been Salmasiusj de F<en. p. 366i
^268 Reflections on the coJivenion of Zaccheuk,
SECT, person ! And how happily did that curiosity end ! Christ gra-
cxUii. ciously observed him, and, with an amiable frankness and open-
ness of heart, invited himself to be a guest at his house ; choos«
xix.^ ing to accept the entertainment of a publican, and to distinguish
% 3, 5 with a particular regard one that was so desirous to see him.
And let us diligently observe how happy a change this visit pro-
9 duced in the master of the family. O Zaccheus, well wast thou
repaid for thine hospitality wh^n salvation came to thinehouse, ^nd
the Saviour himself bore witness to thee as a son of Abraham 1
What cannot the grace of God effect ? Thi« publican was in
the morning contriving only how he might increase his estate
8 bv all possible methods of gain ; and, before evening, he cries
out, Z^r^, the half of mij goods I give to the poor. Thus does
the Spirit oi Christ operate on the soul, producing in it the fruits
of righteousness and charity to our fellowcreatures, as well as
of love to God and faith in the Redeemer. And surely the
miracle by which the walls of Jericho were many ages before
thrown down by the sound of rams'' horns, was not greater in its
kind than that which now triumphed over the heart of Zaccheus^
and threw down all the obstacles which corrupt nature had
formed against the entrance of Christ into it.
Now were his eyes opened, and he saw in a moment how
much more valuable the pearl of price was than all the riches he
could part with to procure it. And he judged rightly of religion
when he saw the necessity not only oi faith, but of charity too i
and not only of charity, but of restitution also to those whom he-
had injured, without which the highest pretences to charity are
but presenting to God robbery for a burnt offering,
Mark Our Lord'^s progress is marked with another work of Divine
^' ^^ power and beneficence in opening the eyes of the blind. With
*^^' what importunity was the cure desired! And when the petitioner
was for a while discouraged, with what eagerness was that impor-
'*S tunity repeated, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me ! Thus
will the sinner cry to Jesus when he sees how much he needs
him. But, alas! men are not aware of their spiritual indigence
and distress : they say they are rich, and increased in goods, and
have need of nothing ; and know not that they are wretched^ a?id
miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked, (Rev. iii. 17.)
When once they come to be awakened to a just sense of
their case, there is then room for hope, and great encourage-
ment for their address. We may in such circumstances say to
them, as was said to Bartimeus, Be of good courage, rise, he call-
eth thee. With pleasure should we deliver such a message ;
with pleasure should we lead on the lame and the blind, the
weak and the trembling, in their application to Christ ; and in
^^^% ^^^ ^^^ instances, in which his victorious grace is exercised,
Kviiu v> should join with those who have received it in glorifying Gody
and in celebrating the praise of this Deliverer, whom he has
mercifully rjtised up for his people*
49
The parable of the ten pounds. ^€i9
SECT. CXLIV.
.Christ delivers the parable of the ten pounds cGmmitted by a prince
to his servants^ and represents the xiengeance taken by him on-
his rebellious subjects. Luke XIX. 11 — 28.
T trx.» YTY 11 Luke XIX. 11.
AND as they /V/ ^ ^ Jesus, on occasion oi Zaccneus s con- sect..
heard these -^ * version, having expressly said that he was *^^"^-
f Ik^a'^a^abfe"^ bl^ ^^^^ ^° ^^ ^ Saviour, the people, as they heard "^^
cause he^as^nigh ^^ese^ things, were ready to conclude that at his xix.u
toJerusalem,andbe- coming to Jerusalem he would openly declare
cause they thought himself to be the promised Messiah ; but he
Gol'^shoWrle! continued {his discourse], and spake a very use-
diwtely appear. ful and instructive parable, because he was now
drawing near to Jerusalem,^ and he perceived
they thought that the xvhole kingdom of God
would immediately be revealed among them, and
that he, as the Messiah, would assume the gov-
ernment, and not only free Israel from the
Roman yoke, but spread his triumphs over all
12 He said there- the heathen nations. In order therefore to rec- 12
fore, A certain no- ^jfy their notions on this head, and to warn
far"^coun^y to*^ re* them of the danger they would incur by reject-
ceive for himself a ing him when they saw those secular views
kingdom, and to re- disappointed, he offered to their consideration
^^"'" this similitude ; and said,
A certain person of a noble birth went to a dis'
tant country in order to receive, from a superior
prince there, an investiture to a kingdom, which
was then fallen to himself, and of which the
place where he dwelt made a part,** intending
afterwards to return^ and fix his residence in hia
* Because /*e luas near to yerusalem."] bation of some more potent state : as the
;The following /»ara6/e considered in this kings of Judea, and other neiglibouring
view, as suited to the circumstances of states, frequently were by the Romans,
tiine, and to the case of those to whom it (See yoseph. Antiq- lib. xiv. cap. 14 (al.26),
was delivered, will appear a most wise § 4, 5, ^ lib. xvii. cap. 9, al. 11.) He is
and seasonable admonition ; and by ne- therefore described as setting out with the
glecting the instruction it was designed tp view of being owned at his return as their
give them, the Jews deservedly brought undoubted sovereign. (See Le Cure's
f uin on themselves. Harmony^ p. 397 ) This representation of
'> Went to a distant country to receive a tjie matter is so natural, that one would
kingdotrii Sec] The parable seems to sup- wonder what room there could be for the
pose this noble person to be the son of a controversy between Mallemansius and
prince, who, on some domestic or public Athanasius de Paris about it. It is quite
revolution, was to enter upon the posses- needless to pretend that this is an histori-
sion of his dominions, and to be confirmed cal narration, that Archelaus is the noble*
in the goyeninient of th^in by tU$ uppro- man refe.rreti to, \sfc.
270 The faithful servants are rewarded for their diligence.
SECT, own country. ^«^ before he set out on his 13 And he called
cxliv. \o\xYntyJiavinir called ten of his servants^ he de- his ten servants, and
*^. j] ^7 ^ ^ 7 *^ 1 J • J delivered them ten
Luke ^^^^^^^ *° ^^^^ ^^'^ pounds,^ lodging one pound p^^^^^,. andsaidun-
xix.13 ^^ ^^^ hands of each, and said unto them^ Trade to them. Occupy till
with this money till I come back to take an ac- I come.
count of your improvement. (Compare Mat.
XXV. 14, & seq. sect, clxv.)
14 But^ in the mean time, some oi his citizens^ 14 But his citizens
among whom he had before lived in a more h^ted him, and sent
private character and station, hated him, «^z^sa^ng?we wilfll^t
sent cm emhassij after him,^ to prevent his es- have this man to
tablishment in his kingdom ; expressly saying, reign over us.
We are at all adventures determined that we
%vill not have this rnan to reign over us, and will
endure all extremities rather than submit to
his authority. And during his absence, which
continued for some time, they thought them-
selves very secure in their insults.
15 But, notwithstanding all the confidence of 15 And it came to
these rebellious citizens, thev were unable to P^ss, that when he
prevent his exaltation to the throne, or to de- ^ceiveHht'^En"^
prive him of the right he had of reigning over dom, then he com-
them. And it came to pass, that when he had manded these serv-
received the kingdom, and Tvas come back with f "t^. ^^ ^^ ^^!*^^ H^^"
^v r n -ui, J ^ J * 1-- z. to him, to whom he
the lull powders that were granted to him, he ^^d given the mon-
commanded these his servants, to whom he had ey, that he might
delivered the money, to he called to him, that '^"ow how much ev-
he might know xvhat improvement each of them SrTdlng^'^ ^^'""^"^
had made,
16 And the first servant, who had gained the 16 Then came the
most, came near, and said, Sir, the improve- ^^'st, saying, Lord,
ment I have made of thif pound is such that it ^^^-y P'>"nd hathgain-
^ »* z. • 7 , 7 /• 7 1 , . ed ten pounds.
17 has gained ten pounds \\iovQ, ^/2« when his 17 And he said
lord had heard how diligent and careful he had unto him. Well,
been, he said to him. Well done, [thou] good^^^'''^ good servant:
"^ He deli'oered to them ten pounds.'] The servant so great and noble a reward.
fM'j., or minay as it is commonly called. Compare ver. 17.
contained i/xfy shekels (Ezek. xlv. 12), ^ Sent an embassy after him.'] This is
and therefore, according to the common expressed in such a manner as may inti-
calculation of the worth of a shekel^ plac- mate their sending ambassadors to the su-
ing It at half a croivn of our money, it was perior court, to enter their protest against
^;tven pounds ten shillings.' but according to his being admiWed to the regal power, \
Dr Pndeaux. who sets the shekel at three and to declare their resolution to oppose ^
slullt7igs,the viina was nine pounds sterling, his accession. And so it well represents
Our Lord probably chose to mention this the solemn manner in which the Jews
^wfl//*Mm to illustrate the munificence of renounced Christ, acting as in the name
the master m besiowing on the faithful of the Lord, and with a pretended zeal for,
his authority i^nd glory.
The slothful servant blames his lord^ and is condemned' 271
because thou hast servant^ since thou hast thus been faithful in a sect.
been fliithful in a ^^^-^^ little^ I Will amply reward it ; for I will not *^^^^^-
very little, have thou j -^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^i^^^ ^^^ ^^n^ treasure of " -"
authority over ten / o . . Luke
cities. which thou hast been giving me so good anac- xix.17
count, but as my dominion is now enlarged, and
many towns and tracts of land are subject to me,
I will advance thee to a most honourable station
under me, and be thou governor over ten cities,
18 And the second And the second came J and delivered in his 13
came, saying-, Lord, account, sayinpr Sir. thy pound which was
thy pound hath gam- -.l j I^ *^ » u • j • i
ed five pounds. committed to me has been improved m such
19 And he said a manner that it has gained five pounds. And 19
likewise to him. Be ^^ improvement he had made was pleasingto
^^i^'e^'s.^^'"' ''''^'* his lord, and he said likexvise unto this. Thou
hast approved thyself a good and faithful ser-
vant, and I am pleased with thy diligence, and
will reward it proportionably : be thou also
governor over five cities,^
20 And another ^72^ after him QTZof/ie;" servant, wlio had been 20
came, saying, Lord, neerlieent and slothful, ca7ne. and said. Sir. be-
beliold, here is thy , ?, ri - -y *u j. j i- u J-
pound, which I have ^^^^"^ V^^^'^ ^f 1 ^hy pound xvhichy^^s put into my
kept laid up in a hands ; it is not at all diminished, but I have
napkin. carefully kept it laid up in a napkin: For 1 21
thee^, becausf^t^hou A^^^^ ^^^^^' because I knew thou art an austere
art an austere man : man^ [who] takest Up xvhat thou didst not lay
thou takest up that down, and reapest, or expectest to reap, what
thou laidst not ^/^^^^ didst not sow : and therefore apprehend-
down, and reapest • t • u. • ^i_ -^ -r • i
that thou didst not ^^g ^ ^ight incur thy severity if any accident
sow. should befall this money in trade, I was deter-
mined not to venture it out of mine hands, and
22 And he saith ^^o^^ return it just as i received it. 5z^?when 22
unto him. Out of his lord heard him offer such a vile and ground-
^^M^f^T ^^H^ "^outh iggg charge against himself as an excuse for his
«lou wklfed ser- ^^^^^ negligence, he was filled with indignation,
vant: thou kne west and says to him. Out of thine ow?i mouth will I
that I was an au- condemn thee, 0 [thou] wicked servant : thou
thlaTa^dnJdmA!? hast taken upon thee to affirm, thou knewest that
and reaping that I -^^'^^ '^^ austere 7Jian, taking up, as thou express-
did not sow ; est it, what I did not lay down, and reaping what
I did not soxv ;^ and thou mightest therefore
« Be thou also governor o'ver Jive cities.'] ference in the renuard; which, as it is ft
It is observable that in Mat. xxv. 20 — 23, beautiful circumstance, was, no doubt,
sect. clxv. where the servants are repre- intended for our instruction,
sented as doubling the di^erent sums intrust- ^ Thou knevoest that I am an austere man,
ed to each, the reward is spoken of as the &c.] This is not an acknowledgment of
same ; but here, the sums intrusted being the vile and detestable charge of God't
the same, and the improvement described demanding of m,en (as Dr. Guyse well ex-
ars different^ there is a proportionable f///'- ^t^»$^» it) more difficult ffrvices than hthts
VOL. 2. 36
2,72 Faithfulness and diligence shall be rewarded"*-
SECT, on thine own principles conclude, that I should
cxliv. expect to gather where I had deposited such
a sum of money, and to reap where I had thus
^"^cf. sown : And if it had been so, and I had really 23 Wherefore then
^"•'^ been as severe as thou wouldest basely insin- ^Z:^^^:^^:^,^.
uate, why didst thou not ithen^ for thme own that at my coming I
security, give 7ny 7noney into the hank^ that might have required
xvhen i came to call for it at my return, I might ^"^^ own with usu-
at least have received it with the common in- ^ '
terest^ if not with the extraordinary improve-
ment which might have attended a successful
trade ? .
24 And farther to testifv his displeasure, he said 24 And he said
r ^; ^K ^ \ J J ^ L *Ur, unto themthat stood
to some ot them that stood by^ 1 ake away the ^ r^^^ ^^.^^ j^j^
pound that was intrusted with him, from that the pound, and give
idle, suspicious, unfaithful creature, who might it to him that hath
otherwise have had that, and much more, ^^'^ Pounds.
allotted him for his own property, and give it to ^
25 him that has ten pounds. But they were much 25 (And tW said
, , . * . . . •' >^ 1 J unto nina, J-ora, ne
surprised at his assignmg it to one who had j^j^j^ ten pounds.)
before received so ample a reward ; and they
said to hiin^ Sir^ he hath already no less than
ten pounds ^^ which, with the honour and pre-
ferment thou hast farther added, is surelv an
26 abundant recompense. Nevertheless,' the ^^i'^^'^'fln^nlT
1 t ^. r t 11 you, Inat unto eve-
prince stood by his lormer award, and bestow- ^.y (^„e which hath
ed the other pound likewise upon him ; de- shall he given,: and
daring, that his faithfulness and diligence was f^'"'« ^"" ^Y\^^he
fit to be distinguished with the most favoura- JJ^^[^ shall be taken
ble and repeated notice : and in this way it is, away from him.
continued he, that I resolve to act ; for I as-
sure you^ That to every one that hath^ or that
improves what he hath, [if] shall be given^ and
he shall have yet more abundantly ; but from
him that hath not, or that acts as if he had
nothing intrusted to his care, even that which
he hath, and neglects to improve, shall be takeJi
away from him, (Compare Mat. xiii. 12 ;
XXV. 29 ; Mark iv. 25 ; and Luke viii. 18.)
yurrushed them for, or t»ould assist them in ; of entDy in the fello wservauts, It is not to be
which is, as that pious writer truly ob- regarded as a significant circumstance ;•
serves, a most unrighteous thought of God : but only as an incidental one, to intimate
but his lord only argues with him on his to us, that his lord gave to the diligent
own base principles, and shews, that even servant what he had gained for himself
on them he would be justly condemned '' / assure you."] This seems to be the
tor his negligence. import of that phrase, which so often oc-
g They said to hini, Sir, he hath ten pounds.'] curs, I say unto you ; as if he should have
'^0 far as this seems to express any thing sftid, You may take it on my authority.
The Lord commands his enemies that rejected him to be slain, 273
27 But those And having thus inquired into the conduct sect.
mine enemies, which of j^jg servants, and treated them according to c^^^i^-
T" u rpL^^'nvJ the different use they made of what had been — -
should reigi\ over . i • i .i. i, .i, j i Luke
them, bring hithe?, mtrusted With them, he then proceeded to ^^2r
and slay fiiem before pass sentence on his rebellious citizens who
^^- had refused to have him for their king ; and,
with a just resentment of their base ingrati-
tude, he said, But as for those 7nine enemiesy
who were determined to oppose my govern-
ment, and woidd not have me to reign over them,
bring them hither immediately, a?2d slay [them^
with the sword in mi/ presence^'- that others may
learn a more dutiful submission by the execu-
tion of these rebels.
Now all this was as if our Lord had said.
Thus shall I at length appear, not as a temporal
sovereign, but as the Great Eternal Judge, and
victorious ruler over all, when, having receiv-
^d power and dominion from my Father, I
shall bring all to their final account ; and with
infinite ease triumph over those who reject
and affront my authority : take heed there-
fore that you be not found in their wretched
number, as many will be who pretend most
eagerly to desire the Messiah's appearance.
^8 And when he A7id tvhen he had spoken these things^ he con- 28
liadthus spoken, he tinned his journey, and, leading the way, went
TeTd^ng-^upTo' Jeru^ ^^ ^^fi^^ ^^^ disciples, ascending to Jerusalem^
salem. being determined to appear there at the ap-
proaching passover, though he well knew that
he was to encounter persecution and death
there. (Compare Mark x. 32, sect, cxlii.)
IMPROVEMENT.
Let us also hear ar^i fear. Our Lord is gone, and has received ver. 13
his kingdom. He has delivered to us our stock, to be improved
in his service : let us be animated to diligence in it ; for propor-
tionable to that diligence will be our reward. Let us remember 17, 19
we labour for ourselves while we labour for him ; as all the prog-
ress we make in wisdom and in goodness renders our own souls
so much the happier, and will render them so to all eternity.
' Slay them with the sword in my pres- not seem the chief design of tl>e passage,
a^ce.3 This is the exact import of the which plainly relates to the far more ter-
word Kct]a.<j-<pa.^it]i. It does indeed prop- rible execution which shall be done on all
erly express the dreadfiil slaughter of the impenitent sinners in the great day,
impenitent Jews, by the snuord of each when the faithful servants of Chfist shall
other, and of the Jlomans ; but that does be rewardecl.
S/^ Refections on the improvement we should make of our stock.
sEcr. Blessed servants that have the applause of such a Master^ and
cxliv. share a rexvard as liberal as that conferred on a faithful steward,
•"~~" who should be v(\2i^Q governor o/'a province containing tencitiest
verse Let us beware of a slothful neglect of our stock : let us beware
19, 21 of those hard thoughts of God which would discourage us from
pursuing his service. Above all, let us take heed, that we do not
proudly and insolently reject the government of his anointed Son^
24 and either say with our tongues, or declare by our actions, We
xuill not have this man to reign over us : for if we do, we speak a
word against our oxvn lives. He will be glorified by us, or upon
us. And oh, what shall we do, if in that dreadful day he should
bring us forth as the helpless prisoners of his justice, and com-
mand us to be slain in his presence I How can we withstand his
power ! or to the horns of what altar shall we flee for sanctuary ?
O Lord^ our flesh trembleth for fear of thee^ and xve are afraid of
thy judgments, (Psal. cxix. 120.) May we never be the mis-
erable objects of them ; but having faithfully served thee here,
may that be to us a day of honour, reward, and triumph, which
shall be to every presumptuous rebel a day of shame and terror,
of dreadful execution and eternal destruction !
SECT. CXLV.
Christ is entertained at Bethany^ and his feet anointed by Mary,
The Jexvish rulers contrive to kill Lazarus, Mat. XXVI.
6—13 ; Mark XIV. 3—9 ; John XII. 1—11.
esus,
before
John XII. 1. John XII. l.
SECT. CrHE N Jesus came^ six days before the pass- 'T^ H E N J
cxlv. J- over^ to Bethany yw\i\ch. W2is a village (as -■- six days b
was said before, John xi. 18, sect, cxl.) that J^^P^-;^' X"^
lay in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem, where Lazarus was, which
the abode of Lazarus was, who had been dead had been dead,
and buried, [and] whom he lately by an amaz- JJ^o^^'the^dead!''^'^
ing mir^Lcle had raised from the dead, »;; v yyvT
Mat. Now at this time, xvhen Jesus xvas in Betha- j^^^ ^when Jesus
xxvi. 6 fiy^^ where by his frequently resorting thither was m Bethany, in
** » When yesus nuas in Bethany.'\ Few from that in John : but, on maturer con-
passages in the Hannony have perplexed sideration, it appears to me more proba-
me more than this. I was long of opinion ble, that Matthew and Mark should have
•with Origen and Theophylact, defended introduced this story a little out of its
by Le Clerc and Dr. Whitby, and espec- place ; that Lazarus, if he made this en-
ially by Dr. Lightfoot (^Harmon. N. Test, tertainment (which is not expressly said
§71,80), and Mr Whiston (in his Fze=tu by John), should have made use of ^'/•mo?^'*
of Harmony, p. 128, 129), that the story houscy as more convenient for it, and that
recorded by Matthew (chap. xxvi. 6 — 13), Mary should have poured this ointment
and Mark (chap. xiv. 3—9), was different on Christ's head and body, as well as on Ms
John
xii. '2
Mary anoints yesiis with a viost costly ointment, 27')
the house of Simon he was well known, and had many friends that sect.
the leper, [Mark yg^y xnuch rejoiced to see him ; as he was ifi ^^^^'
^J^o H N XII. 2. the house of Simon the leper, ^ In testimony
There they made of their high respect and great aft^ction for him,
him a supper, and they made a handsome supper for him there, and
J*a\t.rJ:ronerf treated him in the evening; wluch was the
them that sat at the usual time lor entertamments with the Jews,
tahle witli him. especially on the evening of their sabbathdays,
which was the season when this feast was
made :^ and Martha, who had formerly distin-
guished her care on a like occasion, (Luke x.
40, sect, cviii.) having seen that all things
should be rightly ordered, tuaited on Christ at
supper ; but Lazarus was one of them that sat
at the table xv'tth htm,
3 Then took Ma- ^^^" Mary, the other sister of Lazarus, be- 3
vy [an alabasterbox, ing deeply affected with the many instances
co«?a/«zw5-]a pound of that Christ had given her of his love, and
nl"t'vlry^osth': especially with his late mercy to her family, in
[Mark, and she recovering so dear a brother from the grave,
brake the box, and was solicitous to give some uncommon token
of her gratitude and respect to so excellent a
guest ; she therefore took an elegant alabaster
pot, or vase, [containing] about a poimd weight
of unadulterated ointment of spikenard,^ {which
was] exceeding valuable ; and, having broke the
top of the vessel, or shook the perfumed balsam
feet ; than that within the compass of they are speaking of what happened but
four days Christ should have been ?^iv'ce two days before the passover/it'ismore proh-
anointed with so costly a perfume ; and able (as we have just now shewn) that it
that the same fault should be found with is placed by John in its due order ; and as
the action, and the same value set on the the following days appear to be sufficiently
ointment, and the same words used in de- distinguished, and Christ's^ triumphant
fence of the woman ; and all this in the entrance into Jerusalem, which John lias
presence of many of the ja7ne/)er5o;j*,- all fixed to ?A<? next day^ (John xii. 12, sect,
whicli improbable particulars must be ad- cxlvi.) must have been on \.\\e first day of
mitted, if the stories be considered as dif- the weei, this entertainment therefore was
ferent. But, after all, I can assert nothing on the evening of tlie day before, when the
confidently ; for there is no impossibility Jewish sabbath was over,
in the tiling- taken either way. ^ Unadulterated ointment of spikenard.']
b In the house of Simon the leper.'] It is I cannot take upon me absolutely to de-
not to be thought that he was now a leper ; termine whether the word -cr/r/xw? signifies
for in this case he would not have been thrxX-the oiiitment vfSiS, ^imte genuine ^nd. p7ire
suffered to live in a town, nor would the (as Casaubon and L. Cappellus assert), or
Jews have come to an entertainment at wliether (as Grotius and Erasmus think)
his house : but either he was once a /e/)er, it be put for o-7r/x*7«f, and refers to the
and had been cured by Jesus, or else the particular part of the fragrant shrub nar-
name was given to the family, as some t/z^^, ofwhich the ozH^wim was made. (See
considerable person jin it had been for- Plin. Nat. Hist, lib. xii. cap. 12.) If the
merlv a leper. latter be the meaning of it, what is said
" When this feast was made.] Though of its great value must justify our calling
MattUe w and Mark relate the story, where it unadulterated.
John
xii. 3
276 Judas condemm it as an unreasonable waste;
SECT, which was in it, that it might be the better poured it on his
c-^1^- liquefied, and flow forth the easier,^ she came ^^^^^^'1 [^5 ^^^ sat at
,,.,,. , , 1 c J^ieat,] and anouited
behmd him, and poured out the greater part ot the feetof Jesus, and
it on his head^ as he sat at meat^ and a/iointed wiped his feet with
the feet of Jesus with the remainder ; and, when J^er hair : and the
1 1 J J ^-L- 1- 1-1 ^i, 1 ui u ^ house was fiUedwith
she had done this, she,hke the humble penitent ^j^^ odour of the
mentioned above (Luke vii. 38, Vol. I. p. 329), ointment [Mat.
wiped his feet with the long flowing tresses oj XXVI. 7. Mark
her hair : ajid the wholt house zuas filled with the XiV.— 3.J
fragrant and delicious odour of the ointment.
Mat. But when his disciples observed it, there zvere Mat. XXVI. 8.
^^vi.8 some that xvere moved with imvard displeasure ples^aw"/^'cfheTe
at what appeared to them so great an extrava- ^gj-e some tliat had
gance; and said \y\\\\ a low voice to each other, indignation within
Why was this waste of the ointment made, and themselves, and
^ . f 1 • • 1 1 1 J ^ said, Why was this
such a quantity of this rich balsam poured out ^r^^te of the oint-
to so little purpose ? And they secretly mur- ment made ? And
mured against her,^ and could hardly refrain they ^murmured ^a-
John fi-Qi^-i rebuking her for it. One of his disci- '^^y^^^^y-
^"" pies therefore, [eveii] Judas I<cariot, the son of John XII. 4.
Simon, that wretched person who was about to Then gaith one of
betray him, as if he knew not how to bear such '.tLt^lm J^t!
waste, expressed a peculiar emotion, and said which should betray
5 aloud, Why was not this fine ointment soldfor him,
a s^reat deal of money ; for it must have been , ^ ^Y^/ ^f "?^
^ , r- ^ , ^1 1 11, ^ this ointment sold
worth \_cven\ more than three hundred pence ,-& rf^j, much, eveti]
and\h.M% it might have served for the relief of for [Mark, more
many, if the price of it had been given to the than] three hundred
poor P This would surely have been approved ti^g^pooJ! ? ^[mIt!
of by our Master, as a much wiser and better XXVI. 9. Mark
•way of disposing of it, than thus to lavish it XIV. 5.— 3
away on his luxurious entertainment of a few 5 Ti^ig j^g said, not
6 minutes. Nozv this he said., not because he tlmthecsired for th^
•" Having' broke the top of the 'vessel, or six. 29 ; Judg*. xii. 7 ; and Mat. xxvii. 44..
shook the perfumed balsam, cJ'c.] Sir Some have thouglit Judas Iscariot was
Norton Knatchbuil and Dr. Hammond the son of that Sinwn in whose house the
maintain that (ruvJin-iaia-it does not signify feast was made ; but the name was so
that she brake the vessel, which they think common that it cannot be concluded with
an improbable circumstance ; but only that any certainty.
she shook it so as to break the coagulated g More than three hundred pence."] It is
parts of the rich balsam, and bring it to to be remembered that these vrere Hainan
such a liquidity that it miglit be fit to pour pence, and consequently amounted to ?ii}ie
out. Yet I must own that the original pounds seven shillings and six pence: the ex-
does not so naturally express this. pression only intimates a general guess at
* And they viurmured against her."] Whe- the value by a ronnd sinn (for such three
ther this relates to more than Judas can- hundred denarii were, though the corres-
not certainly be said ; since it is well pondent value with us is not so) ; as if
known that the />/i/ra/?nmi(^er is sometimes we should say, on a like occasion, it must
put ioY \.hQ sii^gidar. Se€ Gen. viii. 4; have been worth above ^^wj&ozfW^.
But jfesiis justifies and commends her conduct. ^ 277
poor; but hecsiuse 2Lt all regarded the fioor^ but because he xuas^not' sect.
he was a thief, and withstanding all his pretended piety and zeal, a cxlv.
L« 'iThat "Ss pat subtle thief; ^ and as he hft the bag which con- — -
therein. tamedtheirWttle stocky and carriedwhat was put l?^^
into it^ he thought if so large a sum had come ^"*
injust before he went off with it (which he was
now preparing to do), he should thus have had
a fine opportunity of enriching himself.
Mat XXVI 10 ^^^ Jesus knoxving the design of Judas, and ^^^
When Jesus under- perceiving that Others were secretly joining xxvi.io
stood /?, he said unto with him in this severe and uncharitable cen-
them. Why trouble ^ without taking anv notice of that vile
vc the woiTicin . I let o ,
her alone ; for she principle from which he knew [it'] proceeded
hath wroughtagood in him, directed his discourse to his disciples,
Tma k'^^XIV^'^6'' ^^^ ^^^^ ^° ^^^^' ^^^^y ^^ ^^" ^^^'^ ^^^^ trouble
JoHN^XII. 7.— 1 and uneasiness to tJie good zvoman^ of whose
piety and friendship we have had so long an
experience ? Let her alone in what she is about ;
for what she has now performed is a goodxvorkj
and she deserves to be commended for the
great respect she has been shewing tozvards me, \ i
11 For ye have the For as to what has been suggested now in fa-
j3*)or always with your of thcpoor^ uou havexki^vci cdzvays zvith you;
■eve;>'ewilir™r;«"'^.P^°^-idence\vill continually so order it,
do them goo'd :] but that some compassionable objects shall be still
me ye have not al- among you, that zuheriever you please you may
•ways. [Mark XIV. j^^^,^ ^^ opportunity to do them P^osd : but me
7. John XII. 8.J , * ' vi, c i
you have not always with you ; tor 1 am soon to
leave you, and to be placed beyond the reach of
John XII. —7. your kindness. And indeed my departure out John
Against the day of of the world is SO near, that, with respect to this ^^^- ^
my burying hath she action of our friend Mary, which you are ready
^^^ ^^' to condemn, I may say, that she has reserved
Mark XIV. 8. ^^'^^ ointmenty^r the day of my burial '} And, Mark-
She hath done what not knowing whether she may have an oppor- xiv. S
tunity of assisting in those last offices, she has
'' Carried luhat ivas put into it."] The but that it was his stated office to take
learned J?/*«er (I suppose to avoid the careof it and manage its stock ; and the re-
seeming tautology) would render to;tr*(^sv, fore I choose not to follow Eisner's ver-
he tool' axvay, or carried off, tliat is, for his sion, since sCir*^^^ never sigiiifies to carry
own use, wliat was put into tlie purse or off a part privately, which would have
bag. He refers to John xx. 15, and Mat. been expressed by svo3-<t)^!7A7o, as it is
iii 11, viii. 17, as instances of such a use Acts v. 2.
of it ; to which he adds others from Poly- ' She has reser'ced this for the day of vur
bius, Athenxus, and otlier good authors burial'} Mr. JVhiston (in his View of the
(Elsn. Observ. V'l. I. p. 2'Zo.) But the Harmony, p. 129) thinks this is as if o^-r
meaning here may be, that he had not ior/ had said, " She has spent but a lit*-
'flnly the keeping- of the bag at that tijne, tk of this oijUmeiitnow ; but has reserved
278 It shall be spok&n of for a memorial of her,
SECT, now done tuhat she could ; for in that she has she could: [for in
cxlv. pr^ured out this ointment on my body, she has in ^hat she hath poured
______ ^ , ^ 1 • 1 • ^ this onitment on my
a manner come bejore the tune thus to anoint body,] she is come
^•^ g and to embalm my body for the burial ; so that aforehand to anoint
you may almost look upon it as a work of piety ?ny ^^^7,^^ ^^t!?il^y'
•',i- iir-iv mff. FMat. XXVI.
and love to a dead inend, where a generous j2 ]
9 heart will not be sparing. And, on the whole, 9 Verilv I say un-
though you have such hard thoughts of what to you, Wheresoever
she has been doing, it shall not finally turn to ^tj;er\lfrou^^^
her reproach or damage ; but as I graciously out the whole world,
accept it, so / assuredly say unto you. That this also that [this
wheresoever this s^ospel oi mmft is preached. 2Lnd woman] hath done,
. . . 1 11 1 • ^ • 1 1 , , sliall be spoken of tor
It m time shall nave its triumph over tfiezvfiole ^ memorial of her.
xdorld, this very action also xvhich this pious and [Mat. XXVI. 13.]
affectionate rvoman has now performed, shallh^
inserted in the history of my life, and be spoken
c/with honour /or a memorial of her friendship
and aifection to me ; so that her name shall be
embalmed in such a manner, as to be far more
fragrant than the perfume which she has
poured forth on my head and my feet. (Com-
pare Eccles. vii. 1.)
John Now these things passed at a public enter- J o n x XII. 9.
^"' ^ tainment : a great multitude of the Jcxvs there- Much people of the
fore, who had been dubious whether Jesus Jewsthereforeknew
^ \ , , y that he was there :
would come up to the passover or not, (com- and they came, not
pare John xi. 56, sect, cxli.) quickly got intel- for Jesus's sake only,
lift-ence of it, and knew that he -was there in ^"^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ "^\&^^
-r» , J ^, 1 •.! • 1 r see Lazarus also,
Uethany ; and they came thither in crowds rrom whom he had raised
Jerusalem, and that indeed not only on account from the dead.
of Jesus, who had been retired for some time,
but cdso out of curiosity, that they might see
Lazarus, rvhom he had lately raised from the
dead, who now appeared publicly with him.^
10 But the chief priests, and other members of 10 But the chief
the sanhedrim, were filled on this occasion P^'^^^^' consulted,
the main part of it to pour upon my head tion which Mr. Whiston supposes our
some days hence, which sliall be so near Lord io utter, is quite trifling, and would
rny death, tliat it may be considered as a seem to bespeak its own accomplishment
kind of embalmins^." But besides the in a manner which he never would have
general reasons ag-ainst believing- the stooped to.
action repeated, which have been men- ^ Who now appeared publicly with
tioned in 7iote =*, it is unnatural to suppose him.] Perhaps, after so extraordinary a
that, in the transport of lier love and grat- series of providences as Lazarus had
itude, she would use this Uttle wa?m^e- passed through, he might choose to spend
9ne«f of keeping back most that was in the some time in retirement and extraordi-
vessel ; or that if she had, John would nary devotion ; and it is natural to suppose
have mentioned the quantity she touk^ he would endeavour to avoid the impor-
which was no way tohis purpose, or have tunity of crowds, who out of curiosity
taken notice of the roomys being filled ix-ith would be pressing in upon him, perhaps
the odour of it ; not to say, that the predic- with some impertinent inquiries.
Reflections on Marifs anointing the feet of Christ, 279
that they mi^ht put with such rage and envy, that, as they had sect.
Lazarus also to aheady resolved on the death of Jesus, they *^*1^-
death ; - consulted also how they might find some meth-
od to kill Lazarus^ either by public prosecution £ii {q
11 Because that or private assassination : For they well knew
by reason of him that ?«a?2z/ o/' Me yew* deserted them, and wewf 11
many of the Jews ^^^y to Bethany on his account, and were so
went away, and be- -^ ^ ^t i • i i • • • i
lieved on Jesus. powerfully struck with the convmcmg evidence
of so astonishing a miracle, that they believed
on Jesus ; and, while such a monument of his
power and goodness continued, they were
afraid lest more should revolt to him.
IMPROVEMENT.
We see how happily 3Iary improved by sitting at the Jeet of
Jesus^ and what evidence she gave of her having chosen the
better part, (Compare Luke x. 39, 42.) Like her^ let us with
humble thankfulness bestow ov.r very best on him, who has given John
us that and every thing else. She gladly poured out her choicest ^^- 2
ointment on him, whose name is to every true believer far more
fragrant than ointment poured forth, (Cant. i. 3.) How does
her generous love shame those who grudge every expense in
the cause of Christ I
When we are relieving the pious poor^ we are, as it were,
anointing the feet of Jesus : we are indeed performing a service
far more acceptable than any thing of this kind could in itself
be. Let us remember that xve have the poor ahvays with us ; ver. 8
and that they are permitted to continue among us that zve may
do them good whenever we please. Far be it from us to imagine
that what we so spend is waste. Let all who would not share 4-— 6
in the guilt and punishment of Judas abhor the vile hypocrisy
of making a pretended concern for the poor a cloak for an oppor-
tunity of enriching themselves with their spoils ; than which
nothing can be more infamous, or can have a directer tendency
to mingle the consuming curse of a righteous and almighty God
with all that a man possesses.
The Pharisees conspired to kill Lazarus, What a mixture 10
was this of cruelty and folly I What was his crime f or what
could their hope be ? From what death could not Christ have
delivered him ? or from what toinb could he not again have
recalled him ? Yet something like this is the madness of all who
hate and persecute others for being the trophies of the Re-
deemer's victory and grace.
VOL. 2. 37
'^gO yesuSy hehig come to Bethphage near Jerusalem^
SECT. But let not his servants fear ; their Redeemer is strongs the Lorcl
<^xl^'- of hosts is his name. (Jer. 1. 34.) His work is perfect ; and the
day and hour is approaching in which his triumph over all his
^'^^■^^ enemies shall be so complete, that his friends shall be for ever
secure, not only from being destroyed, but from being alarmed
by them*
S EC T. CXLVI.
Christ rides in triumph to Jerusalem on an ass^s colt. Mat.
XXr. 1—9 ; Mark XI. 1—10 ; Luke XIX. 29—40 ;
John XII. 12—19.
Mat. XXI. 1. Mat. XXI. l.
s^cT. AND after Jesus had been anointed by A ND [Luke, it
cxM. n. Mary in the manner related in the pre- £^ came to pass,3
,. -^ . . , J lJohn, on the next
■"""■ ceding section, tt came to pass on the next clay^ day,] when they
^^\ which was the first day of the week, that he drew nigh unto Je-
proceeded on his journey with his disciples ; rusalem, and were
^^xvhen they drew nigh to Jerusalem, o^^^^^JJ^^^Bg^h any,] unfa
xvere come to Bethphage and Bethany, or to the the mount of Olives,
outward boundaries of these two places,^ at the ^^en sent Jesus two
foot of the mount of Olives, which lay to the [MARKXI^rL^uxE
east of the city, then Jesus, as the time ap- xiX.29. JohnXH.
pointed for his sufferings was just at hand, 13. — ]
being resolved that he would make a public 2 Saying unto them^
entry into Jerusalem, sent out txvo of his disci^ ,^^ t^^"^ ^^^^ ^'^^^
^ , ^ r. • 1 ^ ^ • , ^he village over a-
2 pies, Saying to them. Go your way into ?/z<? gainst you ; and
village which lies yonder over against z/c/w ,- straightway [as soon
and immediately, as soon as you enter iiito it, '?^ ^^ ^^ entered
you shall there find a she ass standing tied at a Jf^d an ass ti^ed,\nd
door, and a young foal tied also xvith her, o;2>acolt [tied] with her,
which no man ever yet sat ; lay hold of the foal, [whereonnever man
and untie him directly, without any scruple or loose^^rhim 1 ^^and
concern about the owner's leave, and bring bring [Luke, hitn
» Were come to Bethphage and Bethany.'\ there were tnuo places of the same name
As Bethany was the town from which our witliin a mile of each other ; and it is
Lord set oi»t, some have supposed there much more natural to suppose that the
were tiuo places of this name ; of which limits of Bethany might extend to tlie
the one wSiS fifteen fur longs from Jerusalem viount of Olives., and be contiguous to the
(as it is said, John xi. 18), and the other, boundaries of Bethphage, which was part
that he now was come to, joined to the of the suburbs of Jerusalem, and reached
onoiint qf Olives, and was but a sabbath- from the mount of Olives to the walls qf
day's journey, or but eight furlongs liivsl^nt the city. See Lighfoot, Harmon. :N.. T.
from the city. (Compare Luke xxiv. 50, § 72^ ajid Whitby on Mark xi. 1..
and Acts i. 12.) B>ut it is hardly probable
sends two of his disciples for an ass's colt, 281
hither] unto me. [/zim] hither to me : And if any man should sect.
[MarkXI.2.Litke take notice of what you are doing, and say to ^^^^^'
^ S^Aml if any man ?/^^^ '^^^y do you offer to untie the foal, and lead ^^^
sayuntoyou,[LuKE, [^hhii] away ? you in reply shall say thns to him^ xxi. 3
Why do ye loose Because Jesus the Lord has need of him : and^
lum?^ ye shall say -^^ ^.^ ^^^ ^^ ^j^^ authority of my name and
TLuKE, thus unto , ° , ... . t i i i' !• ,
him. Because the character, he will immediately send nim hither
Lord haih need of with the dam, that I may use either of therti
^'™. ' he^'^'^'Urllnd ^^ ^ ^^^^^ choose, to ride mto the city : so that
[himhTther.][MTR. yo^ "^^Y b^ing them both hither, without any
XI. 3. Luke XIX. apprehension of accusation or scandal.
31-] And the two disciples that were sent on this Mark
And [the disciples] errand presumed not to debate the reasonable- ^^ ^
[Luke, that were ness of the orders he had given them ; but
sent] went their presently "Went their way^ and founds just as he
way, and found kad said wito them,^ the colt with its dam tied
1 L u K E even cis rie
had said unto them,] abroad at the door of a house, which stood in a
the colt tied by the very Open place at the entrance of the village,
door without, m ^ ix^here two roads met : and^ as f esus commanded
ways met :^and they them^ they immediately began to untie the colt,
loose him, [as Jesus that they might lead him away,
commanded them.] But as they were thus untying the colt^ Provi- Luke
Luke XIX^32^ ^ dence SO ordered it, effectually to prevent any xix.33
Luke XIX. ^o. clamour or reflection,*^ that the owners of it
And as they were were near at hand, with several other persons,
loosing the colt, ^^^ ^^^^^ of them that stood by there, and par-
that stood there,] ticularly the oxvners of it, said unto them. What
the owners thereof «r^ you doing there ? Why do you offer to untie
said unto them, ^/^^ ^^/^^ which you know is none of vour own ?
ETse ye the cdt^ ^^^ ^^^V ^^^^ ^° ^^^'"' ^'^^" ^* Jesus had order ^ Mark
[Mark XL 5.] ed. We mean no injury to you, or to the colt ; ^- ^
Mark XI. 6. And but Jesus, the Messenger of the blessed God,
they said unto them ?A^ great Lord and Proprietor of all, has need
even as Jesus had „ .9 , u i *^ i • r i- i
commanded ; [The ^j him, and would borrow nim lor a little
Lord hath need of while, to ride into the city ; and his character
him :] and they let \^ ^qq well known to give you any reason to
fear you shall lose any thing by your readi-
ness to accommodate him in this little instance.
^ yiist as he had said unto them."] The "= Effectually to prevent any clamour ox
exact knowledg'e which our Lord shewed reflection.] Perhaps had not the owners o)^
of 6o many minute and most fortuitous the beasts happened to be by, and had not
particulars must surely impress the minds Luke expressly mentioned them, the
of these messengers greatly, and establish malice of ancient or modem infidels would
the faith of his followers. It is observable have found some occasion for raising an
that many such things occurred a little outcry on the ambiguity of the words,
before his death, which, considered in The Lord has need of him. Its being a
this view, have a peculiar beauty. Com- weak and contemptible cavil would pot
pare Mat. xxvi. 31 — 35; Mark xiy. 15, 16; have prevented their using it, sns we leaTR
and Luke xxii. 10—13. by abundant experien^c^.
282 The colt Is brought^ and Jesus rides in triumph to the city*
SECT. And on this they were thoroughly satisfied, them go. [LrK«
cxlvi. jjj^^ i^f ^f^g^ ^^ ^^^^r ^vjth it.^ ' XIX- 34.3
And thus they brought the colt to Jesus^ and
the ass its dam went with it : and, as they had 7 And they brought
neither of them any saddle, they threrv their f^^^^^^^''^^^^^^^^
loose ma?2tles upon the bslcks of them both, that tiieir garments [on
Jesus might take his choice which he would them;'] [Luke, and
ride, and might sit the more easily and d^- ^""'^V^U^^X^Tv
cently on either : and as he chose the colt, luke XIX. 35]
though (as was just now said) it had never
been broke or backed before, they set Jesus
thereon.^
8 And many. [eveJi] a very great multitude^ who 8 And many, \_even
now surrounded him, as he sat on the young ^ ^'^^y great mulu-
rt.w,f \(:ind'\ went on to the city, in token of their rjoHN sat'^^'n^^the
respect to him, spread their mantles in the way^ young ass, awrf] went
that he might ride as upon one continued car- on,] spread their gar-
pet ; and others cut down little branches from "^^nts/n the way :
* , ' , 111 . 1 r 1 1 ^no^ others cut down
the trees^ that stood by the side ot the road, branches [from] off
and gathered flowers which grew near it, «7Zflf the trees, and strew-
strezved them in the way ; according to the l^^^''^^'"' "^ tl?Sr,^^X*
, ^ r < ^^ , V . [Matt. XXI. 8.
usual custom of expressing the public joy on luke XIX. 36.
the arrival of any illustrious prince. (Com- John XII. 14. — ]
pare 1 Mac. xiii. 51, and 2 Mac. x. 7.)
Mat. Now all this was done^ and permitted by Je- Mat. XXI. 4. All
^^^- ^ sus, Manvhat was prophesiedof old concerning this was done, that
the Messiah might be fulfilled in him ; and that ^Swa^oSy
bythisoccurrencez?7?2z^/2f^eliterally«ccow!/?/z>^- the prophet, saying,
ed which was spoken by the prophet Zechariah,^
^ They let them ^o.j If these people number), implies no more than setting
were not (as they possibly might be) the him upon thonantles thrown on that which
acquaintance of Christ, they might easily he made choice of, and is no intimation of
meet with him at Jerusalem, if they had a his riding upon both.
mind to m^xxxo. 2S\.€iV the ass and colt ; or ^ As he sat on the young ass."} John says
tliey might be left according to their thai ^estis, ivhen he had found a young assy
direction at some house in the city, or be sat thereon : but as the larger accounts
sent back by some of our Lord's attend- given by the otiier evangelists in a great
ants ; though the evangelists do not de- measure supersede this, I could only bring
scend to such minute particulars. There in a part of that clause here ; though in
is no appearance of Christ's intending to the wliole of this work I am as careful as
shew his sovereignty in transferring the possible to omit no one circumstance that
property of these creatures ; and though, any of the sacred writers mention,
no doubt, he had a power to do it, his g It might be literally accomplished 'which
usual prudence would probably direct him ixms spoken, &c.] I shall not enter on a
to wave it at a time when so many eyes particular detail of the reasons which in-
VTcre upon him for evil. ' duce me to believe that the prophecy of
« They set yesus thereon."] As all the Zechariah is here quoted according to its
evangelists but Matthew speak expressly primary and literal sense ; but content
of his riding on the colt, what Matthew myself with referring the reader to
says of bringing them both to Jesus, and Bi'shop Chandler's Defence of Christianity,
putting on them their clothes, and setting him p. 102— lOr, and Mr. Bullock's Vindication,
thereon (tliough it be spoken in the plural p. 1^5, 176.
JV/iat Ztchariah prophesied was thus fulfilled. 283
[as it 13 written,] sayings Cas it is written^ Zech. ix. 9), " Say sect.
[John XII.— 14.] yg fQ f/i^ daughter of Sion, rejoice greatly, and c^^vi.
aJsJefoFs^n, sHout, O daughter, or inhabitant, of Jerusa- —
[Fear not ;] behold, lem ; and fear not any oi thine enemies : for xxi.5
thy kin^ cometh un- behold^ with pleasing amazement, thy King^ the
to thee, meek, and -j-eat expected Messiah, cometh unto thee. meeL
sitting' upon an ass, ° j , ^ i . ' j • ^ i r .i
and a colt the foal of and having salvation ; and^ in token or the
an ass. gentleness of his administration, and his strict
observance of the Divine law,^ he shall make
his public entrance into thy city, not as other
princes affect to appear, in a proud triumphal
chariot, or riding on a stately managed horse,
decked with a variety of splendid ornaments,
and attended with a pompous cavalcade ; but
he shall appear like one of thine ancient patri-
archs or judges, in the earliest and best ages of
thy commonwealth, sitting upon an ass ; yea
he shall come upon a colt^ the foal of an asSy
%vhich though it had never been backed before,
shall in his miraculous hands be tractable and
gentle."
John XII. 16. Noxv it is to be observed that his^ apostles John
These thing-s under- smdother disciples did ?iot understa77d these thing's ^^' ^^
stood not his disci- ^ r ^ n.^i j i~
pies at the first : but ^^ prst^ nor recoUect the correspondence be-
when Jesus was glo- tween the preceding prophecy and the event :
but when Jesus was raised from the dead, and
glorified at the right hand of the Father, from
^ His strict observance of the Divine in the days of the Messiah, Hos.i.7; Mic.
law.] The learned and ingenious Bishop v. 10, 11 ; and Zech. ix. 10. It is there-
Sherlock has set this fact in a most just and fore with great propriety that Christ in his
beautiful light, in his Fourth Dissertation most public triumph chose, according to
annexed to the last edition of his Discourse the prophecy before us, to ride on an ass.
on Prophecy. God, that he might keep the Nor are we to imagine there was any thing
people of Israel in a more sensible de- mean and ridiculous in it ; for the eastern
pendance on himself, forbade the use of asses are a mucli larger and more beautiful
that strong, generous, and majestic ani- animal than ours ; and it plainly appears
mal f/ie A&r^e (Job xxxix. 19 — 25) in their the patriarchs and judges of the Jewish
armies, as also of chariots ^ Deut. xvii. 16, nation thought it no disgrace to ride upon
(Compare Josh.xi.6 ; Judges v. 15.) Da- them ; of which Abraham (Gen. xxii. 3),
vid therefore, who rode liimself on a wz//e, Moses (Exod. iv. 20), and Jair's family
and ordered Solomon to do so on his coro- (Judg. x. 4), are instances. Nay, onagis-
nation day (1 Kings, i. 33, 34), burnt the trates are spoken of by the general de-
chariots he took from the enemies, and scription of those that rode on luhite asset,
hamstrung their horses, to make them unfit Judges v. 10. (Compare Numb. xxii. 21 ;
for war. (2 Sam. viii. 4.) And after- 2 Sam. xvi. 2 ; xvii. 23 ; xix. 26.) So that
wards, when Solomon (1 Kings iv. 26) and all the ridicule which has fallen on thia
succeeding princes multiplied horses, they passage must, to speak with all possible
were rebuked by the prophets, and chas- charity, be retorted on the ignorance of
tised by God for it. (See Isa. ii. 6, 7 ; those who have taken upon them to cen-
xxxi.l; and Hos. xiv. 3.) And the removal sure what they did not understand,
of them is spoken of as matter of promise
284 Much people from the city come to meet him ;
SECT, whence he sent down his Spirit to instruct rifled, thea reiflem-
cxlvi. xhQYci in the mysteries of his word and king- bered they that these
— - dom, then they remembered that these things T!!Z"IJ"'^Z
xii 16 ^^^^ written concerning him as the Messiah ; they had done these
and [that'] they had done these things unto hifn, things unto him.
without any designed reference to the prophe-
cy, which at the time of its accomplishment
they did not so much as think of.
Luke And zvhen he was come nrgh to the city, \and Luke XIX. 37. ~
six. 37 ^^^^^1 ;2^t^ at the lower part of the descent of the ^^"^^ ^Y'^f" '^^ ^^^
n rM- !-• 1 t • 1 u r come niffli, even now
mount ofOhveSy which lay, as was said betore, ^^^^le descentofthe
to the east of Jerusalem, and was but a few mount of Olives,
John furlongs from it, A great multitude of people^ John XIL — 12.
;ai. 12 ^^^^ were come from Galilee and other parts to Much people that
celebrate the feast of the passover, having J^^^ ^^"^^ ^^ ^^^^
heard^ by some who had run before the rest of i^g^j.^^ ^^^^ jg^^g
the company, that Jesus ivas coming in this was coming to Je-
solemn pomp to Jerusalem^ immediately rusalem,
resolved to go and usher him in with all pos-
13 sible respect: And accordingly they took 13 Took branches
branches of palmtrees^ which were commonly of paimtrees, and
earried before those who rode in public tri- --'^^-'J^^jf,™-*.
umph, anid went forth to meet him^ and cried^ sanna, Blessed ?> the
Hosannah ! May God save and prosper him ! * king- of Israel, that
Blessed [be] the King of Israel, who comes in ^Hfi Lord'^ "^""^
the nayne, and by the authority, of the Lord our
God, to redeem us, and to rule ov&r us.
(Compare Psal. cxviii. 25, 26.)
17 Now as he rode along in all this pomp, the 17 The ptople
people xvho were with him^ zvhen he called Laz- therefore that was
^ ri ' JL...!^!*!,^ • wiux him when he
arus out of Ins grave, and by th?it?\m\ghtYYOiCQ ^^^1^^ Lazarus out
raised him from the dead, among whom he had of his grave, and
lain part of four days, testified [z7] to the stran- rai&ed him from the
gers who were come up out of the country, and ^^^^' ^^^ record.
told them what a glorious miracle they had
18 been eyewitnesses to. \_And^ for this cause, 18 For this caus'e
among others, and indeed with a peculiar the people also met
regard to this, the people also met him from the iJ^^^^j ^^^t ^he had
city in the manner which has been described done this miracle-,
above ; because they heard that he had done tlus
• Hosannah ! May God save and prosper lecting it afterwards (which are the things
him !] I suppose few readers need to be mentioned in the preceding verse, John
informed that the Hebrew word J^^flwwcrA, xii. 16), should be the reason of what fol-
'signifies 5'are we ^e^eecA f/te^ . lows here. It appears then from hence
• (and it is very material to observe it), that
^ Kovi the people rjho voere loith him-"] It av [^therefore'] is sometimes used in a looser
"is impossible that their not understanding sense, so as to answer to [^andl or [;?ow3 1*
the prophecy of Zecharij^li now, or recol'- our language.
and cry ^ J^osannah to the Son of David. 285
astonishing miracle^ which, in some circum- sect.
stances, exceeded any which he had wrought ^^'^^'
before. j^^,,^
"Luke XIX. —37. And the whole multitude of the disciples that xix.37
[And] the whole had attended him from Bethany, both they that
multiudeof thedis- ^^,^^ j^^r^^^ ^' ^^^ ^^IQ fj^^j. f^Uo^^cd after,
ciples fthat went .,.''. , ' ■'. / ^i ^
before, and that fol- i^ his triumphant procession, began greatly to
lowed,] be^an to rejoice^ and to praise God xuith a loud voice for all
rejoice and praise ^^^ mis^hty tvorks and erlorious miracles which
God with a loud ^, t j c ilt.-
voice for all the ^"-^V "'^" '^^^'^ performed by him on a great van-
mighty works that ety of occasions, and which they now particu-
they had seen : larly called to mind. {And^ as they now were 38
[Mat. . . — jjjg^ j^ ^ ^ ^^ concourse of people from Jeru-
Mark XI. 9. — J J . . , ^. \ . . •* ,
58 ^And cried,] salem, they joined together in their triumphs
saying, [Hosanna to and congratulations ; and cried with all their
the Son of David;] mjgh^ sayings '''• Hosamiah to the great illustri-
i3less€u. I IS fie, cvc7i\ .-, /» j--. • ? i \ c ^ i
the king that com- ^^^ <Son oj David^ whonow vouchsaresto make
€th in the name of his public appearance among us ; blessed be he^
the Lord : peace in [even'] the loner expected Jvzw^ and Sovereign of
tieaven, and crlory m r^-ii 17 j. • ^1
the highest. rMAT. ^^d s people, wlio now coines to us in the name
XXI. — 9.— Mark of Vhe Lord I May the most exalted honours be
XI, J— 9.] paid him ! May continued prosperity attend
him ! Let there be peace in heaven^ and a rich
variety of Divine favours be dispensed from
thence ; and^ in return for them, let glory be
given to God in the most exalted strains, and
let all the highest order* of angels join in his
Mark XI. 10. praises ! Blessed and prosperous be the sacred Mark
Blessed be the king- kingdom ofour Father David I May it speedily ^'
dom of our father 1 *^ ^ , i- 11 ^ . , n • 1-
David, that Cometh ^e established, and may it long flourish; even
in the name of the that kingdom which is not gained by the alarms
Lord : Hosanna in of war and garments rolled in blood, but zvhich
XXI^^— 9^1 [Mat. ^.^^^^^ ^^^ the name of the Lord^ and renders itself,
by that powerful influence on men's spirits
which we now feel, victorious over whatsoever
would oppose it ! Hssannah therefore in the
highest strains ! Repeat again and again your
songs and your congratulations." Thus they
expressed their joyful and rapturous expecta-
tions of his assuming the royal dignity, and
vindicating Israel from the Roman oppression;
and, emboldened by the display of his pov/er in
the resurrection of Lazarus, they feared not
the resentment of their present masters for de-
claring themselves thus openly in his favour.
Luke XIX. 39. jij^d some of the proud and envious Pharisees^ Luke
Pharisee?^ from ^a^- ^^'^^ "^^^^^ ajnong the multitude as spies rather xix.39
moiigtlie muiiitui^ thaa ii'iends, were much Qlfended at the high
286 yesiis defends them from the censure of the Pharisees,
SECT, honours that were paid to Jesus, and malic- said unto liim, Mas-
cxlvi. iously said to him, with an intent to embarrass ^^^' rebuke thy dis-
7" and expose him, Master, canst thou be pleased ^^^ ^'''
\ix 39 ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ noise ? or can it be consistent
with thy great humility to suffer it ? Why
dost thou not rebuke thy disciples for such dan-
gerous acclamations as these ? Dost thou
intend to give encouragement to such sedi-
tious speeches, and to stand by the conse-
quences which may follow them.
40 -^^^d Jesus, who was now determined to lay 40 And lie an'
aside that reserve which for wise reasons /zehad sv,ered and said un-
formerly used, answered and said unto them, /tYia^irthlsf should
tell you, that the reason for these acclamations hold their peace, the
is so plain, and the evidences of it so strong, stones would imme-
that it must be great stupidity not to see, and d^ately cry out.
great obstinacy not to own, it : so that if these
should be silent, one might almost expect that the
very stones should im?nediately cry out, to pro-
claim my kingdom : yea, God would even
animate the stones on such an occasion, rather
than he would suffer me to want this triumph,
so evidently marked out by his prophets.
John The Pharisees then, turning from him with John XII. 19,
xii. 16gj^^ and Y2i^Q, said to each other. Perceive ye J^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^'^^'
■^ ^j . °'. c J ^ 1 lore said among;
not that you gain no manner ot advantage by themselves, Per-
all your consultations, and the decrees of your ceive ye how ye
sanhedrim ? Behold, the whole world has gone P^'^^vail nothing? Be-
after him, till he has now thrown off the mask, golit afteATm"^ ^^^
and taken upon him to declare his pretences ; ^^
which, if the people thus fall in with them,
must necessarily end in our ruin, and perhaps
in that of the whole nation.
IMPROVEMENT.
John Let us behold this meek triumph of the great Redeemer with
xii. 14 pleasure ! He entered the capital of his kingdom riding upon an .
ass ; a circumstance in v/hich he made, though by no means a
ridiculous, yet to be sure a very humble figure : yea, he ap-
Mat. peared exactly as the prophet described him, upon a colt, the
^^^''^'^ foal of an ass ; not yet grown up to its best form, nor adorned
with any sumptuous or elegant furniture, but only covered with
¥^^ the mantles of his poor attendants, and perhaps with nothing
better for a bridle than a cord^ which might have tied the foal
at the door,
John Let us imagine that we saw the Son of God, and the King of
xii. 13 Jsraely thus proceeding towards Jermalem^ and ih^ people meeting
Reflections on Christ^s rtding in triimph to Jerusalem, ^^T
him, and surrounding him with their acclamations : Hosannah I sect-
Blessed he he that cometh in the name of the Lord! Do not our *^^^^
hearts spring at the sound ? Do we nort, as it were in spirit, go forth ^^^^^
with them, and join in their sublime, though simple, song ?
Thus let us welcome him into our hearts ! Let us echo it back ! Mark
Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord, with Divine xi 10
authority, and Divine blessings in his hands ! And blessed be
the kingdom he hath erected ! May perpetual prosperity attend
it ! May the north give up a swarm of subjects to it ; and may
not the south keep back her swarthy sons ! May nations be born at
once, and thousands together made xuilling in the day of his power I
Surely if these are not our affectionate wishes, the warm and
zealous sentiments of our very hearts, it may almost be expected ^"^q
that the verv stones should cry out, to accuse and condemn our
ungrateful stupidity.
Unhappy Pharisees, who looked on these triu?nphs with envy
and rage, and grieved that the zvor/d ivas gone after hi?n ! Yet J?^j\
less unhappy had they not renewed their attempts against him,
those fatal attempts which ended in their ruin ! But who, that had
seen the procession, and heard the s/ioiits of the transported mul-
titude, could have imagined or believed, that before the end of
the week they should have turned their voices against him, and
instead of Hosannah, should have cried out, Crucify him f Yet so
it was, and Christ knew it would be so. Such is the uncertainty
of popular applause ! Who would then purchase it at the expense
of his conscience, or even of his ease ?
Thvise transports were raised by the hopes of a temporal king- ^^J^
dom; and when those hopes were disappointed, these transports
were turned into rage. Oh that there may be none, under all the
engagements of a Christian, and even of a wiwi^?m«/ profession,
who proclaim Christ with great appearances of zeal, only that
they may exalt themselves ; and wish prosperity to his kingdom^
only as it may promote their own interest in a world from which
it was the great design of his death to redeem his servants.
SECT. CXLVII.
Christ having wept over Jerusalem, enters into it, aiid vindicates
the temple a second time from the profanation of the traders.
Mat. XXI. 10—16 ; Mark XI. 11 ; Luke XIX. 41, to
the end,
Luke XIX. 41. LuKE XIX. 41.
AN D when he »npHUS our Lord went on in his triumphant
was come ncai-, I i t i j I l
X progress toward Jerusalem } anawnsn he
was come near it, and had now the view of it
before him (the place where he was command^
VOL. 2. 38
288 jfesus xveeps over Jerusalem,
SECT, ing an extensive prospect of it), beholding the he beheld the city^
cxl^"' city in all its present beauty and glory, and ^"^ ^^P^ ^^^^ ^t'
"^ considering the calamities which would shortly
xix^42 ^^ ^^^ ^^^"' ^^ tenderly wept over it. Saying-, 42 Saying, If thou
Oh that thou hadst known,"" even thou unhappy hadst known, even
city, which art now on the very point of being ^^^/^^^'r ih^!^:
devoted to final destruction ! Oh that at length, ^^hich belong unto thy
though with the greatest obstinacy thou hast peace! butnowthey
despised the messages of all thy prophets, thou ""^^^^'^ ^''^"^ ^^'""^
hadst but known and seriously regarded, at ' '
least in this thy latest day and opportunity of
grace, the important things which belong to thy
peace, and on which thy final happiness de-
pends ! But now, alas, they are hid from thine
eyes, and God will leave thee in his righteous
judgment to this affected ignorance and obsti-
nate perverseness, till it end in thine utter ruin.
43 For the time hastens on, and in a little while ^,« ^^ f ^^^
the days shall come upon thee, when thou shalt thee, thattlilneene-
suffer all the hardshipsof the closest siege, and mies shall cast a
' thine enemies shall draw a trench about thee, and French about thee,
, J 7 t • and compass tliee
compass thee round, and press thee zn on every round,and keep thee
side^ so that with all thy numerous inhabitants in on every side,
thou neither shalt be able to resist nor to
44 escape them : And they shall level thee -with 44 And shall lay
the ground on which thou standest, and crush ^^^^ ^^en with the
a Oh that thou hadst k7iov.m.'] It is certain diers to attempt it, they in three days sur-
(as we have observed elsewhere, note a, rounded it with a wall of thirty nine fitr-
on I^uke xii. 50, p. 122) that the particle longs in circumference, with thirteen castle.:
ii is sometimes used to express an ardent in its circuit ; and by this means all hope
ivish ; (compare Numb. xxii. 29, and Josh, was cut oft" that any of the Jews within
vii. 7,' Septuag-J and the connection here the city should escape. fBelLJud. lib. v.
will very well bear it. If our translation cap. 12, [al. 13] § 1, 2.) He also tells us,
be retained, it must be acknowledged that when Titus had taken the city, and
that the broken manner of speaking is very contrary to his will the temple was con-
emphatical : our Lord will then seem to sumed with fire, he caused thefoundations
pause in a silent reflection on the happy both of the temple and the city to be dug
consequences that would have attended up and levelled Hi:ith the ground, leaving-
their obedient regard to his invitations and only three towers and part of the ivall to be
addresses. But to add the words [zf had a specimen of its former strength and
been ivell'], whicli some have proposed, grandeur :f^e//.yzifif.lib.vii. cap. l,[al. 18]
wouldratherenervatethanhelp the sense; §1.) And afterwards the whole was so
as I think it would do in most of the pas- entirely destroyed that not one stone was
sages which learned critics have produced left upon another ; as Socrates relates. Hist.
from the Greek writers as instances of a JScc/.lib.iii.cap. 20. In short, the accom-
like figure of speech. See Mr. Hallet on plishment of every part of this prediction
Script^yo\.\.\i.\l. is recorded by ^osephus in so affecting
^ Thine enemies shall — compass thee and particular a manner, especially in the
round, &,c.] Josephus says expressly, that Sixth Book of his yeivish War, that I can-
though it was thought a great and almost not but recommend the perusal of it to
impracticable work to encompass the city every Christian who has an opportunity-
with a wall, yet Titus animating his sol- of reading it.
He enters the city, and goes to the temple a 289
ground, and thy chil- thy children within thee under thy ruins ; and sect.
dren within thee ; shall not leave SO mucli as one stone upon another cxlvii-
fe"ave in thee one "^ ^f'^^ of all thy splendid and sacred struc- —
stone upon another : tures : and all these terrible calamities shall xix.44
because thou know- overwhelm thee, because thou didst not know
thy "^sitatton'""^ ""^^"^^ consider the appointed season of thy mer-
ciful visitation^ nor attend to those overtures
of grace which I have so often made in person
to thee, and have still urged with so much
seriousness and tenderness.
Mat. XXI. 10. And J esus entered into J eri(sale7n\sit\i ^rt2Lt Mat.
[And Jesus entered solemnitv, amidst the joyful acclamations of^^-^O
intojerusalem:] and ^^ j^ ^^^^ he made his entrance in such
when he was come, S ,. ^ , i ii , , , .
all the city was ^ public and remarkable way, the whole city
moved, saying', Who was in a great commotion at so uncommon an
IS this ? [Mark appearance, sayings Who is this that comes in
■•' all this pomp, and is attended with these high
11 And the muK ^o^S^'^t^l^^^o^^ ^ And the tmdtitude th3.t C2Line n
titude said. This is with him said^ This is Jesus the great Prophet^
Jesus the Prophet, ^vh(^ jg of Nazareth in Galilee y even he that is
of Nazareth of Gal- ^^ celebrated all over the country for the fame
of his doctrines and miracles.
12 And Jesus went And Jesus having come into the city by the 12
into the temple of eastern gate, alighted from the colt, and went
ha'd' lo"oke^d'^'ro"und directly into the temple of God, whither the peo-
about upon all ple followed him : and when he had looked
x.h'm^s.'WL.vK'E., he- round about, and made his observation z//>(??2
^an to] cast out all ^^// things there,^ as he perceived those profan-
ations were again renewed which he had for-
merly so solemnly chastised soon after he en-
tered on his public ministry, he began with a
holy indignation to animadvert upon them, as
he had done three years before,** and to drive
•^ When he had looked round about upon all lie had cursed thefgtree, that I cannot bui
things.'] It is plain from this expression suppose with Mr. Whiston (in his Viev) of
of St. Mark, tliat Jesus, when he icentinto the Harmony., p. 130, 131), that this occur-
the temple on the day of his public entry, rence happened t^vice : and therefore I
took particular 7iotice of all things there ; have only g-iven here what Matthew and
which it is hardly probable that he would Luke relate of this matter, reserving
do without reforming- the abuses with Mai'k's account to the wexfcf'ciy.- (see sect,
which the Jews so shamefully profaned cl. note 2, on Mai'k xi. 15.) Though, after
it ; and Matthew so expressly joins his all, I dare not be confident in a case
f/rm»^ oj/^ Me ?mc/er* with tlie transactions where the greatest critics are so much
of this day y that howsoever it appears from divided in their sentiments,
several instances that the evangelists are <^ As he had done three years before.]
not aKyays exact in observing the order of I see no reason to wonder at the repetition
time, it is highly reasonable to suppose of such an action as this, or to imagine
thAt p^esus purged the temple on this day. that John would have placed this story so
Yet it appears so evident from Mai'k's ac- early in his history as he does, if it had
coimt (ver. 12 — 17), that the traders ivere not happened then as well as noiv. (See
driven out on the next day, when Christ re- John ii. 14 — 16, Vol. I. p. 142.) Some
t'Arued from Bethany to the temple, after have observed a greater severity in our
2f9G and drives out them that bought and sold there.
SECT, out all them that sold and bought in the outer- them tliat sold and
cxlvii. court of the temple, which was appointed for the bought 'in UiT tim-
Gentile proselytes to worship in, but was made pie, and overthrew
^'^•^^o use of by the Tews as if it were a common the tables of the mo-
-- market place ; «;z^ with an irresistible author- -y ^^^^^,7^,^;^
ity he overthrexv the tables of the exchangers of^]^^^ sold doves :
foreign moTZ^y into the current coin, which those [Mark XI.— 11.—
that came from distant parts might want to of- Luke XIX. 45.]
fer forthe service of the sanctuary (see Exod.
XXX. 13, 14), <2;2^ likewise overturned the seats
1 3 ofthe?n that sold doves for sacrifices. And he 13 And said unto
said to them as he turned them out, Such prac S;;^i;,,^,;^^^^,^^^^^^^^^^^
tices as these profane the house of God, and shall be called the
shamefully pervert the use for which it v/as house of prayer ;
designed ; for it is written (Isa Ivi. 7) " My ^^^ y^^ •-e.-^e
house shall be called an house oj prayer tor all [-luke XIX. 46.^
people, to which they shall resort for the per-
formance of religious worship :" but you have
turned it into an house of merchandise, and
inade it (as the prophet speaks, Jer. vii. 11), a
den of robbers,^ a place where traffic is carried
on by persons of the moot infamous character,
who live by deceit and oppression, and prac-
tise the vilest extortions, even in the house of
the righteous and blessed God. (Compare
John ii. 14 — 16, sect. xxi. and Mark xi. 15,
17, sect, cl.)
14 ^;^i^there were many of the blind and lame^ 14 And the blind
who had no sooner heard of his arrival in the T^^'^'^^'^^ T.*^^
-,., Ill to nim m tlie tem-
city but they immediately desired to be led to pie, and he healed
the place where he was ; and they came to him them.
in the temple, and he o-raciously healed them in 15 And when the
- ■* r 11 1 1 chief priests and
the presence of all the people. scribes sawthe won-
15 But xvhen the chief priests and scribes ^e^^/i/derful things that he
the wonders he performed, «?2^ob5erved how the ^i^> and the childreix
Lord's treatment of those that sold doves ^ The blind and lame.'] Many such
now than before, as he now overthrew their would, no doubt, be waiting in the sev-
seats, whereas he formerly contented eral avenues of the temple, to ask alms at
himself with ordering the owners to take a time when there would be such a vast
th^tn aivay (John ii. 16); but I will not concourse of people : and there seems a
answer for the solidity of the remark. peculiar propriety in our Lord^s multiply-
' A den of robbers.'] Bishop Sniallbrooh Ing these astonishing oniracles, both to
well observes (in his Answer to Wdolston^ vindicate the extraordinary act of author-
Vol. I. p. 168), that our Lord in this ex- ity he had just been performing, and to
pression seems to allude to the custom make this his last visit to Jerusalem as
which robbers in those parts had of shel- convincing as possible, that those who
tering themselves in dens and cames in the would not submit to him might be left st)
wilderness, where great multitudes of much the more inexcusable,
them often joined in sharing their plunder.
He 'uindicates the children in their Hosannahs. 291
crvin,gin the temple, verv children were crying out i?i the temple^ and'^^cr\
andsaying,Hosanna continued the song -which the multitude had ^^^^'"•
to the Son of David ; ^ samn(r, " Hosanmih to the Son of Dcwhl! ZTT
they were sore dis- " .o .' ;/ , <^ ' . ^ , , . Mat.
.pleased, with joyful acclamations we congratulate his xxi.].>
coming, and bid him welcome into the cit}' of
his roval father !" instead of being open to con-
viction, theij xvere filled with indignation and
16 And said unto resentment, And they said to him^ Dost thou 16
him, nearest thou fj^^r xvhat these children say f and judge it
AmUesurraitUn- W^V^^' to encourage these unthinking creatures
to them, Yea ; liave in such language as this ? And Jesus says unto
ye never read, Out them^ T'es^ I am sensible enough of what they
of the mouth of ^^^ j^ j^ needful or fit that I shoidd reprove
babes and sucklings , - ^ . . • i • i v
thou hast perfected them for it. Are you unacquainted with the
praise ? scriptures ; you that would have the people to
regard you as the great teachers of the law ?
or have yon never read what David says (Psal.
viii. 2), '•''Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings
thou hast ordained that strength whereby thou
hast perfected thine own praise^ by the weak-
ness of the instruments made use of in thy
g&rvice ?*' s You cannot but have read it, and
I assure you, that as God in many instances
has used, and in a little while will eminently
use, some of the weakest and meanest of man-
kind to accomplish his great and glorious pur-
poses ; so this event is a most signal illustration
of those words ; and it is by a secret influence
of God on the minds of these little ones that
they are led, as it were, to upbraid your silence
and insensibility by so remarkable and suitable
an exclamation.
Luke XIX. 47. And thus he was till the time of the passo- Luke
And he taug-ht daily yer, which was celebrated within five days after xix.4?
ihe''rhie?p';l:;ts?:l this,- teaching d.Uy in the temple: but tUe chief
the scribes, and the priests^ and the scribes^ and others or the rulers
chief of the people, of the people^ who had before decreed his death,
^ Out of the mouth of babes, 8cc.] To J> Celebrated within five days after this, j
ordain strength, which is the plirase the This vf^sthQ first day of the yeek, or our
Psalmist uses in the passag-e here referred Lord^s day ; in commemoration of which
to, was in effect (as the se-<enty render it) Palm sunday was long ago denominated,
to perfect praise ; so that there is no need and as ceremonies increased was particu-
to be solicitous about that little variation larly observed. i:\\e passover was celc-
in the quotation. This general observation brated by Christ on the Thursday night
of David was greatly illustrated by the foUowiiig, and he was crucified on Friday,
liosannahs oi'these children ; and yet much Some transactions of each intei-veningday
more by the triumph of the apostles, weak are marked in the foUvwing- history,
as in many respects they were, over all the
opposition of Jews and Gentiles.
292 The priests would destroy him^ kit are afraid of the people*
SECT, according to the resolution which the sanhe- sought to destroy
cxlvii. (jrim had come to by the advice of Caiaphas, *""* »
"TT" (John xi. 5o^ sect, cxli.) were still contriving
xix.47 ^»ow they might execute their horrid design,
and diligently sought an opportunity to destroy
48 him : But thev knew not how to effect it, and 48 And could not
could not immediately find out zvhat they mi(rht 5^^^ whattheymight
, ^ , •' 1 r ^1- 1 .1 do ; tor all the peo-
do tor that purpose, or what sale metnocl they pi^ ^y^^e very atten-
might take to seize him ; for all the common tive tohearhhn.
people listened to him with so great attention
and pleasure, that they hung as it were on his
lips while he spake,^ and pressed upon each
other for an opportunity of hearing him. The*
magistrates therefore feared lest the populace
should tumultuously rise in his defence, if
they offered any public violence to him, and
that thus they might endanger themselves
while they sought to destroy Jesus.
IMPROVEMENT.
Luke Next to the sight of a bleeding and dying Redeemer there can
xix.41 gmeiy be none in the whole world more affecting than this which
is here represented ; even the Son of God weeping over perishing
sinners; yea, over the sinners of ferusalem. We might, perhaps,
have been ready to think that, foreseeing so circumstantially, as
we know he did, all the ungrateful and inhuman treatment he
was to meet with in this nest of murderers, with the scene of his
sufferings, and the very house of Caiaphas in his full view,^ he
should rather have taken up a proverb against it, and have antici-
pated the triumphs of that awful day when God would plead his
cause with irresistible terror, and avenge the quarrel of his sacred
blood. But behold, he seems to forget himself and all his wrongs,
great and cruel as they were ; and in the midst of a procession
intended for his honour, he melts into tears^ as if it were for the
calamity of a friend, or a brother ; and says in the most genuine
42 language of undissembled grief, Oh that thou hadst known., even
thou^ at least in this thy day^ the things -which belong to thy peace /
Behold^ O our souls, with wonder and with awe, at once the
goodness and severity of God : (Rom. xi. 22.) The sinners of
» They hunj^ as it were on his lips while salem which remain, this was exactly the
he spake] This is the literal import of case. I cannot forbear referring my reader
i^iK^ifAit]o ctulu ctKnuiv. To render it (as in to Mr. Hovje'^s excellent treatise, entitled,
a late version). The populace ivere strongly The Redeemer'* s Tear swept oxer lost Sotils ; in
attached to his doctrine, is fai' from expres- which, as in most of his practical works,
sing the full sense. there are such sublime and pathetic strokes
of true, manly, and Christian eloquence,
^ House of Caiaphas in his full view.] If as do a great honour to the language and
we ma}i credit tiie best accounts of Jcfir- age in which they were writt^.
Refections on Chr'isfs weeping over Jerusalem^ &c. "293
Jerusalem wept over^ and yet abandoned to ruin ! We have our sect.
part ia all this : the tidings of the gospel are the thing's rvhich ''xlvii.
belong to our peace^ the things on which our everlasting happi- """"•
ness depends. Let us remember that the time will come in 43^44
which, if we do not attend to them, they will be hid from our
eyes. There is a limited day of mercy and grace ; and there-
fore today ^ while it is called today ^ let us hear his voice^ and not
harden our hearts (Heb. iii. 15), lest slighted mercy at length
retire, and vengeance take its turn ; a vengeance which will fall
the heavier, and pierce the deeper, in proportion to all the long-
siiff^ering and good?iess which have been exercised towards us
in vain. Let all, and especially the ministers of Christy learn
compassion to souls by such an example j and when the strongest
efforts of love prove ineffectual for their recovery, let us at least
be mourning for them before the Lord^ and weeping over the ruin
which we cannot prevent.
Though Christ had cleared the temple from the profanations of Mat.
these traders at the beginning of his ministry, he found the same ^"^i-l-
pollutions returned at the close of it. And, alas, how often do
we find it thus with respect to our hearts ! How soon do those
weeds spring up again which we had been endeavouring with a
resolute hand to root up ; and how often are efforts for reforma-
tion forgotten, even when the attempt appeared at first to be most
necessary ? Let us learn of Christ not to be weary of welldoings but
with continued zeal renew our endea^ppurs again and again.
The scribes and Pharisees envied Christ ; but the children sur- 15
round him with their Hosannaks ; and he graciously accepts
their feeble accents of praise, as ordainecl by God out of the
mouth of babes and sucklings. Nor will he now despise the day 16
of small things. Oh that we might have the pleasure to see lit-
tle children pronouncing the name of Christ with reverence and
love ! And surely we who 3,rc parents must add, with a peculiar
accent. Oh that our oxvn may join in the choir ! May they
learn the so?ig from our lips ; and may our whole lives be one
continued visible proof of the devotion and affection with which
we present it ! Amen*
SECT. CXLVIIL
Sojue Greeks that came to celebrate the passoyer at Jerusalem are
introduced to Christy rvho enters on an excellent di,sc our se particu-
larly suited to their circumstances ; and retires in the evening to
Bethany. John XII. 20—36 ; Mat. XXI. 17 ; Mark XI 11.
John XII. 20. JOHN XII. 20.
AND there were AND amonp- those that came up to Terusalen*
certain Greeks /± r vir * • * / •, ^ .7
ajnono- them that li"onf^ different countries to worship at the
feast^ there were some Gree^s^ or persons who
294. Some Grteks desire to see Jesus.
SECT- were descended from Grecian parents, and came up to worship
cxlviii. used that language, but had forsaken the idol- ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ •
""j atry of their ancestors, and devoted themselves
xd ^20 ^^ ^^^ Ood of Israel.* These therefore came 21 The same came
2\ to Philip, ivho zvas of Bethsaida, a citv of GaU therefore to Philip>
•/ h / 7 1' r c I ' 1 ' *. which wasofBeth^
zleey° ana asked it as a lavour or hnn to mtro- ^^-^^ of Galilee, and
duce them to his Master, saying, in a very re- desired him, saying,
spectful manner, Sir, rue earnestly desire to see Sir, we would see
and hear this Jesus of Nazareth, of whom v/e J^^"^*
have been told such extraordinary things, and
who has now been received into the city with
such unusual regard.
22 Upon this Philip comes and tells what their 22 Philip cometh
request was to Andrero, who likewise was oi^^XS^^,
Bethsaida, and had been first acquanited with andPhilip told Jesus.
Christ ; (John i. 40, 44, sect. xxi. xxii.) and
then Andrew and Philip, having agreed upon it,
went and told Jesus that some Greeks v.ho were
come to the feast desired admittance to him.
2^ And Jesus immediately ordered them to be 23 And Jesus an'-
brought to him ; and as they were approaching i';!.^''The''l?o'ur'T
hir-i, he anszvered them^ saying,'' At length the come that the Son
hour is come, and the appointed time is just at of man should be
hand, that the Son of man must be glorified ; and glorified.
I vv'ould have you look on|);ie approach of these
=» Some Greeks, who had devoted them- cision oblii^ed themselves to observe the
selves to the God of Israel.] It is strange whole law : (compare Acts ii. 5 ; viii. 27 ;
that such learned critics as Isaac Vossius xiii. 43.) Yet I will not venture confi-
and Salmaslus should imag-ine these ivor- dently to affirm it.
shippers to have been idolatrous Gentiles. ^Bethsaida ()f Galilee'] This town lay
Dr. Wliitby, and several other consider- on the borders of Syrophoenicia, from
able writers, liave indeed thought that whence (as Grotius thinks) these Gi-eeks
tliey were sucli as are commonly called might come; so that they might, perhaps,
proselytes of the gate, that is (as most read- be acquainted with Philip as a neighbour ;
ers well know), persons who, having re- or otherwise we cannot say why this cir-
nounccd idolatry, and being worshippers cumstance relating to liim is here men-
ofthe God of Israel, might, according to tioned. The learned i?e/anrf argues, that
the law of Moses, be permitted to dwell in there were tivo Bethsaida's, of which this
Jvidea, aivl to converse among the Jews, lay most to the nor^A. See belaud. Palestin.-
though not with entire freedom. And it p. 653.
has likewise been thought, that the regard <= ^esus ans-xvcred thenu ^(Jy^'^S'"] The
which Jesus shewed to such, in vindicat- phra&ehovc intimates the suitableness of th&
ing the court of the Gentiles (where they following- discourse to this particular oc-
assembled for religious wor.ship) from the casioii, by attending to which many of the
contemptuous profanations of tlie Jews beauties of it will be discovered. Our
(Mat. xxi. 12, 13, \). 290), might dispose Lord m'l^ht, perhaps, enlarge on some of
these pious pcrstjus to address themselves these hints j and if his hearers took a due
to him. But their attending at tiie pass- notice of them, and made a proper I'eport
ever leads me rather to imagine (with on their return home, it might prepare the
Arndius, Miscci Sac. p. 6) that they were way for the apostles, when they came by
what the rabbies now call proselytes of their preaching more fully to unfold and
iighteousKesSi that is, such as by circum- illt^strate these important doctrines.
He that serves Christ shall be honoured by his Father* 295
Greeks as an earnest of the flowing in of all the sect.
24 Verily, verily, Gentiles to me. But wonder not if my death cxlvin,
I say unto you. Ex- is to precede it ; for verily ^ verily^ I say unto
fX„rth"1.:!;^d: y°"^ ^"'^ ^^^^-t yZl °f ■" f= a most solemn and ^
aiid die, it abideth important truth. That unless a grain oj -wheat
alone : butifitdie, '\i fall to the ground^ anddiesLud waste away there,
bringeth forth much j^ remai?is single and alone, but if it seem to
die and wither after it is sown, such is the prin-
ciple of vegetation which it contains, that a new
production of the like kind arises, and it brings _
forth muchfruit. And so it is that I myself shall
fall, and a new scene be opened, in which my
kingdom shall seem to be utterly lost and gone;
yet, like the spring corn, it shall assuredly re-
vive, and appear beautiful and fruitful.
25 He thatloveth -^^^i ^^ ^^^ mean time, such difficulties are 25
his life, shall lose it : also to be expected by my faithful servants, that
and he that hateth it is but fit I should inform these strangers of
^alf re^ep'^'ltTnlo ^^.^^^ ^ ^^^^ «^^^ ^"^ ^S^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^ ^^^^^ ^/
life eternal. i^ho loves his own Ife too well to part with it
for my sake, shall lose it^ and expose himself to
death in the worst and most dreadful sense of
the word ; bitt he that acts as if he hates his life
in this world, by exposing it to the greatest
dangers in the cause of my gospel, shall pre^
serve it even to everlasting life, and secure a
state of immortal glory and happiness. (Com-
pare Mat. X. 39, sect. Ixxvi. Mark viii. 35,
sect. Ixxxix. and Luke xvii. 33, sect, cxxviii.)
26 If any man If any man therefore would engage to serve me 26
serve me, let him fol- ^s one of mv loval people,/^? him resolve to fol-
i^arnHhe^e shltlTaT- ^^w me whi"thersoever I shall lead him, what-
so my servant be : if ever dangers and difficulties may lie in the way ;
andlet him know, for his encouragement, that
Tvhere I am, or where I shortly am to take up
mine abode, there shall also my faithful servant
be ; for I will assign him an inheritance in that
blessed world where I am for ever to rest and
reign after all the sufferings I have endured
here : and I assure you that, among all that
follow me, if any man,^ of whatever nation he
^ If any man serve 7ne.] Our Lord, by elytes of righteousness, but those of the gate,
this zWe^nzVeex/jrej^zon, strongly intimates and indeed even the idolatrous Gentiles
that his kingdom was to be of a very ex- themselves, might, on their believing the
tensive nature ; and that not only xhe pros- gospel, be admitted into it.
\;0L. 2> 39
296 yesus has agahi the testimony of a voice from heaisen*
SECT, be, or whatever his religious profession may any man serve me,
^^^^"^- before have been, will faithfully serve me here, ^^^^^} "^^ ^^^''^^
Jjiin ^^^^ ^^'^^ [^^^V] Father also honour^ and confer
xii. 26 such rich rewards upon him as to make hina
for ever both great and happy.
27 Having said this, our Lord paused for a sr Now is my soul
while, and entered on a deep contemplation of troubled : and what
the very different views of things which lay ^^ '„7;,„^"\VT|
before him. And then he added aloud, Now hour : but for this
is my very soul distressed and troubled in an cause came I unto
affecting view of my approaching sufferings ; ^^^^^ ^^°^**-
and what shall I say ? What petition shall I
offer to God on this occasion ? Shall I say.
Father^ save me from this dreadful hour^ and
from all the agonies which I am to endure in
the gloomy season before me :^ Nay, but for
this cause was I born into the world, and for
this end I came even to this present hour^ that
I might bear the sufferings on which I am en-
tering, and might redeem my people by them.
28 And far be it from me to draw back from such 28 Father, gloriff
engagements and undertakings : I will there- ^ ^^ name.—
fore much rather say, Father ^glorify thine own
name^ and dispose of me, and all my concerns,
in such a way as may most effectually answer
that great end !
Then^ at that very instant while he was —Ttien came there
speaking, there came a voice from heaven [which ^ "^"^^^ ^[T ^'^ w!'
• 7T r / / J 1 1 » •/- 7r- T 1 1 sayi7ig, I have both
sazdj, I have both already gloriped \it\ by the glorified it, and will
whole of thy ministry thus far ; and Iwillglo- glorify it again.
rify [it'] yet again in a more signal manner by
what farther remains before thee.
•29 The multitude thereforexvho stood by andheard 29 The people
[it\ though not all in a manner equally distinct, [!;t:;^^TeardtlTd^^
were perfectly astonished at the awful sound; That it thundered!
and some among them said^ That it thundered ;^
" What shall I say ? Father, save me ^ Said that it thundered.'] Thunder often
from this hour .?] I suppose few need be attended a voice froin heaven : (see Exod.
told that the pointing of xhe New Testament xix. 16, 19 ; Rev. iv. 5 ; vi. 1 ; x. 3.) In
is far less ancient than the text. It is allusion to which, perhaps, the voice itself
agreeable to observe how many diflicul- was called by the ancient Jews Bath Kol,
ties may be removed by varying it, and or the daughter of the voice, being ushered
departing from the commow punctuation : in with fAwWeT, and, as it were, produced
of which I take this to be one of the most frcmi it. Elsiier haiS shewn that the heath-
remarkable instances. For as the text ens reckoned that sudden thunder was a
does not oblige us to it, it does not sign that a prayer then offered met with
seem natural to suppose that our Lord ac- the most favourable regard. See Eisner.
tually offered tjiis petition, and tJi^n ini- Observ. Vol. I. p. 334, 335. Dr. Lightfoot
mediately retracted it again. observer here (Hor, Hebr, in locj. that
PVhen he was lifted up^ he tvould draw all men to him. 297
others said. An an- while others^ who were nearer, said^ That an sect.
^el spake to him. angel spake to him from heaven. cxlviii.
:^0 Jesus answer- But Jesus answered and said to his diciples,
cd and said. This ^xo stbod near, and distinctly heard it, This ^^^q
voice came not be- . - , ' i • n /> , ^"* *^^
cause of me, but for "^oice irom heaven came ?iot chienyjor my sake^
yoursakcs. who was before assured of the affection of my
Father, and knew the purpose he had formed
to glorify himself by me ; hut it was uttered
for yours^ that you may not be offended at the
treatment I shall meet with, and quit your hope
in me, and regard for me, on account of any
of the sufferings which are coming upon me.
31 Now IS the xhis indeed is a very critical and important 31
mderment of this . ^ . , • • , />,.*,,
world ; now sliall ^^"^^ J lor noxv IS the judgment of this worlds
the prince of this which I am going to conquer and condemn,
world be cast out. that by my death my followers may both be
taught and enabled to triumph over it, and
those may be convinced of sin that believe not
in me. (Compare Gal. i. 4, and John xvi. 8, 9.)
Yea, now shall Satan, the ruler and god of this
worlds be cast out from that empire which he
has so long usurped over the minds of men,
and especially over the heathen nations. (Com-
32 And I, if I be pare Eph. ii. 2, and 2 Cor. iv. 4.) And when 32
lifted up from the / ^^^ /^yj.^^ ^^ y).^^„ ^^^ earth,^ though I may
cartn. will draw all ^i i.i ^ i . ■% r •
men unto me. seem thereby to be made the trophy oi mine
enemies, yet such shall be the effect of that
important event, that I shall thereby draw all
men to me; that is, I shall lay a foundation for
conquering the most stubborn hearts by so
rich a display of my love ; and shall by a
secret, but powerful, influence on their minds,
Christ had thrice the testimony of a voice a sense of the word, that I cho&se, with
from heaven,- first, when he entered on his Dr. Whitby, to understand it of the con-
pubhc ministry, as the High Priest of our demnation of the ivorld, or of the judgment
profession, at his baptism (Mat. iii, 17) ; passed upon its wicked principles and
and then a second time, when a command practices, and of the victory which
was given to hear him, as the great Christians were to gain over it in conse-
Prophet of the church, at his transfigura- quencc of the death of Christ. See John
tion (Mat. xvii. 5) ; and now again, when iii. 18, 19, xvi. 8, 11.
he had made his public entry into Jerusa- ^ When I am lifted upfro^n the earth."] I
lem, as a King. think Dr. Whitby's note on this text suffi.
g No'iX) is the judgment of this ivorid.'] Mr. ciently vindicates this version of «*y t/^*^"'
Massey renders this (in liis Vernac. Sacra. See the Greek Version of Deut. vii. 1;
p. 8, 9), noHi) is this ixiorldcome to its crisis ; Judg. vi. 3; xxi. 21 ; 2 Sam. vii. 12 ; 1 Kings
and Grotius and More (in his Theological xiii. 31 ; Job vii. 4 ; Prov. iii. 24 ; iv. 12 ;
Works, p. 207) explain it of tlie redemption Jer. iii. 16 : and compare John xiv. 3 ; 1
of the ivorld, or its vindication from the John iii. 2 ; and 3 John, ver. 10, where
bondage of Satan. But this is so unusual mv «^6« may signify, when I come i
298 The Jews are offended at what he says of the Son of man
SECT, persuade multitudes of all ranks and all nations
cxlviii. tQ list themselves under the banner I raise.
(Compare John iii. 14, 15, Vol. I. p. 154.)
xi?33 ^^"^^ ^^^* ^^ ftpake of his being lifted up from 33 (This he said,
the earth, as si^ntfmn^ bytvhat death he should ^}^^\¥'^S 'what
J' 1 i'^ . ^ < 1 . , ,1 ^ ^^^o«« death he should
dte^ even by crucifixion, m which the person ^.^ x
suffering was lifted up on high, and hung as it
34 were between heaven and earth. And in gen- 34 The people an-
eral it was understood by the people as imply- I'^^rhea^-rout^ol-
ing some violent death shortly to come upon the law, that Christ
him. The multitude therefore answered him^ abideth for ever :
JVe have heard it taught as a certain truth out and how sayest thou,
^ , , r 1 1 r J The Son of man
of the law, or out of the volume ot our sacred ^^g^ be lift up ?
writings, that the Messiah is immortal, and who is this Son of
abides for ever '' that his kingdom is an ever- man ?
lasting kingdom, and his dominion continues
unto all generations" (2 Sam. vii. 16 ; Psal.
Ixxxix. 29 i ex. 4 ; Isa. ix. 7 ; Ezek. xxxvii.
25 ;. Dan. ii. 44 ; vii. 14) ; and hoxv then dost
thou, who now plainly professest thyself to be
the Messiah, say that the Son of man must he
lifted lip from the earth, and die a violent death?
Who is this Son of man P ' Is he, as such lan-
guage as this might seem to intimate, a different
person from the Messiah, whom we have been
taught to expect under the title of the Son of
Jnan ? This was said by some of the multitude
who were ill affected towards him, and desired
to find something to object against him.
35 Then Jesus said to them. Do not cavil at what 35 Then Jesus
I now say; but remember how short thisoppor- said unto them. Yet
tunity is which, through the Divine goodness, ^\^\'J^^,^, ^^th you !
you now enjoy: yet a little while is the light with walk while ye have
you, which you may derive from me, or my ser- the light, lest dark-
vants who shall come to you in my name ; walk
therefore rvhile you have the light; comply with
the gracious purposes of God in making these
■■ W'ho is this Son of man ?"] A writer of culty ; but it was fit some obscurity should
g>reat note interprets this as if they had for the present be left upon it, lest the
said, "Who is this that so absurdly, and plainness of the prediction should have
inconsistently with the prophets, speaks of prevented its accomplishment. Our Lord
himself as the Son of man, while he talks therefore gave the discourse a useful turn,
of being lifted up, and dying ?" (See Dr. and a few days more proclaimed the mys-
Sykes of Christianity,^. IIQ.) But the sense tery which he had before revealed to his
given in the paraphrase appears tome more apostles in private when he set out on his
natural, and I am pleased to find it in Gro- last journey to Jerusalem. (See Mat. xx.
tius. This was a reaj and important difR- 18, 19, sect, cxlii.)
yesus retires in the evening to Bethany, 299
ness come upon discoveries to you, and regulate your temper sect.
you : for he that and conduct bv them ; that darkness may not cxlviii.
rn^tttVnot'oSh! r"'^^' ^'"' '>f7°'' may not be deprived oi^^'
cr he goeth. the gospel, and left m a night ot ignorance and xii. 35
misery : for you know it is a most uncomfort-
able thing for a traveller to be benighted in his
way, as he that zvalks in darkness wanders from
place to place, and knows not whither he goes,
or into what dangers he may fall the very next
step he takes ; and much more dreadful will it
be for you to be deserted of God, and left to
the darkness and folly of your own hearts.
36 While ye have (Compare John xi. 9, 10, sect, cxxxix.) Let 36
H^ht' \hir%'"mav ^^ therefore once more seriously and kindly
be tiie children of exhort you, that while you have the light thus
light. clearly shining around you, you believe in the
light, and honestly follow it, that you may be
the children oflight^ who, being now truly w^ise
and good, shall be the heirs of holiness, glory,
and joy everlasting.
— These thing's These things Jesus sjmke when the Greeks
kft^ther]\^nf de! ^P?^^^^ themselves to him ; and 2.^ the unbe-
parted, [Mark, and hevmg Jews Were greatly irritated by the ac-
now the even tide tions and discourses of the day, and would not
was come, he went] be awakened to conviction, he left them, and
Tout of the city unto ■, . . 1 ^y ^ ^•ji*' ,,
Bethany] [Mark, departed thtYiZQ to a retired place : and xvhen
with the twelve ;] now itwas late in the evening, he privately rvent
[and he lodged Qnt of the city to Bethany, with none to attend
himself fromlh^^^^ ^jm but the twelve apostles ; and, knowing that
[Mat. XXI. 17. his enemies were watching to destroy him, and
Mark XL— 11.] might have attempted to seize him by night if
he had tarried at Jerusalem, he lodged there at
Bethany, and concealed himself from them, to
avoid the assaults of their deliberate malice
till his hour was come.
IMPROVEMENT.
Who can wonder at the desire these Greeks expressed to see ver. 20
so celebrated a Person as Jesus was ! We hope there was some- 21
thing more than mere curiosity in it, and that at length they
saw him with believing eyes, and, according to his prediction, 23
glorified him by a cordial acceptance of his gospel. His disci- 'il'2.
pies, we see, were ready to introduce them : and surely every
faithful minister of Christ will undertake the task with pleasure
when he sees souls awakened by Divine grace, and inquiring
after Jesus with affectionate concern.
Blessed be God, it has already, in. many instances, been seen 24
that by the death of Christ an immortal seed v;^s sown, which has
300 Reflections on the happy fruits of the death of Christ,
SECT, multiplied in all ages, and is still multiplying : Oh that it might
cxlviii. }^ave a gi*eater increase ! One would think that words so gra-
25 cious as these should promote that increase^ and operate upon
every heart to produce a love to him sufficient to conquer every
danger and opposition which may be met with in his cause : be-
25 hold the pro?nise which he has left upon record ; " If any man^ be
he ever so mean and unworthy, will but faithfully serve andfol-
loxv me^ whatever his former wanderings and rebellions may have
been, where I am^ there .shall also niy servant be,'''* Happy state
indeed ! not only, like these Greeks^ to have a transient sight of
Chr'ist^ but to bey^r ever with him !
How admirable is the love and steadfastness of our Redeemery
Avho procured so great a happiness for us at so dear an expense !
27 and even when his innocent soi^l zvas troubled in the view of his
Suff'enngs^ instead of declining them, met them with joy ! How
should it animate us to renew that general comprehensive peti-
tion^ than which none can be more suitable to us with regard to
28 all the Divine dispensations ; Father^ g^^^fv thine oivn naine !
Glorify thyself, 0 Lord ! and to that great end dispose of us as
thou pleasest ; for we should abhor ourselves if we had any
interest separate from thine !
We may be assured, as certainly as by a voice from heaven^
that this great end shall be answered ; and in this we should
31, 32 rejoice. Behold, the prince of this xvorld is cast out ! Behold,
Satan IS vanquished by Christ I and Jesus is lifted up on the cross
for a standard to all the nations. Behold the attractive magnet
by which all ?ne?i are to be drawn., by which all his chosen people
shall be brought to him, and so raised up to heaven itself ! Let
us looJ^ unto him from the ends of the earthy and labour with our
cold hearts to awaken them to that lively and ardent affection
which we owe to him who was crucified for us.
35,36 For ever adored be Divine grace for this gospel light which
discovers to us so excellent an object! May we use it to saving-
purposes, and so walk in it^ as that we may appear to be the
children of light 1 Let us think of that last distribution of man-
kind, when the children and heirs of light and darkness are once
for all to be separated. Let us think of the gloom of eternal
nighty which will shortly overtake those by whom the gospel is
now despised ; and remember how much it will be aggravated
by the light we have so long seen. Do thou, 0 God^ at whose
word light arose out of darkness, send forth by thine influences on
our hearts thy light and thy truth^ that they may lead and bring
us to thine holy hill (Psal, xliii, 3) ; and that we may have the
satisfaction of knozving whither rueg'o^even when we zualk through
the dark 'Oalley of the shadow of death, (Psal, xxiii. 4.)
The Jeivs are hardened^ and -will not believe, 301
SECT. CXLIX.
yohrHs rejlecti^n on the mfidellty of the Jeivs^* As Christ was re-
tur7iing the next morning to Jeriisalem^ he curses the barren
fgtree. John XII. 37—43 ; Mat. XXI. 18, 19; Mark XL
12 — 14.
John XII. 37. JoHN XII. ^^7.
BUT though he '^OW swch. was the perverseness of the Jews, sect.
^' racier b^fbre ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ prejudice they had conceived cxHx.
them, yet they be- ^g^^^^st our Lord, that though he had sufRciently
lieved not on him : declared himself to be the true Messiah, and ^"-^^
though he had done so many undeniable and glo-
rious miracles at this and other times before
them^ in their most public places and most nu-
merous assemblies, yet the greater part of them
were hardened in their infidelity, and, notwith-
standing all that he had said and done, they
were in general so obstinate, that they did not
38 That the saying ^f/ie^e on him as the Messiah. So that the 38
ftfEsaias the prophet saying of Isaiah the prophet was p\a.m\v fulfilled
might be iulfilled ^^^ verified in them,=^ which he spake in the
which he spake, r /-,, • i r i • ^ r •
Lord, who hath be- name oi Christ and oi his servants, reterring
Heved our report ? expressly to the gospel times (Isa. liii. 1),
the^^^m'ofXLord"^^'*'^'^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ owr /T/or^ .^ and to
been revealed ? "whom hath the arm of the Lord been so effectu-
ally revealed ox made bare,^ as to conquer those
strong prejudices which men have entertained
against thine appointed method of salvation ?"
30 Therefore they And,yor this reason^ they were now in a 39
could not beheve, manner utterly incapable of believing^ because
many of them having long wilfully opposed the
* So that the saying of Isaiah%\}asfuljillcd'\ ^ Hath the arm of the Lore! been re<ceal-
It is apparent (as the late judicious Mr. ed?'] I apprehend this phrase may allude
Jeffrey has observed iji his True Grounds, to the habit generally worn by the easterns,
kc. p. 110) that the accomplishment of and especially by persons of rank, which
this prophecy could not be the end they pro- was a long robe without sice . es ; so that
posed to themselves in their unbelief; and when the arm. was stretched out to per-
consequently that the expression /v* form any action which required strength,
^Khf.a-^n must he rendered as it is here : it would api)ear uncovered. (Compare Isa.
which may be applied to several other liii. 10.) In tins connedion it seems
passages; and shews, by the way, how strongly to imply, that whenever trueycf^A
precarious that remark of Mr. Pierce is by is produced in the mind, it is to be con-
which he would make tAa?/>/ira*e an argu- sidered as the efi'ect of a Divine energy*
ment, that the scripture introduced by it is See Eph. i. 19> and Col. ii. 12.
quoted, not in any instance by way ofac-
eoomnodation, hnt alwn}'s according to its.
original design and literal meaning.
Xll
302 The prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled in them.
SECT, most sufficient and proper methods of convic- because that Esaias
exlix. tion, were at length given up by God to a ju- said again,
""" dicial hardness and blindness ; las'] the same
u? 40 prophet Isaiah says elsexvhere (Isa. vi. 10.)
■ " Having refused to hearken to the voice of 40 He hath blinded
^ 1 , » . -1 -1 ^ 1 V J J a.1 ' their eyes, and hard-
God ^ he has m righteous j udgment bunded tlieir g^ed their heart :
eyes^ and hardened their heart ;^ lest they should that they should not
(as he adds in the name of God) see with their see with thdr eyes,
^ , 1 ^ t '^1 ^1 • 1 X JT nor understand wJtu
eyes^ and understand with their hearty and be ^^^^y heart, and be
converted^ and I should heal and save them^ converted, and I
which, after such obstinate perverseness, I am should heal them,
determined that I never will." (Compare
Mat. xiii. 14, 15, Vol. I. p. 359, and Acts
41 xxviii. 27.) These things Isaiah spake xvhen 41 These things
he saw his ^loru,'^ even the glory of Christ, s^id Esaias when he
^ iiT»yrT r 7 T<' • saw hi3 glory, and
who was then the Meduimot the Divme man- ]^g of him.
ifeslation, and spake of him and of his times in
the awful words mentioned above, which had
their terriWe accomplishment in the men of
this generation.
42 Nevertheless^ at this very time there were 42 Nevertheless,
many even of the rulers themselves zvho were among the chief rui-
inwardly convinced tha-t he was the Messiah, f^ved^on him^ but
and believed on him as such, still expecting that because ofthePhar-
he would by some surprising providence be
raised to the throne of Israel; but they did not
think it convenient as yet to confers the convic-
tions of their own hearts concerning [Aiwz], on
"= ffe has blinded their eves, and hardened fined liimself exactly to the words of the
their heart.'] As God is said to harden the prophet, but the sense is plainly the same;
heart of Pharaoh in one place, while in an- and nothing was moi'e usual with the Jews
other it is said he hardened his ovon heart than to quote scripture in this way. See
(Exod. ix. 12, and viii. 15, 32) ; and as we Surenhtisius, de ForinuUs allegandi, p. 367.
oMglit to be very tender of ascribing to
God any thing that looks like a necessitat- ^ When hesaiv his glory."] These words
ing influence to impel men to sin, I ap- seem so plainly to refer to Christ, that I
prchend that all we ^'e here to understand cannot but approve the argument which
hy God^s blinding 3ind hardening iUese Jews the learned Bishop Pea; ^o/z draws from
is, that he permitted them to grow more Isa. vi. 1, to prove that Christ was the
and more prejudiced against the gospel, Jehovah that spoke to the prophet. fPear-
and, for wise reasons, acted in such a son on the Creed, i^.V25.) Yiv. Clarke indeed.
m:inn(|r as he knew would in fact be abus- explains it of seeing the Father^s glory :
cd by them to an increase of those preju- (Script. Doct. of Trin. p. 58.) But it is
dices. The learned, by consulting the ditKcult to say on that supposition what
o;7^'/;jrt/* of the places below, may see in- tlie evangelist intended by adding that
stances of a /^W^eo/o^^j/ nearly resembling clause [and s^ake of hijn] .- audit would
and illustrating this. Compare Lev. xiii. be quite unexampled to suppose that uvln
S; Ezek. xiii. 19, 22 ; xiv. 9; xx. 25; has two such different significations in the
Gen. xli. 13 ; Jer. i. 10 ; iv. 20 ; and Acts same line as that the meaning should be,
X. 15 ; where a person is said to do what he saw the Father's glory, and spake of
he permits, or what he declares or foretells, the Son. See Vitring'a on Isa. vi. 1, p. 142,
Tlic je^angelist in this quotation has not con- ^ sen.
yesus coming from Bethany^ goes to a figtree for fruit : 303
isees they did not account o/'the declared enmity oithe Pharisees sect.
confess him, lest acrainst him, lesthy them they should be cast out cxlix.
they should be put r ^u ' i u i i
eutofthe synagogue. ?/^^^ synagogue, and be exposed to the great -—
ignominy and secular detriment which neces- •• ^
43 Foi* tbey loved sarily attended such a sentence. For they ^^
the praise of men were such thoughtless and mean spirited crea-
Tcod!^" the praise ^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^j^^^ ^^^^^ the praise of men more than
the praise of God ; and durst not face the con-
tempt of their fellow mortals, even to secure
the approbation of their Maker. (Compare
John V. 44, Vol. I. p. 277, 278.) This was the
state of things at Jerusalem, and this the effect
of Christ's entrance into it, as related above.
Mark XI. 12. But though the malice of his enemies was Mark
And on the morrow known to Jesus, and he was sensible they were ^i- 12
r in the mornnig J ^ • • ^ j ' i • ^ ,
when Uiey were contnvmg to destroy him, yet on the morrow-
come from Bethany, morning he again set out with his disciples for
[as he returned into Jerusalem : and when they xvere come from
hungrv^^ [yixT^-x. ^^^^any, as he returned into the city, he was
XXI. 18.] very hungry ; having come out early without
eating, that he might neither incommode his
friends, nor break in upon his secret or public
13 And seeing a devotions.^ And as he w^as now on the way^ 13
figtree [in the way] seeing a single fgtree^ at a Qonsi&trdhXt distance^
kaves,fe came''['to ^^^"^^ had ^ ^n^ spread of kaves upon it, and
it], if haply he migiit therefore appeared to be one of the earlier kind,
find any thing there- he went up to it, [to see'] if he could find any thing
Z^^X^M T!" \ *°/^"^fy h'^ hunger ; andwhm he came
notliing [thereon] ^^ "? he jound nothing thereon but leaves only;
but leaves [only] \for there was not so much as any fruit in the
bud ; by which it plainly appeared that, though
it looked so beautiful, it was a barren tree.
Now it is to be observed that our Lord turned
out of the way, because, as it was yet but early
in the summer, the time of gathering figs was
« Might neither incommode his friends, that simplicity and modesty which might,
nor break in upon his devotions.] This independent on other arguments, almost
must certainly have been the reason of compel the assent of persons of a like tem-
our Lord*s htinger ; for none can imagine per to the wonderful story which they
that the hospitable and most sensibly relate in so genuine and unaffected a
obliged family of Lazarus would otherwise manner,
have suffered Jesus to come out without
eating ; or that if he had eaten that morn- f Sethig a single fgtree.'] Though in the
ing he would have been so hungry, before first edition I had only followed Mark,
he had walked txvo miles, as to go out of and rendered it, seeing a figtree, I think
the wa.y to gather figs. To me there ap- upon farther consideration, that <ruKnv
pears an inexpressible charm in this ob- fxiav, which is the expression Matthew
lique hint ; it shews how little the evan- uses here (though our translators make
^elists were inclined to enter into paneg} r- no difierence) should have been rendered
ics or reflections on the excellent charac- a stvgle figtree, which I h.ave now inserted
ter of their Master ; and is a specimen of in the vcrsierit
VOL. 2. 40
SG4.
But finding it without fruit, he curses it.
SECT. HOt[ifet]come ;S so that had this tree produced
cxUx. any, it might have been expected they would
, be growing still upon it. Andjesus^ finding
xiA^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^ barren tree, that only made a promis-
ing appearance, but had produced no frliit, said
to it upon this occasion^ As thou art fruitless
now, continue always so ; let no man from
henceforwards ever eat fruit of thee, nor any
fruit hereafter ever grow upon thee* And his
disciples heard [z7], and took notice of the
words ; aiid as soon as he had spoken them
(though his disciples, as they were passing on,
for the time of fig^
was not yet. [Mat.
XXI. 19.—]
14 And Jesus an-
swered and said unto
it. No man eat fruit
of thee hereafter for
ever : [Let no fruit
grow on thee hence-
forward for ever.]
And his disciples
heard it ; [and pres-
P The time of Jigs was not \_yet'\ come.]
I shall not trouble the reader with an ac-
count of all the strange solutions which
have been given to the difficulty which
immediately arises in the mind on reading
this clause ; nor with tlie particular rea-
sons which may be offered against each.
The best view of them all, that I can re-
collect, may be had by consulting WitsiuSf
in his MeleteirMta ; and I think the best
suliuion may be seen in Mr. Hallet's Notes
and Discourses, Vol. II. p. 114 — 124. It is
certain, as he has there proved from in-
contestable authority, and we have ob-
served elsewhere fnote ^^ on Luke vi. 1,
Vol. I. p. 280), that the climate of Judea
being abundantly warmer than ours, the
passover, though never later than Jprily
commonly fell at the beginning of their
harvest, that is, of their summer, which is
there vehemently hot, not only in 3Iay,
but in March and Afirii (in which last this
passover probablv fell) : compare Josh. iii.
15 ; iv. 19 ; V. 10, 11 ; and 1 Chron. xii. 15.
(See also Lev. xxiii. 15 — 17, compared
with Exod. ix. 31, 32, and Ruth ii. 23.)
Now it is equally certain that one, and
that the most delicate kind of Jigs, was
ripe in Judea at the beginning of summer
(as we have a fine sort in England wliich
are ripe before our harvest, having put out
the autumn befoi'e, and stood the whole
winter) : see Hos. ix. 10 ; Mich. vii. 1 ;
Nah.iii.l2; Jer.xxiv. 2 ; Cant. ii. 11—13;
and Isa. xxviii, 4. And the Jigtree opeyiing
its leaves, which every body knows do not
appear till after the fruit, is spoken of as
asignofapproachingswmmer. Mat. xxiv. 32.
Our Zor^llierefore at this time might well
expect \x> find fruit on this tree, since the
time of gathering even these early figs luas
not yet come, which if it had, there would
have been no room for the expectation, or
the curse which followed it.
(r-jzcey does not signify, as some have fan-
cied, a kindly season for figs, but the time of
gathering them in, I think the learned
Bishop Kidder has abundantly proved. (See
his Deinonstration of the Messiah, § ii. p.
38, 39.) Compare Mat. xxi. 34 ; Mark
xii. 2 ; and Numb. xiii. 23. It is true this
interpretation of the story, though incom-
parably easier than any other I know, will
require a transposition of the clause be-
fore us, as if it had been said. He came, if
haply he might find any thing thereon ; for
the time of figs vias not yet ; and %vhen he
came to it, he found nothing but leaves. But
no interpretation whatever can make the
last clause, as we read it, a reason for what
stands immediately before it, that he found
nothing but leaves ; for it is well known,
that if our commow figtrees have no young
figs on them in March or April, they can
produce none that year. None can deny
another transposition of the like kind in the
same evangelist, Mark xvi. 3, 4, (sect,
cxciv.) both of them probably being oc-
casioned by an accidental interlineation in
the original, and a mistake of some early
transcriber, who did not bring in the inter-
li}ied clause exactly in its due place. See
instances of the like kind. Gen. xiii. 10,
and Josh. xxii. 22. And if with Heinsius,
Knatchbull, and Gataker, we should here
read s instead of s, and render it, where he
was it was the season of figs, we must ad-
mit of the same transposition, and conse-
quently should gain no advantage at all,
by a version whicli (as all learned men
know) is very harsh, and attended with an
inelegancy and impropriety which thi&
would be no proper place to examine.
^ And ^esus said to it upon this occasion.^
It is plain that in this place this must be
the sense of that phrase, j^esus answered
and said, compare note ^, on Mat. xi. 25,
Vol I. p. 325, 326.
Reflections on the danger of an empty profession* 305
cntly the figtree did not observe it at that time), the fgtree im- sect.
withered away ] mediately ivithered away ; Christ intending by c^''^-
[Mat. XXI— 19.J ^^^ significant action to intimate that the curse ~r
of God should thus wither and destroy the ^^ j^
Jewish nation, which he had before compared
to an unfruitful figtree. (See Luke xiii. 6 — 9,
sect. cxvi. p. 128.)
IMPROVEMENT.
How evidently necessary is the operation of Divine grace to John
conquer the /?r^Wfce'5 of a sinful heart ; since even the preach-^^'^*
ing of Christ himself, enforced by all his stupendous miracles^
could not overcome those prejudices without it ! And how cau-
tious should sinners be that they do not stop their ears to the
joyful sound of the gospel, and shut their eyes against its glori- 38—40
ous light ; lest God should leave them to their own delusions,
and in his righteous judgment seal them itp under final blindness
and impenitence ! Then will they never he converted and healed;
but die with that poison in all the faculties of their souls, which
will make them for ever restless and miserable.
Can we find words sufficient to express the madness of these 42
Pharisees^ who, while they were in their consciences convinced
that fesits was the Christy would not confess that conviction, and
publicly pay their homage to him, because they loved the praise
of men more than the praise of God P Strange infatuation of the 43
human mind ! that it should be capable of believing there is a
God^ and yet of preferring the creatures before him ; and should
sometimes imagine the vain breath of popular applause or pop-
ular censure so considerable, as that God should be offended to
please man ; and all the honours and rewards of his heavenly
presence lost, to secure a little regard from those who are per-
ishing in their crimes, and will ere long be themselves the
objects of everlasting shame and contempt.
May none of us ever indulge such a temper, or ever rest in Mark
an empty profession ; lest, being like the fgiree^he fare ns^whicA ^^^^
had leaves, but no/n«r,the curse of Christ should be pronounced
upon us, which would immediately wither us amidst all our ver- Mat.
dure ! Let us remember that this was intended as one of those ^^^^^
significant actions by which the holy messengers of God fre-
quently intimated approaching judgments* Happy would it
have been if some, instead of searching out objections against
it, had seriously considered its design, and the sad aspect with
which it looks on those who, like them, receive the grace ^f
God in vain !
306 Jesus comes to Jerusalem^ and again purges the temple.
SECT. CL.
Christy arrhm^ at Jemsalem, visits the temple again ; and, after
a repeated effort to reform the contiimed abuses there, discourses
with the people in a manner zvhich farther exasperates the
priests ; and in the evening goes out of the city. Mark XI.
15 — 19 J John XII. 44, to the end,
Mark XI. 15. Mark XI. 15.
SECT. AND, soon after the figtree had been cursed, A ND ihey come
±_ ^ they come to Jerusalem; and Jesus^ enter ^ fXje^ulTentrto
Mark ^''^' ^^ ^^ ^^*^ ^^"^ ^^ "^ before, into the ^\^^ temple, and be-
ii^l5 i^md/e, observed, as he was passing through the gan to cast out them
court of the Gentiles, that the people who had [^^^J.f ?;^^,'e!"£^d
polluted it by their traffic were seated there again ; overthrew the tables
and being displeased to see that sacred place of the money chang-
so shamefully profaned he presently renewed ^'^-^J^e se^^^f
his testimony against them, and began to drive
out them that sold and bought in the limits of
the temple,^ and over threxv the tables of the money
changers, and also the seats of them that sold
^^ doves: And he, permitted 7iot that anyone, 16 And would not
for the sake of shortening his way, should carry suffer that any man
any burden or any kind of W *Wj;A the f^o^it-u^r^^^^^^^
courts of the temple; but strictly insisted on a pie.
due reverence to it, as a place that was entirely
17 set apart to God's immediate service. And ir And he taught,
he taught ihem at large the evil of such prac-
"^ To drive out themthat sold and bought in new comers) to return again to theh'
tlte temple.'] The time when this was done places. And Jesus therefore seems (as
is fixed by Mark to the day after Jesus Mr. irAia^on has observed)to have asserted
made his public entry into Jerusalem, and the regard that was due to the templenow
so (as was observed before, note^, on Mat. with more severity and exactness than he
:xxi. 12, p. 289) this must have been a dif- had done the day before, not suffering any
ferent fact from that related by Matthew, one so much as ifo carry a vessel through the
which he has introduced on the preceding temple,- which is a circumstance not men-
day, before the shoutings of the children, tioned either by Matthew or Luke in their
We have supposed it, therefore, to be re- account of the transactions of the pre-
peated by our Lord,- for as it is improbable ceding day. (See sect, cxlvii.) But I see
that lie would not purge the temple on the no foundation at all for Mr. Winston's con-
day of his triumphant entry, when Mark jecture, that on the former day Christ
expressly says that he looked round about drove them out of ?Ae ^ew'jcowr^ and now
upon all things ; so it is plainly intimated out of that o^ the Geiitiles ; for it is no way
here that he did it after his return from probable that the traders were ever allow-
Bethany on the next day. Nor is it at all ed to introduce their wares into the iyiner
unlikely that, after Jesus was departed out cottrt^ for which the Jews had a pecuhar
of the city, there would be people enough, reverence. See Mr. Whiston's View of the
if it were only out of opposition to him. Harmony^ p. 131, and Dr. Whitbfs Note
•who would be ready to encourage the on Mark xi. 17. ^
tnaders (some of whpra might, pefhaps,- be
He asserts his mission and authority from the Father, 307
saying unto them, Is tices; saying' to thejiiy Is it not written (as I sect.
it not written. My observed but yesterday), " My house shall be ^^-
oriir'nto^rte caiman house of prayer, and that not only for —
house of prayer ? but the Jews themselves, but (as the prophet says) xi. ir
ye have made it 2iJ'or the sons of the stranger that join them-
den of tliieves. selves to the Lord, or for those pious proselytes
who from all the neighbouring nations shall
resort to it V (Isa. Ivi. 6, 7.) But you have
turned it to another use, and inade it in effect a
den of robbers^ by suffering people here to
carry on their trades, and to profane the place
in which the Gentiles are to worship God,
by scandalous extortion and unlawful gain.
(Compare Mat. xxi. 12, 13, and Luke xix. 45,
46, p. 289, 290.)
John XII. 44. ^«f/ then, as considerable numbers of people John
Jesus cried and said, ^yere now gathered about him, Jesus cried^ or xii.44
SeVbdievlornot^:; proclaimed with a loud voice, saying Be it
me but on him that known vinto you all, that m these extraordmary
sent me. steps which I take for the reformation of abuses,
and the vindication of God's house, I act by
his own immediate direction and authority ;
and he that cordially believes in me, believeth not
in me alone, but in him that sent me, and thereby
45 And he that does an honour to the Father himself. And 4)5
seeth me, seeth Inm ^^ f^^f g^^g ^^^ ^^^ regards me with a lively-
faith, does also in effect see him that sent me, as
the perfections of the Father are displayed in
me ; whereas he that shuts his eyes against me,
excludes the only means of being brought to.
46 I am come a the true knowledge of him. For, full of the 46
light into the world, inspiration of his blessed Spirit, / am come a
{!;v\t"onmeTs"o«rd lig^t '"to the -world, that every one who really
not abide in dark- believes in me, might not any longer abide i?i
ness. darkness, but might attain to the knowledge of
all necessary truth, and the enjoyment of the
47 Andif anyman most solid and excellent happiness. And if 4.7
hear my words, and ^j-^y q^^ q£ you hear my words, which I am so
him^not^for i-^ca^me ^^^q"^^% ^"^ ^^^^^X speaking, and will not
not to judge the believe in me, I do not now condemn him, or im-
■world, but to save mediately execute judgment upon him ; ^or (as
the woria. J formerly declared, John iii. 17, sect, xxvi.)
lam not come at present to condemn the world,
or to perform any work of wrath and terror,
whatever ill usage I may meet with in it ; but
j^^- the design of my appearance is mild and gen-
'^ftf tie, and I am come to save the world, and to
make its inhabitants happy for tiine and for
308 He that rejects his word shall be condemned.
SECT, eternity, if they will be so wise as to hearken
cl- to the proposals I offer. Nevertheless, though 48 He that reject-
-— ■ I do not immediately jud^e any, yet he that ^^^ i»e, and receiv-
John •. ,_, -JO "^ J Ml elh not my words,
xiU8 ^^J^^^^ ^^' and does not receive my xvords, will j^^^^ one thatjud.?'
not escape final condemnation, but will find, to eth him: the word
his surprise and confusion, that he has one that that I have spoken,
judges hhn : for the -word that I have spoken, {Jl^TnThe hstdf^'
though heard with indifference from day to
day, is recorded in the book of God's remem-
brance ; and as the time will come when the
proposals I have made shall be reviewed, \even'\
that very word shall judge him in the last awful
- day^ as the tenor of it is so excellent, that to
have rejected it will prove a man ignorant of
God, and alienated from true religion and
49 goodness. For I have not spoken of myself, 49 For I have not
either on my own motion, or on any precari- ???u\°.l "^^h* h
ous conclusions drawn from principles divinely gent me, he gave
taught ; hut the Father who sent me, he gave me me a commandment,
ample instructions, and a particular command- ^^^^ \,^^°t'^^i ^^u
ment, what I should say, and what I shall yet g^^k^
speak, in that part of my work which is still
50 before me. And I will faithfully conform my- 50 And I know
self to his instructions, whether men be pleased ^^^t his command-
er offended with me ; for I know that his com- Sg.'" .vhrtsoever
mandinent is of the greatest consequence, and i speak therefore,
that eternal life depends upon the knowledge even as the Father
and observance of it ; and therefore I would f'^^^''^'' ""^^ ^"^ ^
by no means vary in a matter of so much import-
ance J but whatever I say unto you, / speak it
just as the Father has given it me in charge, and
alter nothing in the message he has sent me to
deliver. So that the doctrine which I preach
should be received as coming from the Father,
and by rejecting it you will be guilty of de-
spising his authority.
Mark Thus did our Lord continue to reform Mark XL la
^- IS abuses, and to teach the people with the utmost ^"^ ^^^^ ^"'^^* »"^
* That very word shall judge him, &c. '* Though it is not my present business to
tr'Koy©' o\ iKaiK)i<r{i^ mm®' KgiviiAvlov.^ Our do it, yet I have a commission from my
Lord, by this manner of speaking, repre- Father, which is hereafter to take place,
sents his Kvordas a person that should sit in when I shall appear worthy of that great
judgment upon believers at the last day. name." I do not recollect that our Lord
(Compare Heb. iv 12.) But I can see no had given himself the title of Xo^o* in any
ground for Mr. Fleming's interpretation of his discourses with the Jews ; and
(Christology, Vol. I. p. 136), who would therefore can see no reason to suppose
render it, The Logos, tekich I have spoken such a reference to it. ^,
ofi shall judge him, ; as if he had said, ^
Reflections on the regard due to Christ and his xvord, 309
chief priests heard If seriousness and earnestness, on the second day sect.
mi^t df^tro'^Mi^m^ °^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^" ^^^^^^ ^^ suffered. Aiid the ""^
Si^eylfeWhi^! "^^rii^^* and chief priests were much offended -^J^
because all the peo- when they heard [pfit\ and diligently sought ^^^ ^g
pie was astonished how they might find out some expedient to de-
at hi8 doctrine. ^^^^^ ^ .^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ envied, but o'r^^a^-
ed him, because all the people were visibly struck
into attention and wonder at his doctrine^ and
seemed disposed to receive it with a respect
proportionable to its importance and solemnity.
19 And when even And, that he might give them no unseasona- 19
v;as come, he went ble advantages against them, when the evening
«ut of the city. ^^ come, he went out of the city, and spent the
night as he had done before, in a retired place
with his disciples.
IMPROVEMENT.
How hard is it to purge a carnal heart, and disentangle it Mark
from the snares of a deceitful world ! No sooner were these ^•
traders driven from the temple, but they return to it again ; and ^^^^^
are as busy the next day in the pursuit of their unlawful gain as
they had been before. And thus how often are convictions
stifled by the love of this world ! And if the voice of conscience,
or the word of God, may interrupt us for a while in our unlaw-
ful courses, yet where it may affect our worldly interest, how
ready are we to return to them again ! and with what difficulty
are we brought so far to lay aside our earthly projects, as not to
take them with us into the house of God I Purge us, 0 Lordy
from every irregular desire ; pursue and perfect thine own
work ; and incline our hearts unto thy testimonies, and not unto
covetousness / (Psal. cxix. 36.)
Most important is that proclamation which our Lord made in Jvhn
the temple, and is still making to us in his word : believing in ^'^^
him, we believe in the Father ; and seeifig him, we see the Father, ^^^
Let us be ready therefore to receive him out of regard to his
Divine authority, as well as with a view to our own happiness ;
for without him we can have no access unto the Father, nor can
we ever see him as a reconciled God. The sacred light which
he diffuses around him is not intended merely to amuse our eyes
with pleasing speculations, but to animate our hearts with holy
affections, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke i.
79.) If we desire therefore to escape an abode in eternal dark"
ness, and to see light everlasting, let us faithfully follow him :
otherwise we are condemned already, and that word which he
spake will become to us a savour of death unto death (2 Cor. ii.
16), and will judge us in the last solemn and dreadful day^ when
it shall sentence those who would not be saved by it»
310 'ffi^ disciples ohsei-ve that thejlgtree is withered away,
SECT. Let us now malce that word the rule of our life which shall
^^- then be the rule of our judgment. We may most comfortably
venture our eternal all on the exact veracity of it. Christ has
49^ 50 perfectly fulfilled the cominission he received from his Father^ as
one that was faithfiU to him that appointed him ; and stands so
completelv approved in his sight, that our only hope is that we
also may be accepted in him, and find mercy and grace for his
sake.
SECT. CLI.
Jesus returjiing to the city in the morjiing^ his disciples ohservt
that thejlgtree was withered away : being come into the temple^
he confounds the members of the sanhedrim^ who questioned his
authority^ and reproves them by the parable of the coinplaisant
but disobedient son. Mat. XXI. 20 — 32 ; Mark XI. 20, t9
the end; XII. 1— ; Luke XX. 1—9 —
Mark XL 20. Mark XI. 20.
SECT. 'VT O W Jesus, havmg spent the night with AND in the
cli. XN his disciples in a retired place without the -^ morning-, as
— city, returned again to Jerusalem on the third '^t'L/\he^isl'
ii. 20 ^^y ^^ ^^^ vfQt'k m which he suffered : and in pies] saw the figtree
the mormi^g^ as they were passing by the spot dried up from the
of sTound where he had cursed the barren fig- f^f «, [they marvel-
o ^ 7- • , 7 led, sayme', How
tree on the day before, when the disciples saw ^^^^^ -g \i-^l fi^tree
the figtree^ dried up from the v try roots, and so withered away !]
entirely stripped of its leaves that, though it [Mat. XXI. 20.]
stood at some distance from the road, they
easilv discerned the change, they v/ere greatly
struck at the sight, and wondered, ^oyi?ig, How . .^ ,.
soon is thefigtree that stands yonder, -withered i4\„T„?mbrknce,
away, though yesterday it seemed so flourish- saith unto him, Mas-
Si ing ! And Peter, recollecting what had passed, ter, behold, the fig-
took notice of it to Jesus, and said unto him, 'l^,l,^:^t.s2Z
Rabbi, behold, the fgtree xvhich thou cursedst ^^ ^way.*
but yesterday, is now quite zvithered away. 22 And Jesus an-
22 And Jeswiansrvering, says unto them. See that swering saith unto
1 jc ^ r-Ji. • r< J 1 r n them. Have faith m
you have a stediasty<:«^/i in God, and a iull con- q^^^: ryi^r^^ xxi.
fidence in his power and fidelity, when you feel 21—.]
* When the disciples saix thefigtree.'} Mat- morning, and so particularly mentions Pe-
thew relates this story of the figtree^ as if ter''s recollecting what had passed before^
the notice tliat the disciples took of it, and that it is plain his order must be followed
the account that Jesus gave them of the here, which Matthew has neglected, that
■power of faith, followed immediately upon he might give us the whole of the story
his cursing it. But Mark has so expressly together,
referred these circumstances to th(^ next
yesiis exhorts them to hone faith in God. ^11
him secretly moving on your spirits, to stir you sect,
53 For verily I say up to any miraculous operation.'' For lassur^ ^^•
unto you. That [if ^^/^ ^^y njifg yQ^^ That if you lyroe such a firm .
Ji^oubf^ot*' shall and stedfast faUh, and do not doubt of God's ^'^
not only do this being ready to stand by you, you shall not only
Khich is done to tlie cio such miracles as this of the figtree^ but also
t^osoeVe^shalf sa"^ ^^^^^ perform far greater things ; yea, whoso-
unto this mountain, ever^ under such an impulse, and with such a
Be thou removed, believing temper, shall attempt any thing as
and be thou cast m- difficult and extraordinary, as if he were to sau
•o the sea ; and shall ^,. ^ . -t' ^ -"^
not doubt in his ^^ ^"^'^ 77iountai7i which we are now crossmg,
heart, but shall be- Be thou removed from hence, ajid thrown into
lieve^ tl»at those fh^ distant sea ; and shall not at all doubt in his
saitl?shall come to ^"'^'^•) ^"^ stedfastly believe that what he says
pass : [it shall be shall come to pass^ it shall accordingly be done^
done, ar.d'] he shall [and"] shall be to him just as he says. And for 'HA
have whatsoever he ^^-^ reason, to encourage you bbldlv to act as
saith. [Mat. XXI. ^ , , „ ',. , . ^ . -^ V
_21.] God shall direct and mstigate you, 1 say untg
24 [And] there- you^ That whatsoever things you ^hall desire ^
fore I say unto you, '{and^ ask of God in prayer, to make it manifest
W liat thmffs soever S^ ^ri-j^ r
ve desire land shall ""^'^^ X^^ are sent of him, and to confirm your
ask in prayer], be- doctrine ; if you believe that you shall actually
iieve that ye receive receive them^ however difficult the things may be
j/ie?«, and ye shall ^|^^^ ^ request, yet in such circumstances they
fiave them. [Mat. , ./ - i i , » , i; , ;
XXI. 22.] shall certamly be done, and you shall have them,
25 And when yc But still I would subjoin one caution ; that 25
stand praymg-, for- jf ^q^ expect your prayers should prevail with
God, you must take care to offer them in love
as well as in faith ; and when you stand praying ^^
^ Have faith in God, &c.] It is certain the apostles in such cases felt on their
that the attempt of /?pr/or7n/?i^?/i/rrtc/c?j in minds, it is impossible for any, without
public was a remarkable instance o^ faith having- experienced it, to know. It is
in the Divine power and fidelity ; for they therefore an instance of their wisdom,
were generally introduced by some solemn that they never pretend to describe it,
declaration of what was intended, which since no words could have conveyed the
was in effect a prediction of immediate idea.
success. (So Peter says, Acts iii. 6, /«f/ze <" When you stand praying.'\ There is no
Tiame of Jesus Christ, Rise up and zvaU ; ix. room to doubt tliat standing was their usual
34, Eneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee udiole ,■ posture when tliey prayed ; as Dr. Light-
and again, ver. ^, Tabitha, Jrise. J And foot observes with respect to the Jews
in pronouncing this, the person speaking ('Hor. Heb. on Mat. vi. 5) ; and the learned
pawned all his credit as a messenger from author of the Inquiry ijitothe Worship of the
God, and consequently all the honour and Primitive Church (chap. ii. § 1), has shewn
usefulness of his future life, on the imme- it to be the practice of the first ages of
diate miraculous energy to attend his words, the Christian church. (Compare Mat. vi.
and to be visibly exerted on his uttering 5 ; and Luke xviii. 11.) But as the word
them. And hence it is that such a firm Istand^ has no particular significancy here,
couragQousy<7/fii is so often urged on those I might have omitted it in the translation
to whom such viiraculous poixers were as the Prussian editors have frequently
given. But what kind of intimation of done, but that I do not choose to multiply'
God's intended miraculous interpositiou expletives in the sacred writings,
VOL. 2. 41
312 He comes again to Jerusalem^ and preaches in the temple*
SECT, in the presence of that Majesty of heaven whom g^ive, if ye have
^^^- you have offended by so many provocations, ^"^^'^^ ag-amst any :
•^ 111/-- -r 7 -.X r that vour Father also
Mark ^^^^ should Jorgive, if you have anij matter ot ^1,^^:^ i, j^ heaven
xi. 25 ^^"^P^^''^^ «^Y/Z7Z6? any; that your F«?/^^r m may forgive you your
heaven may also forgive you your trespasses, ^^^^'^^^^^'.^ ,
26 But if you do not forgive even your most cruel ^ot forgive' ndthe?
enemies, and much more your offending- breth- will your Father
ren, neither zvill your Father in heaven forgive wl\ich is in heaven
yon your trespasses, (Compare Mat. vi. 14, 15; ^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^-■
xviii. 35,) And if your trespasses be not for-
given, you have little reason to hope for such
extraordinary interpositions in atiswer to your
prayers ; or if those interpositions were to be
granted, you would receive no manner of ad-
vantage from them, while amidst all the glory
of working the most amazing miracles you lay
under the load of guilt and condemnation. 27 Andtheycome
27 And^ after Jesus had been thus discoursing Sr[ wheThe v^as
with his disciples by the way, they come again come into the tem-
to jferusalem : and xvhen he was come i?ito the pie], [LuKE,it came
temple, it came to pass, that as he zvas xvalkinp' }^ ^'^^^' ^^^\} . ^^
11 t • 1 t » 7 1 1 n 1 I "6 was walking,
tnere," rvhile he taught the people who flocked [Luke, as he taught
around him, and zealously preached the gospel the people, and
of the kingdom to all that were desirous to be pi'eached the gos-
instructed in it, the chief priests^ and the scribes^ came upon him] the
and the elders of the people^ who were contriving chief priests,and the
^ It came to pass, that as he rjasii}ali- calin, and Memunnim, who (if their testi-
ing."] Luke, who tells this, as he does mony may be credited) were appointed to
several f)ther Stories, in a less circamstan- preside over the other priests and Levitesy
tial manner, says it was on one of those and to regulate the watch, the singers, &c.
(lays : buttlie insertion of tliat clause here A summary account of them may be seen
would have been improper, considering in Beland, Jntiq. Jieb.pa.rt'n, cs(.Y).u\. ^4,5.
how particularly the date of this fact is By the elckrsofthe people, some would un-
fixed by Mark. If the reader should hap- derstand those representatives who were
pen elsewhere to meet with the oinission called Fin Stationarii, that were appointed
of a word or two in any of tlie evangelists to attend in their courses at the hours of
(which he very seldom will), I hope he tnoniing and evening sacrifice in tlie name
will not condemn it till he reflect whether of the whole Israelitish nation ; but I
it may not be accounted for in the same rather suppose it may signify the 7nemZ'er,s
manner. of the grand sanhedrimy to whom that title
^ The chief priests — and the elders of the most eminently and properly belonged ;
people.'] These are titles that frequently which is the more probable, as they were
occur, but it is not easy to fix a deter- the persons under whose cognizance the
minate idea to them. By the chief priests, late action of Christ iu purging the temple
1 think we may understand any peculiar would moet naturally fall. These, with
distinction in the Aaronic family ■ so that the persons abovementioned, probably
It may include the A/^A/Jr/e*?, his deputy appeared in a considerable company on
or.sa^a??, any of the Aeac/* of the fwenfj/y&ur purpose to daunt him, and to bear an
courses of priests who might happen to be united testimony against him, if any thing
in waiting, and likewise any of those whom exceptionable should fall from him on this
the Talmudists called Catholicin, Amar- occasion.
The priests come to hiiri^ and questiori his aulhcrity, ' 313
scribes, and the el- his destruction, cofne iip07i him in a body, with sect.
ders [of the people]; ^ strong desire to confound and overbear him : *^^^-
Luke XX. V] (Old thty Spoke to him in such a manner, as to ex-
Luke XX. 2. press their high displeasure at what had lately
And spake unto him, passed, sai/iiip". Thou hast here taken upon
sayinc-, Tell us by f, . r lu . i u- i •
what authority dost f^ee to reform the temple, which is our prov-
thou these things ? ince alone, and hast in a tumultuous manner
or who is he that driven out those who had our permission to
do these things] ? therefore, that thou tell ?is roundly and plainly
[Mat. XXI.— 23. by xvhat authority thou dost 2d\ these extraordi-
Mark XI. 28.] ^^^y things ? and who he is that gave thee this
authority on which thou presumest to do them V
3 And [ Jesus ] Andjesus^ that he might at once reprove the 3
answered iuid said improprietv of the question in those circum-
unto them, I will al- ^ \ - a- \ ^
so ask vou [Mark, Stances, and in effect return an uncxception-
cue question], and able, though oblique, answer to it, said to them
answer me ; [ei-e/t iti reply ^ I -will also ask you one plain question on
veVll ml; Tin Hke "^l^ Occasion ; and pray ansxver me this one
wise will tell you things ii'hich ifyoii tell me^ Izvill likezvise give
by what authority I you all the satisfaction vou can desire, and di-
[M A T.'^XXl"^2i^ ^^^^^^y ^^^^ ^'^"' ^^'>'°" ^"^ y"^ md^^d need to be
Mark XI. 29.] ~ told, bij xvhat authority I do these things. You 4
4 The baptism of all remember Me baptis7nofyohn^\yhich. was at-
John, [whence was tended by such multitudes of people, and even
it ?] from heaven, or i "^ r it /r^ tk/t ^
of men ? [ Mark, ^Y ^^^Y ^^ Y^Y^ leading men. (Compare Mat.
answer me.] [Mat. iii. 7, sect, xvi.) Now I would gladly know
XXL 25. — Mark what you think of its original ; Frotn whence
"^ -* was it that he had his commission ? was itfrom
heaven^ as he openly professed ? or was it
merely a contrivance of men P Anszver me this,
and then I will immediately resolve your
question.
5 And they rea- Aiid they were perfectly confounded at so 5
soned with them- unexpected a demand, and reasoned atnong
'K^';?''''''i"^'^l''''^ themsehes., as it was natural to do, after this
shall say, From hea- ' . >t^u . r i >
ven ; he will say manner, ^«z/m^, Ij we shall say ^ 1 hat Johns
\_\ixsx.o us]. Why baptism vf2isfrom heaveji^he will say to us^ Why
then believed ye him therefore did ye not believe him, and yield to his
not? [Mat. XXI— „^ -^ , ^ a ^ \- ' c i
25. Mark XI. ol] well known and repeated testimony or me f
6 But and if we But if we shall say. That his baptism had no 6
[shall] say, Of men; Divine warrant, but was merely the device of
p^ople^^v^dl^^ltone ^""^^ wicked and designing men, who by that
us: for they be grave solemnity endeavouredto introduce their
[all] persuaded that own ambitious schemes, we have reason to/e^r
John was a prophet ^hat all the pohulace who are here assembled will
[Mark, mdeed.] . ^ ^ y , 71 r i
[Mat. XXI. 26. ^'^^^ ^P ^'^cl stone us ; jor they are all hrmly
Mark XI. 32.] persuaded that John was really a prophet sent
of God \ and as vast numbers of theixi were
314 He confounds them by asking what they thought of John,
SECT, baptized by him, they will never bear to hear
cl'- him vilified, either as an enthusiast or impostor.
And therefore thert declined to tell him what 7 And they an,-
Luke ^1 • 1 1- . ^j ^„„-,,,^„^,/ c'/^oj/o swercdrMARK,and
XX. 7 were their real sentiments, and an<ixuered Jesus ^^.^ ^^^^L j^^^^^;^^.^
bif sayings Wt cannot yet certainly tell whence cannot tell] whence
[it was]; for it is a question which still lies /> i;aj [Mat. XXI.
before the sanhedrim, and which they have ^J ~f *^ "" '^ ^^'
not vet expressly determined.
8 And fesus immed'mtely replied and said U7ifo 8 And Jesus
thej7i. Neither do I think it at all necessary to tell [Mar. answcrin-,]
you by rvhat authority I do these things; for the ^I'Jeir^JJJi \^"^^^^ ^y
other question naturally requires to be deter- vvhat authoi-ilv I do
mined first,^ and when you think proper to these things. [Mat.
decide that, you may easily perceive that the ^l ^sJ]'"' ^'''''^
same answer will serve for both.e
Mark Jw^having thus silenced the members of the Mark XII. 1.—
xii. 1 jrreat council, who had taken upon them to ex- ^"'^, *^^ ^''^'^''^ ^^
o . , . r 1 . , ^. 7 7 speak unto them
amine him for his late proceedings, he began [^„^ ^^ ^1,^ people]
to speak wito thein^ [and] to the people who were bvparables.--[LuKE
now assembled, by several parables^ of which ^^- ^-—3
we shall give a more particular account.
Mat. And first,he said to the scribes and Pharisees, Mat. XXI. 28.
xii.28 with whom he had been discoursing, You have But what think ye ?
, , V ^ 4.' / * A certain man had
evaded a direct answer to my question, but ^^^ ^^^^^ ^,^^1 ,.^
what think you of your own conduct in these came to the first,and
circumstances, and of all the high professions said, Son, go work
you make of an extraordinary reverence for ^^^^y ^" "^^ ^"^'
God, and zeal in his service ? I will plainly tell ^' ' '
you my thoughts of it, which are very naturally
connected with the present subject.
29 There was a man who had two sons ; and 29 He answered
coming to the first, he said, Son, go directly away ^"^ said, I wiU not :
and work today in mij vineyard, where thou
Icnowest there is business to do that requires
thine attendance. And he anstvered in a very-
rude and undutiful manner, and said, I will not :
* The other question naturally requires This was plainly the case ; for as, on the
to be determined first.] That singular one hand, the express testimony which
turn which the reader will observe to be John bore to Christ must be a sufficient
given to this ajisivcr of our Lord in the par- proof of his Diiine inissio77, if that of John
aphrascy by which I think the propriety of was allowed (since, according to a Jewish
it to be much illustrated, I owe to that maxim, The testimony of one prophet "was
very accurate and learned friend who sug- suffi.cie7it to confr^n the authority of another J;
gested the substance of note g on John vii. so Christ had spoken in such an honour-
22, p. 48. able manner of John, that to condemn
John as an impostor, would imply a like
s The same answer will se?vc foi both] censure on thc^ character pf Jests'.
The parable of the two sons bid to xcork hi the vhmiard. 3 1 5
uut afterwards he but afterxvards considering better of it, he sect,
lepented, and went, repented that he had used his father so ill ; ^^i-
and^ to make the best amends he could, he """"
7vent into the vineyard, and laboured diligently ^^\\q
30 And he came there. And when the first had given soundii-
raid^tk:"™"' A.'ld »■<■"• ;^" answer to his father he came to tke
he answered and second^ and aaid to him 271 the same manner as
said, I^o, Sir; and he had done to his brother : and he^ being a
went not. smooth plausible lad, ansxvered^ with great
submission and readiness, and said ^ Sir^ I [am
Seeing-] this moment to obey your commands :''
and i/et, after all, he xvent not to the vineyard,
but spent the whole day elsewhere.
31 Whether of Now I would leave it to vourselves to jud^^e, 31
t^7Z niu-e'r- '?"'' ofthetruo youths I have been speaking
they say unto him, ^^ ^^^ ^'^^ ^<^''^^ ^f [f^^^] father^ and with w hich
The first. — of them he would, on the whole, be best pleas-
ed ? and without any hesitation theij soy to
him^ Undoubtedly thefrst of them.
— Jesus saith un- Then Jesus^ upon this, says to them^ The
u^nlo ™urTh^,\^he \PP"""°" °f '^'^ parable is very easy; for
publicans and the ^^^^ ^^ *s, that notwithstandmg your profes-
harlots g^ into the sions of a regard to God, yet in your practice
kingdom of God be- you are disobedient children, and reject his
ore}ou. gospel ; and verUy I say unto yoUy That even
the most abandoned sinners of the age, such as
the publicans and common prostitutes^ are much
more open to conviction, and more likely to be
wrought upon than you ; and so many of them
have already been awakened to repentance, that
their example might lead you the xvay into the
kingdom ofGod^ but with ail your pretences to
32 For John came sanctitv vou will not follow them. For^ though 30
o"frigke"Jusnc:si:^ >°" ^^'^ "°' i"«^S>-«y ^"""S^ ^eely to o,vn it. "
ye believed him not: y^" know m your own consciences, that John
but the publicans came not iinto you in a suspicious manner, but
and the harlots be- ^^^ ^/^^ 7^,^^^ of righteousness, and did in all his
l^evedhim. And ye, • • , • * • .1 t 1. c
when ve had seenV "^i^^istry mamtam the uniform character of an
' upright and pious man, as well as of a plain and
awakening preacher, yet you believed him not ;
but the publicans and harlots, of whom I spake,
believed him : and you were still so obstinate,
that even when you saxv [z7], and perceived a
^ Sir^ I am going.'] This was a proper greatest readiness and zeal in his senice,
emblem of the hypocrisy of the scribes and while their wliole lives were a series of
Pharisees; who addressed God under the disobedience and rebellion,
most horourable titles, and professed Ui"
316 Reflections on the vanity of pretences to religion,
SECT, growing reformation amongst the most aban- repeated not aft«r-
^^^' doned of mankind, yet vou did not afterwards ward, that ye might
■" — repent, [so as] to believe him, (Compare Luke '^^^^^^'^ *^"^-
xxi*32 vi^' 29, 30, Vol. I. p. 320.) And therefore I
solemnly warn you, that your condition will
another day be worse than theirs ; and that
you shall see those whom you now despise
and abhor entering into the glory from which
you shall be excluded.
IMPROVEMENT.
Mat. How little do the most specious pretences of piety signify if
28— ''I ^^^y ^'^ "^^ animated by the heart, and confirmed by the life !
How vain are all the complimental forms of religion when ad-
dressed to that God who penetrates all the secrets of the soul,
and can have complacency in nothing but real and solid good-
ness ! Yet how many are there, who are free oi \\\ft\Y pro7nises
both to God and man, but always fail when the time of per-
fonnance comes ! And how many, with these unhappy rulers in
32 Israel, go on to pride themselves in a kind of external nearness
to God, and perhaps in a boasted commission from him, who
are themselves so far from his kingdom, that even publicans and
harlots, who did not pretend to any religion, are more like to be
brought into it than they, as being more open to a conviction of
their sin and danger, and so more ready to embrace an offered
Saviour ! Let us dread the guilt of receiving the grace of God in
vaiUy lest by rejecting the calls of the gospel, and abusing the
privileges we enjoy, our hearts be hardened through the deceitful"
ness of sin, so as to perish in impenitence and unbelief.
23 In vain do we, like these Pharisees, inquire into the evidences
of Christ^s authority, if we are not heartily resolved to submit
to it. Yet with such cavillers and hypocrites must his ministers
24—27 expect to meet. May they learn, by the example of their great
Master, to answer them with the meekness of wisdom, and to
join the sagacity of the serpent with the gentleness and innocence
of the dove /
Mark The promises which are made to a miraculous faith in prayer,
23^ 24 ^^^ ^^^ indeed our immediate concern ; but we may truly infer
from them some encouragement in favour of the prayer of faith,
on whatever, account, and in whatever circumstances it be
25,26 offered. At least we may infer the necessity of forgiving inju-
ries, if we desire that our petitions should be received with
iavour. Let us remember it ; and labour to approach the throne
of R forgivi}ig God, with hearts not only clear of every malig-
nant passion, but full of that cordial and universal benevolence
which may engage us to pray for all men, and particularly for
those who have least deserved our kindness, and seem leasl^
disposed to requite it.
The parable of the vineyard let to ivkked husbandmen* 317
SECT. CLII.
Christ utters the parable of the vineyard let out to unfaithful hus*
band7nen ; from which he takes occasion plainly to admonish the
Jexvish riders of the danger and ruin they would incur by the
schemes they ivere forming against him. Mat. XXI. 33, to
the end; Mark XII.— 1—12 ; Luke XX.— 9— 19.
Mat. XXI. 33. ^ . ^AT. XXI. 33.
JR Lord having thus repr<
and elders in the temple who had been cUi.
MAT. AAl. JJ. ^.^ , 1 .
HEAR another f\ UR Lord having thus reproved the priests sEcii
parable : There V^
was a certain house-
hTld„r.^i.ichprnt: questioning his authority, and shewn how in- —
ed a vineyard, and excusable they were in not beheving John, . „\
hedged it round a- though they could not deny him to be sent of
bout, and digged a q^^ continued his dis<:ourse, and said to them
wuiepress ni it, [or ,' , , ^^ , ,1
a place for the wine- ^^^ ^o the people, Hear now another parable^
fat], and built a in which you are very nearly concerned, as
tower, and let it out your own Consciences must quickly tell you :
to husbandmen, and v^. . r
went into a far coun- ^ '^^re zvas a certain man, 2l master oj a con-
try [Luke, for a siderabley^wi/i/ and estate, Tf/zo/;/(3«?e^a i;i«^-
long time ] [Mark yard^ and spared no cost to render it fruitful ;
—9 T" ^^^ ' ^^ fnade a strong hedge round it, to preserve
it from the incursion of men or beasts, «;2^/^/^-
ged [a place for] a winepress in it, [or] a large
cavity which might serve as a fat for the zvine^
to receive the liquor when pressed from the
grapes ;* a?idhe also built a toiver in it for the
accommodation and defence of the labourers ;
and then he let it out to husbandmen, who were
to pay him a certain acknowledgment out of
the produce of it ; and he himself departed
34 And [at the thence, and took a journeif for a lonsc titne into
season!, when tlie j- . ^ , *■ *^ ^
time if the fruit « '^f'f^ country.
drew near, he sent And at the proper scaso7i, when the time of 2,4?
his servants to the gathering in the fruit approached, and a return
uley'lrVecdvl "^ \° b« made hi„, from the profits of it, he
[from the husband- ^^^^^ his servants to the husbandmen who had
nienofthe fruit of the farmed it, that he ??iight receive from the huS'
vineyai'd.] [Mark landmen that proportion of the fruit of the vine-
j^ii. 2. Luke AA. , i-i j a • c 1
10_.] yard which was due to hmi lor the rent.
35 An I the bus- And the husbandmen wickedly conspiring to 35
bandmen [caught] keep the vineyard to themselves, instead of
=» A fat for the wzVie.] Matthew uses the cd which received the liquor pressed from
word ^Hvsv, and Mark vroxuviov. Tlie for- the grapes. The one of these naturallv
mer signifies the ivinepresst the other the implies the other ; but our Lord mi^h\
cavity wuicrit, in whiciv the v^^sel was fix« witkou^ any impropriety mention Hoth-
318 J^ficy abuse the servants their master sent*
SECT, receiving them with due respect, and return- his s€rvants,and beat
*^^"- ing the appointed payment, seized hts servants, ^^'[^^^^''^l^^'^^^^^
M\t ^ ^^^^ °^^ ^^ ^^^ chief of those who arrived ed another, and ston^
xxi.35 first, and sent him emptif aiuay ; and as the de- ed another. [Mark
mand grew more pressing, they took up the ^11; 5' ^^^^ ^^
weapons with which their Lord himself had ~ '^
furnished them for very different purposes,
and sleiv another, and stoned another, till they
had driven him away. 3^ [And] a^ain,
m ^W when their lord heard the report of this ^^irJe^™r,mo"i
their injustice, he did not immediately arm than the first; and
himself against them, but sent again other ser- they did unto them
vants to treat with the7n, more in number, and J^^^^^ise ; [and at
h. , . ~ , 1 \r 1 Ml • nim who was the c /net
igner m omce t/ian tnejirst: out still persist- they cast stones, and
ing in their wickedness, they did the same unto wounded him in the
them; and particularlv at him [who was the ^^'^^^ and sent /«w
I ' r-i 1 ■ 1 . ^'11 away shametullv
cnief \ person employed to account with them handled,] [Luke,
theij threw stones, and wounded him dangerously andempty.] [Mark
in the head, and sent him awaif not only empty, ^^^- ^- Luke XX.
but very dishonourably and shamefully treated, jj a r k XII 5
Mark And again the third [time'] he sent another of And again he sent
^"' ^ his principal servants ; and him also they wound- another [the tliird
ed, as thev had done the former, and tven were '/"^^^ '"f"^ hmuhey
, , , . p , [wounded also, and
so outrageous, that they cast nim out or the cast him out, and'\
vineyard, [a/zr/] killed him : andm like manner killed : and many o-
they assaulted 7}ia}iy others, who came with, or thers, beaung some,
after him, on the same errand, beating some of rLTTKE'xx^l2^l"^^
them, «/z^^z//z/2^'&M^r.9 outright, Luke XX. 13.
Luke Then the lord of the vineyard, being still un- Then said thelordof
^- 1^ willing to proceed to the last extremity with 'J^tililTitilUend
them, thoughthey had been so very wicked and my — son. [Mark.
ungrateful in the treatment of his servants, ^^zV Having yet therefore
to them that were about him, What shall I do one son, his well be-
r , 1-1 ■> T- • 7, 7 loved, he sent him
lartner to reclaim them : I zvi II send my own son j^jg^ i^g^ r^^^ ^ij-j y^.
to them.** Having yet therefore one son, who to them, saying,] It
was his well beloved, and the heir of the family, may be they will
he sent him also last of all to them, as the only ^^herth^ev sTe Mm.
gentle expedient that Y(tva2antdi,saying, Perhaps [m a t. XXI. o7.
they will reverence my son when they see him ;*= Mark XII. 6.]
'» I 'iaill send my son."] The question is God, and the wickedness of the Jews, by
not here how prudent it would have been this emblem, than which nothing could be
in a human fatlier to venture hiis son in more expressive.
such a case as this ; for the power which " Perhaps they ivi II reverence my son, &c.3
God liad oi^ raising Christ from the dead, and Numberless predictions in the Oid and Neio
making all his sufferings redotmd to his Tej.'ame/z? plainly shew, that God fore saw
gloiy and happiness, quite alters^the case. Christ's death as a certain event. This
The' design i« to shew the patience of therefore, like many others, is piercly ^
And when at last he sent his son they killed him* 319'
for surely they must needs have some respect sect.
for him, and will not presume to offer him any ^^"•
Mat. XXI. 38. injury. But ivhen the husbandmen saxv the "ZTT
But when the hus- ^^j^ come into the vineyard, instead of paying ^^r^ 35
^'nfTLuKr they ^"y d"e regard to him, tl^y gi-ew yet more
reasoned 'among outrageous in their wickedness, and reascmed
themselves, saying-, J among themselves^ sayings This is the only heir
This IS the heir ; £ ^^^ whole estate ; come, let us kill him, and
come, letuskiUhim, . , • • l -^ a li ^ r-*T l
and let us seize on his sezze 071 his inheritance ^^ that \it\ may be ours
inheritance, [Luke, from generation to generation, and no descend-
tjiat it may be ours] ^^^^ Qf q^^. master may remain to give any dis-
LuKE XX. 14 ] ^ turbance to us or our children in the possession
.39 And they caught of it. And with malignant hearts and cruel 39
A/m, and cast him out hands they fell upon their master's son, and
tkw^r^'Y^rK ^^i^edhim ; and, fearing neither God nor man,
XII. 8. Luke XX. they cast him out oj the vineyard^ andslew him^
15—.] exposing his dead body in a most contemptu-
ous and insolent, as well as inhumane manner.
40 When the lord When therefore the Lord of the vineyard him- 40
therefore of the vine- stUcojneth, armed with a power which they will
wm frlo ';i!;S be utterly unable to resist, it;Aa?T(;z7/A^^o, think
those husbandmen ? you, to those treacherous and cruel hushand??ien,
[Mark II. 9—. when he has them entirely at his disposal ?
^' 41 xf ^ ""^^"^ And, as the Jewish rulers did not under- 41
him, He' will ^\s- Stand that they themselves were these unfaith-
erably destroy those ful husbandmen, they say unto him^ There is
wicked men, and ^^ doubt but he ivill zvretchedly destroy those
will let out Az,? vine- • 1 j j • • -ui * l „ ;^ +1,^
yard unto other Wicked and mcorrigible xvretches, nor is the
husb.aiKlmen, which most tormenting death too severe for them to
shrill render him the expect; and he ivill then let out the vineyard
fruit.s in their sea- — . . ^ ..
sons.
to other husbandmen^ who shall faithfully render
him the fruits of it in their proper seasons,
Luke XX. 16—. Thus did they, before thev were aware, con- Luke
iJeius mid^, He ^gj^n themselves; and [ym/^flfl^^^^], You have ^""'^^
ornamental circumstance, which cannot but Mark has chang-ed the order of the
without absurdity be applied in the inter- words, and says. They killed hiniy and cast
pretation of the parable. him out of the vineyard ; if we maynotren-
^ Come, let us kill him, &.C.] If such a dj::r that clause, They both slenu him, and
proposal would have been the heig-ht of fol- cast hi'in out, so as not to determine which
ly as well as wickedness in these husband- was done first. One cannot suppose Christ
tiien, it was so much the more proper to uttered it both these ways ; so that if there
represent the part the ^eviish rulers acted be no accidental transposition in Mark, he
in the murder of Christ, which they were probably meant thereby to intimate what
now projecting, and which they accom- is hinted in the paraphrase, the exposing his
plished within three days. The admoni- (/ea<^/ ^ot/y in a most daring defiance of pub-
tion was most graciously given ; but scrv- lie justice. Those that explain the casting
ed only in an astonishing manner to illus- him out of the vineyard, of €xcoTnm,umcation^
trate that degree of hardness to which a v/hich preceded or attended the execution
sinful heart is capable of arriving. of a capital sentence, do not observe the
« And cast him out of the vineyard, and slevj proper import of the vineyard. See below,
Azm.3 So Matthew and Luke express it ; note*.
VOL. 2r, 42
.>20 He will therefore destroy them^ and let the vineyard to others.
3ECT. answered right: he shall indeed quickly C07ne^ shall come and de-
^^"- and destroy these husbandmen oi \Yhom I speak,' stroy these husband^
Mat. ^^hoeyer they shall appear to be, with terrible lurvineyard ^to fih!
XX. 16 severity, and will give the vineyard to others, ers. [Mark XII-v
Now all this was as if he had said, Consider^— -9.]
your own concern in what you have heard :
God has planted a church among you, and
given you an excellent revelation of his will ;
abundant provision has been made, both for
your protection and your improvement too : but
you have ungratefully refused the fruits of obe-
dience, which were so justly his due ; and when
he has frequently ^enthis servants the prophets,
with one message "and demand after another,
you the rulers and teachers of Israel, to whom
the cultivation of the vineyard has been com-
mitted, have treated them in a most ungrate-
ful and barbarous manner: and now at last he
has sent his son, and you are going to seize on
him, and to add that murder which you are
now contriving to the guilt of all your other
crimes. I leave it therefore to your own con-
sciences to judge what the event must be.
Mat. A.n6. for this reason now I say wito you 'i^XdimXy^ Mat. XXI. 43-.
xxi.43 That the kingdom ofGod^ which you have thus Therefore say lunto
vilely and ungratefully ^hvi^td,' shall be taken y"" Thekin.^domof
•^ r ° , . • . » • 7 , 7, God shall be taken
awayjrom you^ and given to a nation which shall from you, and g-iven
bringforth the fruits thereof; that is, his gospel to a nation bring-
shall be taken from you, and be carried to the ing" fo^^th^the fruits
Gentiles, who will have more regard to the
favour shewn them, and improve it much bet-
ter than you have done.
Luke And xvhen they heard this sad denunciation Luke XX. — 16.
XX. 16 with which the parable concluded, and found ;^"^^ .^^^!" ^^^7
*u . r-*T ' ^ . ^-u .L -J /^ ji- heard z^ they said,
that Ittj was aimed at them, they said^ Godjor- God forbid.
bid that this should be the case with reQ:ard to i^ a ^ rr^ i
... , . .„ ° 17 And [JesusJ
us, nor can we ever believe that it will. beheld them and
1 7 And Jesus looked upon them with great se- said [unto them],
riousness and solemnity in his countenance, j^j^^^^ .^^ this then
and said unto them^ What is this then that y[^\^ ye never read
is written? (Psal. cxviii. 22, 23.) i^i.-/ [Mark, this] in the
you never read^ or never reflect upon, this scriptures]. The
remarkable passage in the scriptures, " The Sers"^■e^cted!
stone 7vhich the builders refused^ the saine the same is become
is become the head stone of the corner ;^ this the head of tlie
.' The head stone of the corner.'^ This stoiie, as it does not appear exactly to
I take to be the meaning- of the words answer to etufoymtAiov, (Eph. ii. 20, and
xscfctA^jv yceyi^c, rather than the chief corner I Pet. ii. 6) which, as the connection in
The yew'ish rulers seek to seize him^ but ore afraid of the people, 321
corner: [This is the ?5 the Lord^ s doings and it is wonderful i/z sect.
Lord's doing, and it ^^^^ ^j.^^ ^)' Words which, though thev miffht <^^'^
IS marvellous m our "^u ti_j'*i. I'-r — —
eyes?l TMat-XXI. ^^^^ ^^ be accomphshed in the exaltation ot ,
42. Mark XII. 10, David to the Jewish throne, are in their highest ^^ 17
11-3 sepse applicable to the Messiah,^ who, though
disdainfully rejected by you scribes and Phar-
isees and rulers of the people, whose office it is
to build up the church, is nevertheless chosen
by God to be its great support and ornament.
18 [And] whoso- And therefore let me plainly tell you. That 18
ever shall fall upon whosoever shall foil upon this stone^ that is, M'ho-
£'J'hrL.'n''"^hnf nil soevcr shall stumble at me and my doctrine,
be broken ; but on i • i • i -^ i i r
whomsoever it shall while 1 am here on earth m this humble form,
fall, it will gi'ind him he shall be broken and damaged by it ; but on
XxHIT ^'^'''^' -^^f^ornsoever it shall fall, when raised up to so
glorious an eminence, i^.9/^«// even ^ri;z^/»w?o
powder ^^ like a brittle potsherd crushed by the
weight of some huge stone falling upon it from
on high. (Compare Dan. ii. 44.) So whoever
shall oppose me after my exaltation to glory,
and the pouring out of my Spirit for the full
revelation of my gospel and proof of my mis-
sion, he will bring upon himself aggravated
guilt, and dreadful unavoidable destruction.
19 And [when] Andxvhen the chief priests and the scribes and 19
the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables which he had
the scribes [and j^^^^ delivered, they were so provoked at what
his parables, they] ^^ ^^^ said, that even in that very hour they
the same hour sought to lay their hands on hiin, that they might
sought to lay hands prosecute him even to death ; for they plainly
perceived that he p^^^eived that he had spoken this parable of the
had spoken this par- wicked husbandmen that should be destroyed
those places shews (as well as the use of g-reat builders of Israel might refuse one
it in other authors), signifies that great whom God hitended for the Head stone of
corner stone which lay at the bottom of the the corner.
building as its support. What is men- ^^ On luhomsoever it shall fail, &iC.'] Dr.
tioned afterwards of this head stone filling Whitby supposes that here is an allusion
on a person, seems not to .suit with the to the tivo different luays of stoning among
supposition of its being laid on or under the Jews ; the former, by throwing a per
the ground. Compare Zech. iv. 7. son down upon a great stone ; and the
g Though they might seem to be accom- other, by letting a stone fall upon him.
plislied in the exaltation of David, ^c.j But as I cannot see that the latter was at
^^^- y^ffo'y J^as justly observed (in his all more dreadful than the former-^ since
Review, p. 119) that on tlie principles of in such a case a quick dispatch might
Analogy this passage will be much to the seem most desirable, it seems to me that
present purpose, tliough it should be con- the force and beauty of this pathetic pas-
fessed that Psal. cxviii. was immediately sage would be in a great measure lost by
meant of David : as it would prove that rh.e such an intei-pretation.
322 Reflections o?i the parable of the unfaithful husbandmen.
SECT, against them} and had in effect set them all at able against them.
ci"- defiance by the application of so signal a proph- ^^J^ xn^l2— ^^'
7J ecy to himself. But they feared the people\fho ^^at. XXI. 46.
xxU6 were then present in the temple, because they But — they feared
esteetned him as a Prophet sent from God, and ^^'^ multitude, be-
,, , , ^1^' r*. 1^ cause they took him
would not have borne that immediate assault ^^^ a Prophet: [and
upon him which the rage of these rulers would they left him, and
otherwise have engaged them to make. Afid went their way.]
therefore, not daring for the present to attempt l^^e X^ —Iq.I^
to seize him with an open violence, ^/iei/ /^Mi;?z,
and xvent axvay to take counsel in private against
him, and to lay a plot for his life, which they
might execute with less hazard to themselves.
IMPROVEMENT.
When we read this parable^ and consider it as levelled at the
Jews^ we applaud the righteous judgment of God in revenging
so severely upon them the quarrel of his covenant^ and the blood
of his Son ; but let us take heed to ourselves, lest xve also fall
after the same example of unbelief (Heb. iv. 11.)
Mat. God has given to every man some part oihis vineyard^ to cuU
xxi.33 tivate and improve, or some advantages to know and serve him.
And as for us who enjoy the Christian dispensation, we have
particular reason to say, the lines are fallen to us in pleasant places,
(Psal. xvi. 6.) What could he have done more for this part of Aw
vineyard ? How ungrateful therefore shall we be, and how mis-
34,36 erable too, if we withhold the fruits he so reasonably expects ;
if we slight the messengers by whom he so frequently and so
pathetically demands them ; yea, if by wilful impenitence and
7,39 unbelief we in effect renew the slaughter of his beloved Son^ after
that amazing favour he has done us, in charging him with an
embassy of peace to us, whose aggravated crimes had long since
41 deserved that he should have sent among us the messengers of
his vengeance. Oh that we may never be condemned out of our
own mouths in the censures we pass on the guilty Jews,
43 We cannot surely think of the awfid threatening of our Lord
without some secret terror for ourselves, when we consider how
shamefully we of this nation have abused our privileges. The
kingdom of God^ said he, shall be taken from you^ and given to a
' Tiiey perceinied that he had spoken this vineyard, here the true religion is repre-
parable against them.'] One would think sented under that figure ; accordingly
they could be at no loss for the interpreta- there it is threatened that the vineyard
tion of it, considering how nearly it resem- should be destroyed, but here that it should
bles that in Isa. v. 1 — 7, with which they be let out to other husbandmen ,• each event
were, no doubt, well acquainted. Only it suiting its connection,
is to be observed that there Israel is the
Jesus delivers the parable of the marriage feast. 323
nation hringtng forth thefrints thereof God had been just had sect.
he long since executed such a judgment upon us : may he be ^lii.
merciful to us all in suspending and averting it ! May his com- ^~^
passion particularly extend to those amongst us who reject ^^^'
■ Christkmitij ; for the passage before us has a dreadful aspect
upon such ! Whether they will hear, or whether they will for- 42
bear ; whether they will submit, or whether they will oppose ;
Christ is 7nade the Head of the corner^ and God will for ever
establish him as such. Wo to them who, instead of joining
with him, and fixing the stress of their souls upon him, delibe-
rateV set themselves to oppose his cause and interest ! On 44
such undoubtedly xvill he fall like a mighty rock of adamant, and
miserably crush them in pieces, and grind them to poivder.
Thus did our Lord warn his enemies most wisely and most
graciously ; but they despised the admonition, and hated him
for what was so kindly intended. They sought to lay hands on Luke
him because he had spoken this parable against them. High ^^* *
provocation indeed, to set their danger faithfully before them,
that if by any means it were possible they might be awakened
to escape it ! But, alas, what can save those whose spiritual dis-
tempers are exasperated by the most proper remedies prescrib-
ed for their cure !
SECT. CLIir.
Christ farther warns the Jexus of the danger which woidd attend
their rejecting the gospel^ or resting in an insincere profession
oj it^ by the parable of the marriage feast and the wedding,
garment. Mat. XXII. 1 — 14.
MAT.xxii.i. Mat. XXII. 1.
AND Jesus an- AND when the priests and scribes were sect.
swered and Xl retired, Jesus^ being still surrounded with ^
?ain^ bTpa^rlbles; the multitude, «r25wer^^«nfl'^/;fl^e' fo them again ^^^^^
and said, * in parables^ suited to the present circumstances ^xii. I
2 The kingdom of of affairs, saying. The kingdom of heaven, 2
heaven is like unto or the dispensation of the gospel, is like, and
a certain king, which ^^^ ^e well compared to, that which happen-
his sor'''''^' ^d ''^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^f ^ "^^'^ [^^^^ ^^^'^"^ ^ ^'''^.^^ ^^^"
made a splendid marriage feast for his son :
^ The kingdom of heaven is like a king."] 16—24, sect, cxx.) For the same reason
See 7iote ', on Luke vii. 32, Vol. I. p. 322. he omits the question of the Iwiisyefy Mat.
It is observable that Luke does not relate xxii. 35 ; most of the discourse against the^
this parable here f because he had given us Pharisees, Mat. xxiii ; and the parable of
one very much like it before, which was the talents. Mat. xxv. 14, i3^eeq.
spoken on a different occasiQn. (Luke xlv.
324 The guests not comings others are called from the highways.
SECT. And when all was prepared, heseiithis servants 3 And sent forth
*^^"*' to call those xvho had been before invited^ that his servants to call
— - they might come immediately to the nuptial ^1'^"^ \^,^^ were bid-
Mat. i-^^Kr* F 1 irTi den to the wedding- :
sxii. 3 t)anqiiet,^ But they were so rude and loolish, and they would not
that they would not come upon the summons, come.
4 Again he sent other of his servants^ sayings 4 Again he sent
Go and tell them that were invited, that I must ^^^'^'^ other servants,
, . . . T 1 r 1 sarins:, Tell them
insist upon their commg immediately ; lor be- ^hich are bidden,
holdy I have prepared my dinner ; my oxen <7«^ Behold, I have pre-
my other fatted beasts are slain and dressed,*^ P^^'^^ "^y 'dinner :
and all things «r. just ready to be served up to IT^r^^^i^lfie^Ilid
to the table ; therefore come to the marriage feast all things are ready :
5 without any farther delay. But such was the cpme unto the mar-
perverseness of the guests, that, notwith^tand- ^^^/^g„^ *], made
ing this repeated invitation, they refused to Ught of it, and went
come,; SLwd, not regarding \it^^, they went away, ^^^^^Y ways, one to
one of them to his field \n the country, and an- {'jg {^^r'^S^e^ •' ^"^
6 other to his merchandise in the city. And the g y^^Ji ^^ rern.
rest were so brutish that, laying hold on his ser- nant took his ser-
vants who came with the message, they shame- "^'^"^^ ^'^.^ entreated
fully insulted them in a very outrageous man- ^^^^^ ^"^lera " ^' ^"
ner, and even carried their ingratitude so far,
7 that they slew some of them* And when the 7 But when the
king heard [pfitl^ he was greaily provoked ; and, ^i"? heard thereof,
not long after, havim^ sent his armies.he dB-Y^^^V}i^^^'''^
J=> 1 T .be sent forth his ar-
fitroyea those murderers, and even burnt their mies, and destroy-
city where they dwelt,^ which, being disaffect- ed those murderers,
ed to him, had joined with these wicked men ^1'^^ '^^'"^ "P t'^^^^*
in concerting this gross and intolerable affront.
8 In the mean time then, upon the king's 8 Then saith he
receiving intelligence of their insolent behav- to his servants. The
iour, he says to his servants, the marriage feast ^^ ^"^ ^^ ^^^ '^'
* To call those nuho had been imited tch the see princes of the first rank and dignity
nuptial banquet.'] The word >^*^8c here feasting each other with nothing but the
properly signifies a nuptial banquet, in flesh of oxen, sheep, and swine. Compare
which sense it is often used by other wri- Isa. xxv. 6.
ters. (See Raphel. Annot. ex Polyb. p. 93, ^ And, not long after, having sent his
and Wolfius, in loc.J It was sometimes armies, &c.] This clause must be suppos-
customary to send fwo inessages, as in the ed to come in by way ofprolepsis or antici-
case here supposed; which represented /)af/o«, for it is plain tiierecovdd not be time,
the condescension the greater, and suited before the feast already prepared was serv-
tlie repeated inxitatioiis given to the Jews by ed up, to attempt an execution of this kind.
Christ himself during his life, and by the This circumstance seems to point at the
apostles after his death. slaughter of the Jews, and the burning Je-
" My oxen and my fatted beasts are slain.'] rusalem and the otb.er chief cities of their
It was agreeable to the simplicity of the country by the Romans ; w^ho are here
ancient ages to mention these as the chief considered as the armies of their aflTronted
parts of a royal entertainment. Thus in prince, whose rtm^^flwaa'ortfthey had indeed
Homer, and other ancient writers, we most cruelly and ungratefully murdered.
One is observed that had not ofi a wedding' garment* 52d
but they which were h prepared : hut they who rvere first invited sect-
bidden were not ^^^^^ ^^^ worthy of any part in it, or indeed of c^"'-
^^9 Go ye therefore any invitation to it : Yet let not the provisions "^
into the highv/ays, I have made be lost: go ye therefore to the ^^^^^
and as many as ye inost;!?w^/ie7x>firz/*, and particularly to the places
maJrfagt^'^''''^'' where several streets and roads meet,- and
10 So those ser- invite as many as you find there to the wedding
vants went out into banquet. And accordingly those servants went 10
^^She'rid "^ tr ethet ^"^' ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ commanded them, into the
all, as many £ they Streets andother [public] ways, and assembled all
found, both bad and that they met with, whether bad or good, without
good : and the wed- ^j^y regard to their characters or circumstances :
with gue^sts!^"^^ *^ ^^^ the feast was abundan tly supplied with guests,
11 And when the But that, whatever habits they had on be- n
king came in to see foVe, they might appear worthy to sit at such a
th:rl"r,;:a„";h" h table, the tm^ had ordered clean white gar-
had not on a wed- ments to be delivered to each oi them, and
ding garment : appointed servants Vhose province it was to
see that they were decently dressed ; after
which, coining in to viezu the guests, he saw a
ma?! there who, though such habits were pro-
vided, yet was not clothed with a ivedding gar-
tnent i^ but either in contempt of the feast, or
presuming his own habit might do as well as
that which was offered him, had refused to
12 And he saith accept it. And he said to him. Friend, hoxu 12
unto him. Friend, earnest thou in hither, not having on a wedding
hXrrrVatVa^--''-^"* suited to the occasion ? Was it not
oftered to thee ? or hadst thou so little sense ot
« The mostpiiblic laaja-, Sic] The phrase especially at marriage feasts, for persons
iT/s^itTisf Twv scTajv, signifies r^;e w«>'5 which to appear in a ^wm/)^z«o2<s c/re*^, adorned, as
were most frequented ,• which must be such some writers tell us, with florid embroid-
as are mentioned in the paraphrase. (See ery ; (Dr. Hamviord, in locj though many
Boisius, Compar. in locJ This intimates times ichite garments seem to have been
that the Gentiles had as little reason to used on sucli occasions. (Compare Rev,
expect the call of the gospel Jis common xix. 8, 9.) But as it could not be expect-
passengers and travellers to expect an ed that travellers thus pressed in should
invitation to a; oj/a/ 6a;2^^/e^ themselves be provided with a suitable
* Who, though such habits were pro- /ja^rV,<ve must therefore conclude,not only
vided, yet v;a.s not clotlied with a vjedding from the magnificence of the preparations,
garment.'] That persons making an enter- to which we must suppose the wardrobe
tainment sometimes furnished the habits of the prince corresponded, but likewise
in which the guests should appear, is ev- from the following circumstance o^resent-
ident from what Homer says of Ulysses orient against this guest,^ that a robe was
being thus furnished by the Fhceacia7is offered, but refused by him. And this is a
fOf/j.y*. lib. viii.ver. 402);' and from the ac- circumstance which (as Calvin observes)
count which Diodorus gives of the great is admirably suited to the method of God'i*
hospitality of Gellias the Sicilian, who dealing with us ; who indeed requires 7io-
readily received all strangers, and at once liness in order to our receiving the benefits
supplied 500 horsemen with clothes, who of the gospel, but is graciously pleased to
by a violent storm were driven to take work it in us by his IToly Spirit; and
shelter with him. f Biod. Sic. lib. xiii. p. therefore may justly resent and punish our
'"75, Edit. Steph.J Now it wa"? usual, more neglect of so ^eat a favour.
326 The king orders hhn to he cast into outer darkness,
SECT, decency and gratitude as to refuse to accept it wedding garment ?
cliii- in compliance with the order of my feast ? And And he was speech-
he was presently struck speechless^^ being con-
xxii founded with the majesty of the royal presence,
j2 ^nd conscious of his own insolence and folly.
;j3 Then the king^ being justly incensed at so great 13 Then said the
an affront, resolved to punish it by a severe kingto the servants,
J ^1 r • y^ ri.' f Bind him hand ana
imprisonment; 2016. XhtrttoY*i said to {his] ser- ^^^^^ and take him
vants^ Bind his hands and feet ^ and take him away, and cast him
axvay hence, from all the joy and splendor of into outer darkness :
the guestchamber, and cast him out into the there ^^^^j^^^^J^^^'^P*.
darkness xvhich is ivithout ;^^ and ^/zere, instead ^g^^.^" ^"
of the mirth and 'delight of my banquet, there
shall be nothing but xveeping and gnashing of
the teeth for anguish and despair. (Compare
Mat. viii. 12, Vol. I. p. 309.)
14 Nor imagine, said our Lord in the conclu- 14 For many ar«
sion and improvement of the parable, that this ^f-^^^d, but lew arc
will be the case of one alone ; for though it be
a dreadful truth, yet 1 must say, that even the
greatest part of those to whom the gospel is
offered will either openly reject or secretly dis-
obey it ; and while many indeed are called to
the gospel feast, it will be manifest, by their
disregarding it, there are but few chosen in such
a sense as finally to partake of its blessings.
(Compare Mat. xx. 16, p. 238.)
Thus did he strongly intimate to the Jews,
that since they despised the rich provisions of
his gospel grace, incomparably more valuable
than those of a royal feast, and since they used
the messengers whom God had sent to them
in so ungrateful and barbarous a manner, thev
must expect to be cut off and destroved by
those hostile armies which Divine Providence
2 He ivas struck speechless.'] I render it g-uests in the evening. But^not to insist on
Tstruck speechless-'] because the word this, which is of little moment, it is well
«^i,wai6)i is in the passive form, and is very known that banquets of this kind were g'en-
expressive. It is applied to the muzzling erally celebrated in rooms that were hne-
f)f cattle, 1 Cor. \\. 9. Compare 1 Tim. v. ly-i/^w/««fe:/ and richly adorned. (See
18, and 1 Pet. ii. 15. iiote R, on Mat. viii. 12, Vol. I. p. 309.) And,
considering- how splendid and mag-nificent
^^ Cast fi-im ottt into the darkness ivhich is the entertainments of ea,yfer;z />n/2cej; were,
x^^ithcut.] The mention of this circum- it cannot be thoug-ht an unnatural circum-
stance in this connection would incline one stance that such an affront as this ofl'ered
to think, either tliat the word ^/i/rcr (in to the king, his son, his bride, and the
ver. 4) may signify supper as well as dinner rest of the company, should be punished
(which some c/7>/cs have thought), or that with such bonds, and thrown into a
the king is represejited as risiting the dungeon.
MefiectioiVi on our being called to the gospel feast. 327
would speedily bring upon them ; but that the sect.
gospel should be embraced by the Gentiles, and ^^*'
vast numbers of them be converted and saved
by it. And he farther intended to insinuate, xxii.14
by the circumstaace of the wedding garment,
that as God had made provision in his gospel
for the sanctification of men's hearts, and the
reformation of their lives, he expected true
holiness and cordial obedience from all who
professed to embrace it ; and would another
day take a strict review of all its professors,
that he might separate habitual sinners from
the number and the blessings of his people,
and deliver them over to perpetual darkness
and misery.
IMPROVEMENT.
How rich are the provisions of the gospel ! a feast indeed Ma*.
becoming the bounty and majesty of the King of heaven; and '"^*
proportionable even to the love which he bears to his own Son,
in honour of whom it is made !
How wonderful is the grace which calls us to the participation 9, 10
of these provisions ; us^ who were originally sinners of the Gen-'
tiles y aliens from the commonxvealth of Israel^ and strangers to the
covenant of promise ! (Eph. ii. 12.) Yet he has graciously sent
his messengers to us, and invited us to his house, yea, to his table^
with the additional hope of yet nobler entertainments in reserve. 4—6
May none of us reject so condescending a call^ lest we turn his
goodness into righteous indignation, and treasure up to ourselves
wrath against the day ofxvrath / (Rom. ii. 5.)
Let us also remember, that it is not every one who professes
to accept the entertainment, not every one who talks of gospel
blessings, and seems to desire a share in them, that will be adn
mitted to it. No : in order to our partaking of an inheritance
among the saints in lights it is necessary that we be made meet for
It by the holiness both of our hearts and lives. (Col. i. 12.) This H
is the weddi)ig ganneiit, wrought by the Spirit o/^G^^himself, and
offered to us by the freedom of his grace. And it is so necessary,
that without it we musthe separated irovn. the number of his guests 13
and friends, and even, though we had eaten aiid drank in hispre^^
ence^ must be cast out into outer darkness, (Luke xiii. 26.)
Frequently let us think of that awful day when the King will
co77ie in to see his guests ; when God will take a most exact survey
of every soul under a Christian profession. Let us think of that 12
speechless confusion which will seize such as have not on the rued'
ding ga?'7nent, and of that inexorable severity with which they
VOL. 2. 43
328 The Pharisees and Herodians come to Jesus to insnare him,
SECT, will be consigned to weeping and gnashing of teeth. To have
cl"i- seen for ^ while the light of the gospel, and the fair beamings of
"~" an eternal hope, will add deeper and more sensible horror to
those gloomy caverns ; to have heard those giad tidings of great
joi/y and to hear them, as it were, echoed back in accents of
J^nal despair^ how will it wound the ear, and pierce the very
heart ! May God prevent it, hy fulfilling in us all the good pleas-
ure of his goodness^ and the work of faith with power ; that the
name of our Lord fesus Christ may he glorified in us^ and we in
him (2 Thess. i. 11, 12), when the marriage supper of the Lamb
shall be celebrated, and all the harmony, pomp, and beauty of
heaven shall aid its solemnity, its magnificence, and its joy !
SECT. CLIV.
Our Lord confounds the Pharisees and Herodians when they hoped
to have insnared him by their question relating to the lawfulness
of paying the Roman tribute. Mat. XXII. 15 — 22 ; Mark
XII. 13—17; Luke XX. 20— 26.
lECT.
Mat. XXIL 15. Mat.xxii.15.
CT. Cr HEN the Pharisees, stung with the severe nn HEN went the
cliv. -L but just rebukes he had been giving them ^ Pharisees, and
— in the foregoing parables, ^ent out from his ^ey might -ta^gS
xxii.is P^^sence, and retiring, took counsel together him in his talk.
how they might insnare him in [/zz.^] discourse,
and find something on which they might ground
Luke an accusation or complaint against him. And Luke XX. 20.
XX. 20 they narrowly watched him in all his motions -^"^ they watched
that day, and sent out spies to try if they could ''(Zto^'umT s^^l
take him at an advantage, who should pretend which should feign
themselves to be righteous 7nen, that were come, themselves just men
for the ease of their consciences, to propose a [MARK.e-i-en certain
1 ^ ^ ' rr ' r ' . "^^ ^ [dlSCiplesJ of the
scruple to him on an affair or great importance, Pharisees and of
Now those that were sent on this errand were the Herodians], that
persons of opposite sects ; \_even'] some of the
disciples of th^ leading men among the Phar-
isees, who were very solicitous for the freedom
of their country from every mark of slavery ;
and \some\ of the sect of the Herodians, a party "^
of men (as was before observed) peculiarly
attached to the family of Herod, and conse-
quently zealous in the interest of the Roman
government, which was the main support of
the dignity and royalty of that familv. (See
note f on Markiii.6^ Vol. I. p. 287.) And these,
different as their principles were, combined
asking' if it was lawful for them to pay tribute to Cesar* 329
theymight take hold together in an attempt upon Jesus, that if an sect,
of his words, that so opportunity offered, they might lay hold on his <^^^V'
SulIlo^Vhe power ^^^^^'^ ^^^her to render him obnoxious to the —
and authority of the people as an enemy to their liberties, or to de- -^-^^O
governor. [Matt, liver hijyi Up as a seditious person to the poxver
Xn^r^f^ Mark ^^^ authority of Pontius Pilate, who was then
the Roman Governor of that province.
21 And [Mark,* And when they were cow2etohim, in order to 21
^0^^] they aTked accomplish their design, they craftily accosted
him, saying, Master, him with an air of great respect, and with flat-
we know that thou tering expressions of the highest esteem ; and
[art true, and] say- f^^^j^^d y^2;«, sayings Master^ we knozv, and are
rightly [neither car- well satisfied, that thou art true and upright ;
est thou for any and as thou comest as a messenger from God,
man : for thou re- go, after the example of those faithful and cour-
person of ° men]! ^g^^^s prophets who were in Israel in its bet-
[Mark, but teach- ter ages, thou sayest and teachest rightly^ and
est the way of God art impartial and sincere in every thing that
vvIV^^-li A^^^' thou declarest ; neither car est thou for the cen-
XXII. — 16. Mark i i r r '^ i j
XII. 14—.] sure and applause or any man ; jor thou regard-
est not the person of men., so as to be influenced
by complaisance or fear, or any private views
whatever, to deviate from the strictest integ-
rity and veracity ; but plainly teachest the way
Mat. XXII. 17. of God and the path of duty in truth. We are Mat.
1^^ .^t' i^^^r!?^^', come therefore to propose a question to thee, xxii.17
What thmkest thou? , ^ i • u ^u i ^ ^i! . ni •
Is it lawful [Luke, about which thou knowest that we Pharisees
and Herodians are divided, and to which an
interested man who was governed by principles
of human policy might, perhaps, be unwilling
to answer : tell us., we pray thee (for we have
determined to submit our judgment and prac-
tice to thy sentiments in the matter), JVhat
thinkest thou P Is it lawful for us Jews, who
are the peculiar people of God, and are many
of us in conscience tender of acknowledging
» That they might lay hold on his 'vcords.'] the lawfulness of this tribute^ the Herodi-
They hoped to have insnared him by the an s would have had a very plausible pre -
question they came to propose, whatever tence of accusing him to the Roman p(yo:er^
answer he could have returned. If he as- as a seditious person, which his persecu-
serted on the one hand, that tribute was to tors had afterwards the assurance to do ;
be paid to Cesar, the Pharisees, who gen- Luke xxiii. 2, sect, clxxxvi. (Compare Acts
erally maintained (as Judas Gaulonites had xvii. 7.) Nay, perhaps, the very circum-
done), that such a subjection to a foreign stance of taking upon him to determine
power was inconsistent with the privileges such a question might, by these invidious
of God's peculiar people, would have en- inquirers, be construed as a jiretence to
deavoured to expose him to ;&o/)«/flr re.je«f- sovereignty. Szt.Voss. Harmcn. Evans-
ment, as betraying the liberties of his p. 54, 55.
country. On the other hand, had he denied
330 He bids them render to Cesar what is Cesar^s :
SECT, any king but him, or one of our brethren ap-for us] to give trlb-
cliv. pointed by his immediate delegation,^ ^(? /,at^ ute unto Cesar, or
V. 1-7 ^ r^ y -n 17 ^ '^ not ? TMark XII.
" the usual tribute to Cesar ^ the Roman Emperor, __i4 Luke XX.
su!i5 ^^ ^^^ ^ What dost thou advise in this case, 22.]
as right for us to do ? Shall we give it to the J^^^^ ^^^ ^^—
collectors, or shall we not give it f We must shalLrnot^^ve >^
beg an immediate answer, for the tribute is
even now demanded of us. And here they*
ceased, as thinking they had him in an inex-
tricable snare, and that he could return no
answer which would not expose him to the „ . rr -i
• 1 r 1 T • 1- 1 — But [Jesus],
severe resentment either of the J ewish people knowing their hy-
or of the Roman officers. pocrisy [Luke, per-
But Jesus, knowing- their hypocrisy, which reived their crafti-
• J J Jl • • • u 4r 2 ^- jness], [flWwicked-
was mdeed their reignmg character, /^^rc^z^^^^ ness, and] said unto
their craftiness [and'] xvickedness in this address, them, Why tempt ye
however pious and respectful it appeared, a?2^ me [ye hypocrites] \
therefore said to them, Te hypocrites. Why do ye ^^^^xx^23"] ^^*
tempt me by such an insnaring question, and Mat.XXII.19— .
seek to draw me into danger and destruction Shew me the tribute
by it? Isthisaproofofyourregard and friend- ^o'^^y= that'Ti^^
Mat. ship to a faithful and impartial Teacher ? But seeT.TrMAHKXn.
xxii.19 that I may return a proper answer to your —15. Luke XX.
question, whatever be the view that you may 24—.]
have in asking it, shexv me the tribute money A.^d^'they ^brought
which is demanded of you ; and bring me hither [unto him a penny].
Mark a penny, or denarius, that I may see it. And And he saith unto
xii.l6 they brought Aim a Roman penny. And, look- ^^^^"^' ^^f^ "^^^^
• ^ 'j. L ^ ^L rrri • */ • • image and super-
mg upon It, he says to them. Whose is this image scription [Luke,
which is struck upon the coin, and whose i;z- that it hath] ? And
scription and tide is this [which] it has round they C^uke, an-
it ? ' And they, without perceiving his design, ^to\im? Cesar's.
immediately answered and said to him. It is Ce- [Mat. XXIL— 19
sar'^s : thereby in effect acknowledging that —21— . Luke XX.
they were under his dominion, by their admit- "^^'^ ^nd Tesus
17 ting his coin as current among them. .^^<a^ answering said un-
Jesus answering said unto them. Render there* to them. Render
^ One of our brethren, ^c] We are told ^ Whose is this image and inscription?"^
that the grand argument which the follow- Dr. Lightfoot tells us (in his Hor. Heb. on
ers of Judas Gaulonites, and others inclin- Mat. xxii. 20) that the Jews have a tradi-
ed to their party, urged, as decisive against tion among them, that to admit of the title
the authority of the Romans, was that text of any prince on their current coin, was
which prohibited their setting a stranger to an acknowledgment of subjection to him.
be king over themy Deut. xvii. 15. And Gro- It is certaui, that not daring to refuse this
tius (in his note on Mat. xxii. 16) seems to coin, when offered them in payment, was
think it was this that formerly engaged in effect a confession that they were con-
them so vigorously to oppose the Chalde- quered by the Romans, and consequently
ans, and to refuse submitting to their gov- that the emperor had a right to their
ernment, till Jerusalem was destroyed, tribute.
See note » on Luke a^^i. 1, p. 126.
And theij depart confounded at his answer, 331
[therefore] to Ce- fire to Cesar the thing's which are Cesar\ sect
^^"s^Ld'to^'^^ f. ^^^ '^' 'f'^^S^ ^^^^'^^ ^re God^s;^ cllv/
God the things that and labour so to adjust your regards and
are God's. [Mat. duties to both, that you may not on the one ^^^^
Xz"25]^^* ^^^^ hand, under pretence of religion, do any in- ^' ^^
jury to Cesar, nor on the other hand, under
pretence of duty to Cesar, violate any of the
commands of God, or fail of that respect to him
which he requires : whereby he plainly inti-
mated that tribute was to be paid to Cesar as due
to his government ; yet did it in such a manner,
and with such restrictions, as prevented the in-
convenience of a more express declaration.
Luke XX. 26. And when they had heard [his] \vise SLud un- Lukr
And [when they had exceptionable [answer^ they plainly found that xx.26
heard these vjordsX ^u«„\.^, u ** l u ij r i- j i r
they could not take ^^^y ^^"^^ "^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ °f ^"f ^^^^-^ ^^fire the
hold of his words people^ SO as to incense and stir them up against
before the people ; him, as no friend to their liberties ; a7id they
:t1.u'':Lw:;ra:d ^^^ «q"^»y J^^^We to accuse him to the Ro-
held their peace [and nians of sedition, on account of any thing he
left him, and went had then said as derogating from the rights of
xxil""!*. m^Vk ^^^^'*- ^^^'y therefore wondered at the pru-
XIL— 17.] " dence and address of his reply ^hy which he had
effectually disentangled himself from what they
thought must unavoidably have insnared him ;
and were so perfectly confounded, that they
held their peace^ and left him ; and deeply sen-
sible of the disgrace, as well as disappointment
they had met with, they xvent away amazed
and ashamed.
IMPROVEMENT.
Again does our Lord renew the repeated lesson he had before Luke
given us, both by precept and example, of uniting wisdom and ^x.
innocence. How admirable was this mixture of prudence and '
integrity with which he confounded these Pharisees and Herod'
ians^ who, contrary as their principles and interests were, con-
spired against him ! For of a truths O Lord, against thine holy 20
Child jfesus, both Herod and Pontius Pilate^ and the people of
Israel^ were gathered together (Acts iv. 27) ; and their words
^ And to God the things lahich are God^s."] tence to justify sedition, so he also warns
Diodate, Raphelius, and some other co7n- the Herodians, that they should not, as
Tnentatorsy interpret this as a caution they were too inclinable to do, make a
against omitting- the sacred tribute, on pre- compliment of their religion to the Ro-
tence of answering the demands of Cesar, mans, by complying with those things
who (they say) had claimed it to himself, which were forbidden by the Divine law.
But I apprehend our Lord had a more ex- that they might ingratiate themselves
tensive view ; and that as he cautions the with Cesar's party. See Frideaux Cori'
Pharisees against using religion as a pre- nection, Vol II. p, 366—368.
332 Reflections on the duties we owe to God and the king*
SECT, were softer than oil, when war and murder zvas in their hearts.
<=liv. (Psal. Iv. 21.)
Let us not, with the simple^ believe every flattering word (Prov.
xiv. 15), since sometimes the highest encoiniums may be de-
signed as the instruments of mischief : and too often they
prove so, when they are not treacherously intended.
Mat. Our Lord was indeed the Person whom these artful hypocrites
^'^•^^ described ; and was in that respect an excellent Pattern to all
his followers, and especially to his 77ii?iisters, He hiew no man
in the discharge of his office ; but, without regarding the persons
of any^ neither seeking their favour nor fearing their resent-
ment, he taught the way of God in truths and declared the whole
of his counsel.
Let us particularly attend to his decision in the present case,
and learn with the utmost readiness to render unto Cesar the
things which are Cesar^s, and unto God the things which are God^s,
Our civil magistrates, by virtue of their office, justly claim our
reverent regard ; and tribute is most reasonably due to those
who attend continually to the service of the public, and are, under
God, tile pillars of our common tranquillity and happiness.
(Rom. xiii. 6, 7.) Let that tribute therefore be justly and
freely rendered with honour, and with cheerfulness ; as he is
surely unworthy to share in the benefits of government who will
not contribute his part towards its necessary expense. But let
it also be remembered that the rights of God are sacred and in-
violable : he, and he alone, is the Lord of conscience ; and when
that is invaded, it is easy to judge whether ^nan or God is to be
obeyed, (Acts iv. 19.) Let us be daily thankful that in our own
age and country these rights are so happily united. May a guar-
dian Providence continue to watch over both ! and may we seri- ,
ously consider how impossible it is, under such a government,;
to be good Christians y without being obedient subjects^ or to fear
Gody if we do not honour the king I (l Pet. ii. 17.)
SECT. CLV.
Our Lord proves the resurrection to the Saddvcees^ and answers
their foolish objection against it. Mat. XXII. 23 — 33 ; Mark
XII. 18—27 ; Luke XX. 27—40. '
Luke XX. 27. Luke XX. 27.
SECT. CJ^HEN on that day in which our Lord had T^HEN [the same
^^ -^ thus confounded the Pharisees and the ^^ t^^t^m^J"^ ihl
. Herodians, some of the Sadducees came to him^ Saddacees, which
^97 who (as it was before observed) were a set deny that there is
of pretended freethinkers among the Jews, any resurrection; and
that deny there is any resurrection of the
The Pharisees urge a difficulty against the resurrection, 355
they asked him, dead,^ or any future state in which the soul sect.
[Matt. XXII. 23. exists after death^ to receive the reward of its cl^-
^srsa/ing, Mas- actions. And they applied themselves to — -
ter,Moses[saicl«nJ] Jesus, and asked him a question, in which they ^^27
wroteuntous, Ifany put; a case which they used often to urge
rMlL!'?i!d 'leave ^8^^"^^ those who were of a different opinion
his wife behind him, from themselves, and with which they also
and leave no chil- hoped to puzzle him : Sayings Master^ if 33
dren],that his broth- ^^^^j.^ ^e, as we know thou teachest, a resur-
er should take his . r ^1 1 11 1 • i.n- ,
wile, and raise up rection ot the dead, how can this difficulty
seed unto his broth- which we are going to propose be adjusted ?
er. [Mat^XXII 24. Moses^ as thou well knowest, sa\d^ \_and'\ -wrote
mTt XXII 25. ^^z^^thisprecept(Deut.xxv.5)," Thatifaman's
Now theie were brother die^ and leave a xv'ife and no children he-
with us seven breth- hind him ^ his surviving brother should take his
whenretdma""a ^"^^ ond raise up seed to hh brother;" the first
awife,deceased,and child ot this second marriage being esteemed
haying no [Luke, the child of the deceased, so as to inherit his
children], left his ^yj^^ie estate and bear up his name. N'ozv it Mat.
wife unto his broth- , i i .i • , . „ •• ot-
er. [Mark XII. 20 ^^ happened, that there were with us, in a cer- xxu.25
Luke XX. 29 ] tain family in our neighbourhood, seven breth^
L V K E XX. 30. ren ; and the first of these brethren,7^.>^e?z he had
heftl'^^rand^he r<^"^"^d a roif^, rf^.rf quickly after, and having
[ likewise ] died had no children, left his wife of course to be
cliildless. [Matt, married to his brother. And w^on this, the se- Luke
^fj"2i^^yt^^^^^ ci^^^ followed the direction of the law, vmdtook xx.30
31 And the third l^^^ ^^ ^\f^ / and he likezvise, after he had been
took her; and in like some time married, died childless, as his elder
S nsiTlK^'rdherl" ^^"^^^^^ ^^^' ^^^ ^^^^ f^^^ ^^^^^ ^°°^ ^^^-^ and 31
And the^y ^ left^ no ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^ Others had done, without
children, and died issue : and in like manner also all the rest went
[Mat. XXII.— 26. on, till everv one oftheseven brothers had mar-
m A^R K XII -21, J.- g^ ^^j. , ^^^ ^^^^ gjj ^-^^^ ^^^ ^^yj. ^^^ children
32 [And] last of all behind them. And last of all the woman her- 32
the woman died also, self also died without any issue, not having
mIrk xn — 22 f ^ Slurried into any other family but this. The
a mdcny there is any resurrectioyt."] It is tion, as we meet with it in the old Jewish
generally known that their master Sadoc, writers. See Lightfoot, Hor. Heb. in loc
from whom the .Sadducees took their
name, tau.^ht that God w^as not to be serv- ^ Or any future state, l:fc'\ As it is
edlrom7ne;ce««,3</„/„c,>/e^,thatis(a9he expressly 'said. Acts xxiii. 8, that thev
crudely explained it), from hope of re- denied any spirit, and consequently the
ward, or fearof pumshment. His follow- existence of the soul in a separate state -
ers interpreted this as an impUcit denial so our Lord's answer here, and much of
ot ^Juture state, ^x\d so imbibed that per- St. Paul's reasoning in 1 Cor. xv eoes on
nicious notion of the utter destruction of the supposition of such a denial on their
the soul at death, equally uncomfortable part. See 2 Mac. xii. 42—44, where the
and absurd See Lrusius, in loc. The author proves that Judas believed a rcsur-
story which tliey mention here seems to rection, from his offerine: sacrifices for the
nave been a kind oi commonplace objec- ^quIs of the slam.
334 yesus shews their mistaken notion of a resurrection,
5ECT. question therefore is, When they shall rise, as 33 Therefore in
*^^^' you say they all will, in the general resiirrection, ^^^ resurrection
— rvhoservifeshalUhebe of the seven ? for all the IZH^^l^'^^tZ
3IX. 33 seven had her to xvije : and as they stood m an wife [shall she be of
equal relation to her, in this world, they all the seven] ? for [all]
seem to have exactly an equal claim to her in f ^^^,^' ^^?^ ^^^.V*
, ^ /I had her to wife.
the next. ^ [Matt. XXII. 2a
Mat. Thus they attempted in a sneering manner Mark XII. 23.]
xxii.29 to overthrow all the arguments for a future Matt. XXII. 29.
state, which mightbe advanced either from rea- J^vered and^said un-
son, or from scripture. And Jesus therefore to them. Ye do
ansxvered and said to them. It plainly appears ^r^' "^^ knowing
from your manner of statmg the question, that [{j^ po'^^r^of God^
you are greatly mistaken, and go entirely on a [Mark XII. 24.
wrong supposition ; not knowing, on the one Luke XX. 34.—]
hand, what is so plainly intimated in the scrip-
tures of a resurrection, which, if well under-
stood, implies no contradiction at all ; nor at-
tending, on the other hand, to the power of God,
which is able with infinite ease to effect what
to man seems most difficult and improbable.
Luke And as to this particular difficulty which you Luke XX.— 34-
^' 24 now object, it ought to be considered, that the The children of
children of this world do rndttd 7narry, and are *J"^ ^r^giveinn
given in inarriage, according to the wise provi- marriag-e :
sion which God has made by that institution, 35 But they which
for repairing the wastes of mortality by the pro- shall be accounted
duction of new generations. But they who shall worthy to obtain that
35 be counted worthy to obtain that blessed world world, and the re-
which God has prepared for his people above, dead [Mark, when
and to be admitted to the never fading honours they shall rise, nei-
that will succeed the resurrection of good men ^1?^*" marry, nor are
from the dead, will be in very different circum- [Matt" XX.^^30^—
stances when they shall rise, and neither marry, Mark XII. 25.— ]
nor are given in marriage : For they can die'no ^^ Neither can
36 more, and therefore the rise of new generations ^^l^^^ly TreTqual
is no longer necessary ; since in this respect unto the angels [of
they are equal to the angels of God in heaven,'^ God in heaven], and
^ Are equal to the angels of God in heaven.'] glorious scheme of redeeming love to in-
Matthew and Mark say only that they are corporate arigels and saints into one happy
as e/tean^e/s (ct'f A^Jcxo;) J and though Luke society under Christ as their common
expressesitby a stronger word (iiTotT-Axoi), Head (Eph. i. 10) ; but there are subordi-
that they are equal to the angels, yet all ar- 7iatlons in united societies. And if the fall
guments drawn from hence, as proving an of the apostate spirits occasioned any thing
entire equality of glorified saints with an- like a vacaiicy in the celestial hierarchy, it
gels in all respects, must be apparently would seem most probable it might be
weak and inconclusive. It is, indeed the filled up from heavenlj^ spirits of an inferior
He proves the resurrection from the laxv of Moses, 335
are the children of and are the children ofGod^ and heirs of immor- sect.
God, being the chil- tality and glory, beinq' the children of the resur- *^^^*
drenoftheresurrec- ^^^^- d ^^hich shall instate them in a complete T"—
tion. [Mat. A All. . ' i • . .u Luke
—30. Mark XII. felicity, answerable to so near a relation to the ^^ 35
—25.3 Divine Being ; and consequently all such dif-
ficulties as you have now been urging are en-
tirely superseded by the happiness and perfec-
tion of so exalted a state.
37 [But as touch- But as for tbie evidence of the resurrection in 37
iiig the resurrec- general, not to insist on many plainer passaffe3
tion], that 4;he dead P ,i', 11 r • r i,-u
are raised, even Mo- ^^ ^^^ Other books Ot scripture, tor which you
ses shewed at the do not profess SO great a regard,^ I may say,
bush, when he call- that even Moses in effect shewed that the dead
God^of Abraham, ^*'^ ^^ ^^ ^^^-^^^^ "^^^ speaking of what hap-
andtheGodof'isaac, pened at the burning bush (Exod. iii. 6), ^e
and the God of Ja- calls the Lord^ from whom he there received
cob : [Mark, have ^^^ commission, ''the God of Abraham, and the
ye not read in the ^ , r t 1 1 r^ j r of /jjaju
book of Moses, how ^^" ^J isaac, and the hod oj Jacob, And he
in the bush God had the highest authority for the expression ;
spake unto him [that foj. ^^,^ y^ ^^^ ^.^^^ 2*/Z the book of Moses hoxo
muo you^by^God^l ^^^ spake to him in the bush by this title ? and
* have ye not observed xvhat zvas then in effect
spoken to you by God, saying in express terms,
order, who might be preferred to the rank (al. 18"), § 6), which is commonly alleged
their degenerate brethren lost, as a re- in defence of that opinion, only relates to
ward for their approved fidelity to God. their rejecting all traditions. ( Elench. Tri-^
But it becomes us to be exceeding modest hares, cap. 16.) And indeed, as it appears
in our conjectures on such subjects as from iheTsAmnd thsit other parts of tfw Old
these, lest we incur the censure oi' intrttd- Testament were often quoted by the Sad-
iyig into things ivhich roe have not seen. Col. ducees, and arguments were brought from
ii. 18. thence against them by the Pharisees to
'' And are the children of God, being the pi*ove the restirrectiony which they endeav-
children of the resurrection.'] This plainly oured only to evade, without disputing the
intimates that good men are called God^s authority of texts, though they were not
children, with a view to the inheritance to taken from the laiu of Moses ; it is more
which they are adopted, on the final pos- reasonable to believe with Dr. Lightfoot
session of which they enter at tlie resur- (in his Hor. Heb. on John iv. 25), that they
rection. Compare Rom. viii. 17; Gal. iv. 7; did not reject the other books of the 0/c£
1 John iii. 2 ; and Rom. viii. 29. See the Testament, but only gave a great prefer-
Essay on Divine Dispensations, p. 8, 9. ence to the five books of Moses ; and, lay-
' Other books of scripture, for which ing it down as a principle, to receive noth-
you do not profess so great a regard.] The ing as an article of faith, which could not
5adducees are thought by many to have be proved from the laiv, if any thing waai
agreed with tlie Samaritans in rejecting all urged from other parts of scripuire that
\.\\e other parts oihoXy scripture hvXXhQ five couW not be deduced from Moses, they
books of Moses ,- which is particularly con- would explain it in some other way. And
tended for by Serrarius. f Tr i hares. Vih. ii. this might be sufficient to induce our Lord
cap. 21, undMinerval. lib. iv. cap. 14.) But to bring his argument to prove the resur-
this is questioned by Drusius (de tribus rection from what Moses h*id said, and to
sectis, lib. iii. cap. 9), and Reland {'Antiq. confirm it by that part of scripture which
Heb. part ii. cap. 11) ; and Scaliger main- was most regarded by the Sadducees,
tains the contrary, and shews that the pas- and upon whicli they now had gio'.mdeA^
sage from Josephus (Antiq. lib. xiii^ cap. 10 their objectioi\ to it..
VOL. 2. 44
^36 God is not the God of the dead^ hut of the living.
SECT. ^'lam the God of Abrahmn, and the God of Isaac, saying, I [am] the
<^1^- mid the God of ^acob ?" ^ Now certainly God God of . Abraham,
: . ^ u 11 1 ^; /^ J r ^r I, «,.^ and the God of Isaac,
Luke ^* ^^^ ^° ^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ °^ ^^^^ .^ and the God of Jal
-^x.38 entirely destroyed, and left to continue in the cob?] [Mat.XXII.
state of the dead, hut the God q/' those who may ^^' ^l"' Mark
be yet considered as the living : nor would he 03 por TGodisnot
ever own the high relation of a God to those a God of the dead,
whom he finally abandons, and suffers to sink but [Mark, the
■^ into nothing ; much less would what he did gf\^l ^I've^'^'illfto
for the holy patriarchs, whose names he com- ^jj^ .-j [Mark, Ye
memorated with so much honour, answer such therefore do greatly
a title, since he left them exposed to so many ^^^-^ ^^'^' ^SJl"
trials and calamities, which multitudes escape ^27!*}
of whom he has never spoken in such language :
so that those good men must be considered as
Still in existence ; and therefore it may be con-
cluded, by a strong train of consequences, that
all the faithful live u?ito him ; s for he, on the
foot of Abraham's covenant, owns himself the
God of all such ; and consequently he must be
an everlasting patron and friend to the^n, even
to their whole persons, so as to recover their
• / am the God of Abraham, Sec] It 13 have been. I cannot, as some modern wrl-
.surprising to me to find learned men so ters of note do, fall in with Mr. Mede^s
much divided in their sentiments on this notion (in his Works, p. 801, 802), that o7<r
easy text. The force of the argument can- Lord refers to the necessity of Abraham's
not suilsly rest on the word \_ar)i] ,- because being raised from the dead to inherit Canaatiy
though it be in the Greek, it is not in the in order to the accomplisliment of God's
HebrenMy where the words may possibly promise to give it to him ; both because
signify, / [Aaw ^ee/z] the God of Abrahain, I can see no such necessity, and because
&c. and tlie possibility of such a versiom then I think it would have been much
would afiect the conclusion on that sup- more to our Lord's purpose to have quoted
positioii. But owrXorc/'^ argument is equal- the />row/^e of the land of Canaan, than
ly forcible either way ; for it is evident, these general words,
that it cannot properly be said, that God g So that all the faithful live u?:to him."]
either actually is, or hath been, the Gdd of It is evident that yx^ must here have the
any whom he has suffered finally to per- force of an/Z/af/Te/j^rf/c/e, andmay beren-
ish ; and (as the apostle strongly intimates) dered {^therefore'], or [so that'] ,- for what it
he would, humanly speaking, be ashamed, introduces is plainly the main proposition
or think it infinitely beneath him, to own to be proved, and not an argument for what
•that relation to any for whom he had not immediately went before. In this connec-
provided a city, or a state of more perma- tion the consequence is apparently just ;
;nent happiness than any which could be for as all the faithful are the children of
enjoyed in this mortal life. (See Heb. xi, Abraham, and the Divine promise of be-
16.) So that the argument by no means ing a God to hitn arid his seed is entailed
turns (as Archbishop Tillotson and Gro- upon them, it will prove their continued
tins suppose) on the calamitous circum- existence and happiness in a future state,
stances in which these patriarchs often as much as Abraham's. And, as the body,
were ; but would have held good, had all as well as the soul, makes an essentialpart
their lives been as prosperous and glori- of man, it will prove both his resurrection
ou5 as that of Abraham seems generally, and theirs, and entirely overthrow the
;«otwitlistanding his peregrinations, to whole Sadducean doctrine on this head.
His doctrine is admired^ mid the Sadducees confounded. 357
mortal part from the ruin and desolation of the sect.
grave. And therefore^ on the whole, you ^^''''
greatly err, in denying this doctrine ; and
your error ten4s to bring a disgrage on the ^x' 38
whole series of Divine revelation, and to
weaken one of the strongest motives to a life
of holiness and obedience.
39 Then certain of T/ien some of the scribes who were present, 39
the scribes answer- being of the sect of the Pharisees, wxre pleased
thou hit Well said/ ^° ^^^^ ^ doctrine of their own so judiciously
defended, and said in reply. Master, thou hast
spoken so well upon this subject, that nothing
Mat. XXII. 33. solid can be objected to thy discourse. A)id Mat
And when the mul- indeed xvlien all the multitude that was present xxU.3.'
tl!eV were ""astonLh! i^ ^^^ temple at the time heard [this] unthought
ed at his doctiiiTc. of, yet convincing argument, together with so
clear an answer to a cavil in which the Saddu-
cees used to triumph as invincible, they were
greatly astonished at his doctrine, and plainly
testified the admiration and delight with which
Luke XX. 40. they had attended his discourse. And as the Luke •
And after that, they Sadducees had nothing to reply, they w ere xx.40
^^lesliontt Ir ^^^^«^ed and disappoimed ; and after that they
durst 7iot any more presume to ask him any thing
at all^ but retired in silence and confusion.
IMPR,OVEMENT.
With what satisfaction shall we read this vindication of so
important an article of our faith and hope ! Easily was this
boasted argument of the Sadducees unravelled and exposed, Mat.
and all the pride of those bold wits, who valued themselves so ^xii^
much on that imaginary penetration which laid men almost on '~^
a level with brutes, covered with just confusion. Indeed ob-
jections against the resurrection, much more plausible than this
of theirs, may be answered in that one saying of our hordes :
Te know not the scriptures, nor the power of God. Were the 29
scripture doctrine of the resurrection considered on the one hand,
and the omnipotence of the Creator on the other, it could not seem
incredible to any that God should raise the dead. (Acts xxvi. 8.)
How sublime an idea does our Lord ^xvq us of the happiness Luke
of those who shall be thought worthy to attain it ! They shall be .^^^^g
equal to the angels I Adored be the riches of that grace which ^ ^^
redeems us from this degenerate and miserable state, in which
we had made ourselves so much like the beasts that perish (PsaK
^ After that, they durst not atk him any as limited to them ; because in the very
thing at all."] It is evident that this is meant next section we read of a que5tion whicn
of the Sadducees, and must be understood on.e of the scribes put to him.
3^8 Refiectiom on the certainty of the resurrection,
SECT. xlix. 12), to raise us to so high a dignity, and marshal us with
^^^- the armies of heaven !
' Let us esteem so glorious a hope aright, and with the greatest
^^^i^ intenseness of soul pursue and insure it. And as for those
enjoi/ments of this present world, which are suited only to the
mortality and imperfection of it, let us moderate our regards to
them, and cultivate those higher entertainments with the most
solicitous care, which will be transplanted into the paradise of
God, and ever flourish for the delight of his immortal children,
37 Christ., we see, argues a very important point of doctrine from
premises^ in which, perhaps, we might not have been able to have
discovered it without such a hint. Let us learn to judge of
scripture arguments^ not merely by the sound, but by the sense
of the words. And as our Lord chose a passage from the Pen'
iateuch^ rather than from the prophets^ for the conviction of the
Sadducees^ let us be engaged to study the tempers, and even the
prejudices, of those with whom we converse ; that we may, if
possible, let in che light of Divine truth on their hearts on that
side by which they seem most capable of receiving it.
Mark In a word, let us with pleasure think of the blessed God under
^'■^ that gracious title by which he manifested himself to Moses at
the bush. Still he is the God of Abraham^ the God of Isaac ^ and
the God of Jacob ; the God of our pious ancestors, the God of all
our departed friends who are now sleeping in Jesus : for cr// their
Luke souls now live unto him^ and their bodies shall ere long be
XX.38 awakened by him. In like manner, \i rve are followers of them
who through faith and patience are now inheriting the promises y
when we are gathered to our fathers^ and our names, perhaps,
forgotten among succeeding generations, he will still be our
God, He will shew us, by the blessed experience of eternity,
that when he treated with us by that title, and admitted us into
the covenant by which he bears it, he intended for us something
far nobler and better than the transient scenes of earth and of
time could admit.
SECT. CLVL
Christ discourses of the first and great command of the law, and
confounds the Pharisees with a question relating to David"* s call-
ing the Messiah his Lord, Mat. XX 1 1. 34, to the end. Mark
XII. 28—37. Luke XX. 41—44.
Mat. XXIL 34. MAT.xxn.34.
SECT. ripHUS Jesus defended the great doctrine of *r> U T when the
X theresurrectionfromthevaincavilswhich-*-' I'^^'^se^^ ^^"^
Mat. ""^^^^ brought agahist it. But the debates of
laii 34 the day ended nolf here ; for when the Pharisees
The first mid great commandment is to love God, 33^
heard that he had heard that he had thus silenced and confounded sect.
t^olillncefthty w^e ^^'^ Sadducees, then were soon gathered together ^*^-
gathered together, again, with a malicious view of carrying on '
the same design, to try if they could any way xj^x.Z'L
expose him to the people, and to make their
remarks upon what he might say.
35 Then one [of And one of the \tt2iTiitd scribes ^{rvhowas^zX^o 35
the scribes], v^hich ^ doctor of the law^ came with the rest ; and
Tnd "" having ''heTi^ ^^""''^S attended to the discourse between Jesus
them reasoning to- and the Sadducees, and heard them reasoning
gether, and perceiv- together^ perceiving that he had answered them
i"4red them well"] '^^^^^ "^'^^'^ ^''''' ^ ^'^'*^^^'' question ; intending to
asked [him] aque's- make another trial of him as to his understand-
tion, tempting him, ing in the sacred books ; and said to him,
xii*9R— S' ^^^^^'^ iWa^^er, I desire thou wouldst inform me ri;y^ic/^ 35
36 Master, which ^.^ the first [and] great commandment of all that
[is] the [first aW] are contained in the whole law P^ Is it a cere-
great commandment monial, or a moral precept, that is the most
fof all] m the law ? . ^ ^ j j ^li r 5
[Mark XII— 28] intiportant, and deserves the preference ?
Mark XII. '29. And J esus answered him^ The question thou Mark
And Jesus answered hast put may easily be resolved ; for surely the '^ii- 2$
tie ' Jm^tdmenu A*'' th-V'^', '^T """^ comprehensive and im-
is, Hear, O Israel, portant oj all the commandments or the law, [w]
the Lord our God is that which is contained in Deut. vi. 4, 5; x. 12 ;
xxii^sr-]''^^^' " ^^^^' ^ ^^^^^^^ y^-^^^"^^^ ^"'* ^^^"" t^ ^"^
30 And thou shalt g^'^at and only Lord ; And upon all occasions 30
love the Lord thy thou shalt reg2ird and honour him as such, and
God with all thy /oiie the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and
S^TrouUndwUh^ roith all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and
thy mind,and with all "o^ith all thy strength ;" that is, thou shalt con-
thy strength : this secrate to him all the united powers and facul-
greit] t'LS ties of thy nature; and thy understanding and
ment. [Mat. XXII. ^^"H tnme attections and executive powers,
— Sr, 38.] shall be all in the most vigorous manner em-
ployed in his service. (See note^ on Luke x.
27, sect, evil.) This is the first and great
commandment^ the principal and fundamental
' Which is the first and great command- they were inclined to give the preference
mentt &,c.] This was a point that often to the ceremonial part. Dr. Lightfoot re-
was disputed by the Jewish doctors ; some marks (in his Ilor. Heb. on Mark xii. 28),
contending for the law of circiimcisiony that Christ answers the scribe out of a
others for that of sacrifices, and others for sentence which was written in the fihy-
that of the phylacteries. And though it lacteries ; in which he avoided all occa-
was a rule among them, that the law of sionof offence, and plainly shewed (as the
the sabbath was to give place to that of scribe afterwards observes, Mark xii. ^S)
circumcision, yet they were not agreed as that the observance of the moral laiv was
to the rest, which was the principal and more acceptable to God than all the sacri-
tnost important prercpt, only in general fees they could offer to him.
540 The next ts the love of our neighbour*
«ECT. precept of the law, and there is no other which
*^^^'^- may not be considered in its degree as subor-
_, , dinate to this, and reducible to it. And the 31 And the second
^ 3^ second^ in its sublime and comprehensive na- ^^ ^^^^ CV"^o »t]t
ture, [h-] much like unto it, as well as given by 2Ztf"^; ne'igh"
the same authority,"* [^e^] fAz.y contained in hour as thyself: there
Lev. xix. 18; '''• Thou shall love thy neighbour as '^^ none other com-
thyself:'' For all the duties you owe to your "[^^^^ment gi-eateF
r \\ ^ , , - , , . ^ ^nan these. [Mat-
lellowcreatures may be reduced to this ; and xxil. 39.]
where this undissembled and generous princi-
ple of love is, the rest will easily and naturally
follow. On the whole, therefore, there is no
Mat. other commandment greater than these. And Mat. XXIL 40.
xxiL40 indeed I may say, that all the law and the ^n these two com-
prophets depend upon these two commandments; ^^^ ]^^" \nd"^ihe
that is, it is the design of the whole revelation, prophets.
in its different periods and circumstances, to
promote that virtuous and holy temper which
may be expressed by the love of God and our
neighbour.
Mark ^?z^M^^cW^ewho had proposed the question Mark XII. 32.
^^^^2 with a design to try him, was struck with the t"^ ^^t'^'^^ wif
,.j. J • • r 1 • 1 ' 1 nnto him, Well,
solidity and spirit oi his answer, and said to Master, thou hast
him^ Truly thou deservest to be owned as a said tlie truth : for
Master in Israel ; for thou hast spoken to this ^'^^/^ j* ^".^ ^^^*
,, , *,i ^ r .1 and there is none
important question excellently well :^ for there other but he :
is indeed one God^ and there is no other beside
33 him : And to love him^ as thou hast said, with 33 And to love him
all the hearty and with all the understandings with all the heart,
and with all the soul, and with all the strength, "^^^^J^^^^^ ^^^
to consecrate all the intellectual and active with all the soul,
powers of our whole nature to him ; and for a and with all the
man to love \his~\ neighbour as himself, from a strength and to love
c • -^ r^ \ 11 1 "^ 1 A/5 neighbour as hin>-
sense oi piety to (jod, as well as benevolence self, is more than all
to man, is far more important ?/i aw o// the burnt whole burnt offer-
offerings and sacrifices which the greatest "^^^ ^"^^ sacrifices,
prince could present at his altar ; nor could
the most exact and pompous ritual observances
be acceptable without such virtues and graces
as these.
*» The second is like unto it.'] By quot- table, to the neglect of those of the iecoW;
ing this with the former he sufficiently on which account it was exceedingly proper
guarded against a foolish notion, which to use such language as this,
some say the Pharisees had, that the ob-
servation of one excellent precept of the <= Excellently luell.'] It is in the original
law would excuse the transgression of jtJtxac, ^eaM?i/ii//y, or/;ze/y, which expresses
many others. It is certain the Pharisees his high satisfaction in the reply much
were ready to magnify duties of the/r*t more strongly than the word lueil.
Jesus asks how the Messiah is the Son and yet the Lord of David. 341
34 — And when And Jesus, seeing' that he anszvered thus wise- sect.
Jesus saw that he /^^ g^id unto him. It appears from these just <^^^**-
fvTT/'s^d "^unto sentiments of thine on this important head, —
him, Thou art not that thou art not Jar Jrojn the kingdom of God ; j_xii.34
far from the king- and such views of religion as these may be the
dom of God. happy means of preparing thee to jeceive the
Matt. XXII. gospel in that fuller manifestation of it which
41. [And] wliile jg ^ow approaching.
^*rthereT7ogeIher Andwhile the Phariseeswere gathered together Mat.
[while he uught in during this conference, expecting to bave found ^^"i.4X.
the temple], Jesus an opportunity to insnare him, as he zuas still
Ho:U'X'/cXf; ^^^f"^ th- P«°P't,'" "'''''"ft^ y.«^., turned
that Christ is the Son to the scribes and doctors ot the law who were
of David?] [Mark present, and asked them, saying. How say the
XII. 35. Luke XX. scribes so commonly as they do, that the Messiah
42 What think ye ^* ^^^ ^^^ ofDavid ? Let me ask you of that 42
of Christ ? whose profession who are now here. What think ye
Son is he ? They say concerning the Messiah in this respect ? Whose
David'™* '^^''^"'^ ""^ ^^^ ^* ^^ ^ ^^^y ^^y ^^^^ ^^^ Nothing can be
43 He saith unto plainer than what thou representest as the gen-
them, How then eral Opinion ; he is undoubtedly to be [the Son"]
feTfl hl'^'s'^int^r'^r »/^^^^^- He saith unto them. How then does 43
by the^HoW Ghost] Dnvid himself, speaking by the inspiration of
[Luke, in the book the Holy Spirit, in the book of Psalms, acknowl-
of Psalms] call ^^jg^ j^j^ ^.q be superior to himself, and call
\^J:^'\\V3^t hint Lord f^ for you cannot but know that
LukeXX. 42— .] there is a passage expressly to this purpose
44 The Lord said (Psal. cx. l), which you readily allow to refer
unto my Lord, Sit ^ Messiah, in which you find David say.
thou on my right . ^, ^ / r i / t i r.- / *^
hand, till I make tng, *''• 1 he Lord s aid unto my Lord, oit thou 44
thine enemies thy on my right hand in exalted power and glory,
^otstool ? [Mark ^-^j^ ^^ ^^^ majesty and honour of a King, till
XX. —42, 43] I make all thine enemies thy footstool, and cause
.45 If David [him- thee to trample upon them at pleasure." ^45
self] then call him David himself therefore call him Lord, 2Liids^t2ik
[Li^KEl'^^en] his of him as his superior, as you see he doth, how
Son ? And the com- is he then his Son f \
^ Hem then does David himself by the Holy the apostles of Christ to have been les*
5/&/n>,&.c.] Our Z,orc^, we see, always takes assisted by the Divine Spirit in theix
it for granted, in his arguments with the writings^ when they were in other re-
Jews, that Xhcavriten of the Old Testament spects so much more powerfully endowed
were under such an extraordinary giiid* with it.
ance of the Holy Spirit as to express tliem- « If David himself therefore call hion Lord,
selves with the strictest propriety on all kofu is he then his Son .?] This implies both
occasions. (Compaa*e John x. 35, sect, the existence of David in a future state,
cxxxiv.) And I look on this as no con- and the authority of the Messiah over that
temptible argument for the inspiration of invisible world into which that prince was
the A>;v 7Vv«wi(mf; for we can never tfcrint re^n.-vved by 4«ath, Rkf. h»w great a
342 Thtij are unable to reply ^ and dare not question him any tnore,
SECT. Now as the scribes and Pharisees were igno- mon people heard
clvi. rant of the great doctrine of the Divine nature ^im gladly.] [Mark
^^of the Messiah, with respect to which, even 44"' ^^- Luke XX.
xxii.45 t>efore his incarnation, he was the Lord of Da-
vid, and of the whole church, they were quite
confounded with the question. And the vast
crowd of common people that was about him
46 heard him with great pleasure. And all his 46 And no man
adversaries were at such a loss, that no man was able to answer
could answer him so much as a word; neither ^^^C^^^^^^^^^^
did any one presume^ from that day fofxvard^ to tliat day forth) ask
ask him any more such insnaring questions ^ as him any more ques-
those by which they had now contrived to ^^"^*t C^ark XII.
assault, and, if possible, to confound him.
IMPROVEMENT.
--34.]
Mark WHATEVER might be the design of the scribe in putting this
^"■~ question to Christ again, (which was in effect the same with what
another had proposed before, Luke x. 25, sect, cvii.) we have
reason to rejoice in the repetition of so important an answer.
Oh that it might be inscribed on our hearts as with the point of
a diamond !
29 The first and great commandment requires us to love the Lord
our God zvith all our heart, and soul, and mind, and strength ; and
the second, zvhich is like unto it, to love our neighbour as ourselves,,
But alas, what reason have we to complain of our own deficiency
on both these heads ! and how much need of being taught again
even ihest first prificiples of the oracles of God P (Heb. v. 12.)
30 Can we say, with regard to the first, that the blessed God has
the whole of our hearts ? Is the utmost vigor of our faculties
exerted in his service ? Do we make him the end of all our
actions, of all our wishes, of all our pursuits ? Or are we indeed
31 such equitable judges between ourselves and others 2ls the second
of these great co?nmandments would require ; so as to seek our
own particular interests no farther than they may be subservient
to, or at least consistent with, xhe good of the whole ? Do we
Monarch soever the Messiah might have interpretation of the cx*'^ Psalm which re-
been, he could not have been properly fers it to the Messiah,
called David's Lord, any more than Julias ^ Presmnefroin that day forward to aak him
Cesar could have been called the lord of any '}nute qneit ions. ~\ The plain meaning is,
Roviuliiif because he reigned in Rome they asked him no more such Crt/)fioM.s (7MW-
scvcn hundred years after his death, and tions ; for tlie memory of this confusion
vastly extended the bounds of that empire impressed their minds during the short
which Romulus founded. Munster's note remainder of Christ's continuance among
on this text shews, in a very forcible man- them; andhe wassoonremovedfromthem,
ner, tlie wretched expedients of some so that they had no farther opportunities of
modern ^€V}s to evade the force of that do^ng it when that impression woi^ off.
Reflections on the command to love God and our netghhour* S43
make all those allowances for others which we expect or desire sect.
they should make for us? Surely we must own we are far from *^^^*-
hsivin^ yet attained^ or from being already perfect, (Phil. iii. 12.)
But if this be not in the main the prevailing and governing ^^
temper of our minds, in vain are our burnt off'eringa and our
sacrifices ; in vain are all the solemnities of public worship, or
the forms of domestic and secret devotion ; and by all our most
pathetic expressions of duty to God, and friendship to men, we
do but add one degree of guilt to another. Let us then most
earnestly entreat that God would have mercy upon us, and by
his Holy Spirit write these laws in our hearts.
On these subjects let scribes instructed to the kingdom of heaven 32
insist, lest they be condemned by this expositor of the fewish law.
And let those whose notions are thus xvisely regulated, take
heed, lest, while they seem near to the kingdom of God^ by 34
resting in mere notions, they come short of it, and sink into a
ruin aggravated by their near approach to the confines of sal-
vation and glory.
As for that question of Christ with which the Pharisees were Mat.
perplexed, the gospel has given us a key to it. Well might xxii.
David, in spirit, call him Lord, who according to the flesh was to 41--43
descend from his loins : for before David or Abraham was, he is,
(John viii. 58.) Let us adore this mysterious union of the
Divine and human natures in the person of our glorious
Eminanuel ; and be very careful that we do not oppose him, if
we would not be found fighters against God, Already is he 4At
exalted at the right hand of the Father : let "Sxx?, friends rejoice in
his dignity and glory, and with pleasure wait the day of his
complete triumph, when all his enemies shall be put under his
feet, and even the last of them be swallowed up in victory*
(1 Cor. XV. 25, 54.)
SECT. CLVn.
Christ discourses with the Pharisees in the temple, repeating the
charges and cautions which he had formerly advanced at the
house of one of that sect. Mat. XXIIL 1—22. Mark XII.
38 — 40. Luke XX. 45, to the end,
Mat.xxiii. 1. Mat, XXIII. 1.
np HEN spake Je- CtHEN Jesus, in the progress of his doctrine sect.
^^^l't ^'^ ^°^" ^"^ discourse, spake to his disciples in the ^Ivu.
the aidience^'^of all audience of all the people who were present, and
the people, unto his took occasion (as he had done formerly, Luke
xi. 39, & seq. sect, ex.) to expose and caution
them against the pride and hypocrisy of the
scribes and Pharisees, Saying openly and
VOL. 2. 45
Mat.
xzuil
344 Chnst-waniS them against the scribes and Pharisees ;
SECT, freely to them, The scribes and the Pharisees (lisciples,] [Marx
clvii. sit in the chair of Moses,^ and are the public xx'Jl "~ ^"""^^
"~ teachers and expounders of his law : All 2 Saying, The
xxiii.2 therefore xvhatsoever they shall charge you to scribes and the
3 observe in virtue of that law,^ pay a becoming I^hansees sit m Mo-
deference and regard to, and be ready to ob- 3 All therefore
serve and do accordingly ; but practise 7iot by any whatsoever they bid
means accordijig to their works : for they say you observe, fAafob-
well in many instances, but do not themselves ^^^^yt^^iv^ttiT
practise according to what they teach. works: for they say,
Mark I therefore repeat it again, Beware of imitat- and do not.
xii.38 ing the hvpocris}^ and foUowino: the example Mark XII. — 38.
Mat. r°7 '•; r 7^ 1 • ° r 1 i- —Beware of the
xxiii.4 . ^-^^ scribes ;^ For by vn^tue of the tradi- scribes :— [L u k e
tions which in conjunction with the Pharisees XX.46.— ]
they have added to the law, they bind together ^V'^V^JP"'*'
grievous and insupportable burdens^ and withoMt burden^s! an"d griTv^
the least remorse lay them on meri's shoulders^ ous to be borne, and
urging them byHhe heaviest penalties to con- lay them on men's
form to all their ^junctions ; but they dispense ttsd"; tm'n:{
with [themselves] mthe neglect 01 many of them, move them with one
and will not so much as ynove them xuith afnger of their fingers.
of theirs, (Compare Luke xi. 46, sect, ex.)
5 And even when they do conform in other in- 5 But all their
stances to their own rules, it is generally from
^ Sit In the chair of Moses."] Some think about books and writings; and is some-
here is an allusion to those pulpits which times put for a d^vil officery whose business
Ezra made for the expounders of the law probably resembled that of a Secretary of
(Neh.viii. 4); and which were afterwards state (2 Sam viii. 17 ; 1 Kings iv. 3 ; 2
continued in the synagogue, from whence Kings xix. 2) : at other times it is used
tlie rabbies delivered their discourses sit- at large for a man of learning and ability
ting. It is probably called Moses' chair, (1 Chron. xxvii. 32 ; Jer. -jxxvi, 26; Ezra
because it was that from whence the vii. 6 ; Mat. xxiii. 34 ; 1 Cor. i. 20). But
books of Moses wc^ve read and explained ; as biblical learning was most esteemed
so that he seemed to dictate from thence, among the Jews, the word in the Nevj
It is strange that Lighfoot, ( Hor. Heb. in Testavient seems to be chiefly appropriat-
loc.J and Giissatus, should explain this ed to those that applied themselves to the
of a legislative authority ; since the scribes study of the lavs (perhaps including those
and Pharisees, as such, had no peculiar whose business it was to transcribe it),
autliority of that kind. Of these the public professors, who read
^ In virtue of that law.] If this liml- lectures upon it, were called doctors, or
talion be not supposed, this passage will lavjyers ; and, probably, they who were
be inconsistent with all those in which he invested with some public offices in the
condemns the doctrines of the *cW^e.y and sanhedrim, or other courts, scribes of the
Pharisees. Had he meant (as Orobio, and people (Mat. ii. 4). But that the scribes, as
some Popish writers have unaccountably Tr/^/aW labours to prove (^c'e^'ecf a A'ar^cor.
pretended) to assert their infallibility, and p. 68), were karaites, or textuaries, who
to require an absolute subnriission to their rejected those traditions which the Phar-
dictatcs, he must have condemned him- isees inculcated, seems, from this text
self, as it was known he was rejected by especially, utterly improbable. Our Lord
them. SeeLimborch.Callat.Amic. p. 58,114. commonly joins them with the Pharisees,
^ Be^^are of the scribes.] Tlie word scribe and probably most of tli£m were of that
in general ajgniftes any one convereant sect.
who minded the shexv more than the substance &f religion, o45
works they do for to a bad principle ; for there is none of all their
their phylacteries, ^^ ^^ vieived and taken notice ot by men^ as ex-
and enlarge the bor- amples of extraordinary piety. For this pur-
ders ot their gar- pose, in particular, they make their phylacteries
remarkably braad^"^ that it may be thought they
write more of the law on those scrolls of parch-
ment than others do, or desire to be more fre-
quently reminded of Divine things by the size
of them ; and^ for the same reason likewise,
they make the fringes and tassels, which the
law requires them to wear on the borders of
their garments^ as large as may be, that they
may seem peculiarly desirous to remember the
Divine commandments whenever they look
upon them. (Compare Numb. xv. 38 — 40.)
Luke XX.— 46— . These are the selfconceited and vainglorious Luke
Talk'in lon^'robes^ "^^"' '^^'^^ ^/^''^^ ^^ ""''^^^ '*" ^°''S^ garments, that xx. 45
[MarkX1I.--38-..]' ^^^y "^^y appear with an air ot distinguished
Mat. XXIII. 6. gravity and stateliness ; And love the upper- Mat.
And love the upper- ^^^^^ places at feasts, where cfuests of the first xxiii.6
most rooms u.tic\sts • •
and the [Luke' quality are used to sit ; and are ambitious to
highest] seats in secure the highest seats even in the very sijna-
the synaj-ogues ; o-op'zie^,^ where thev should meet to prostrate
[Mark XII. o9.f,'^ ', • ,, W- • ^ • u ,,
Luke XX 461 themselves m the Divme presence with the
7 And [salluta- lowest abasement of soul : Ajid, on the same 7
tions] in the mar- principle of vainglory and ostentation, they
kets, and to be call- ^ggire to receive salutations in the markets^ and
ed or men, Rabbi, 1 1 r /
ratibi. [Mark XII. Other places 01 common concourse, (compare
—38. Luke XX. Luke xi. 43, sect, ex.) and to be called by men,
^^— •] Rabbi, rabbi ;^ a title of honour which they are
'• They make their phylacteries remarka- was read_, and their faces towards the peo-
\Ay broad.'] I doubt not but most of my pie. These were accounted the most lion-
readers very well know that the Jews (un- ourable ; and therefore these ambitious
derstanding Ex;)d. xili. 9, 16 ; and Deut. ^m^^'e* and PAamec* contended for them.
vi. 8 ; xi. 18, which commanded them to See Reland. Jritiq. Heb. p. 61 ; Vitring. dc.
bind the laiv on their heads, and to let it be Synag. Vet. p. 191, iSf seq. and Wolf, in loc.
as frontlets beticccn their eyes, in a literal ^ To he called by men, liabbi, rabbi.] Ma-
sense) used to wear Tittle scrolls of parch- ny learned men have observed that an
merit, on which those passages were writ- extravagant notion of respect went along
ten, bound to their foreheads and lurists. with this title, which was derived from
It is generally supposed they were called )3^, a word which signifies both magnitude
phylacteries in Greek, as being looked upon and multitude, and seems intended very
as a kind o^ amulet to keep them from dan- emphatically to express both the greatness
ger. See 5'errar. TViAar. p. 38 ; and i)/ «*. and the ^•fl/■^eO' of that learning wliich they
de tribus sectis, p. 263, 266. who bore it were supposed to be possess-
' The highest seats in the synagogues.] The cd of ( VEnf aril's Introd. p. 98). Dr.
dcctors had seatshy themselves, with their Lightfoot tells us (Hor. Heb. in loc. J that
iiacks towards the pulpit in which the law the words of the scribes are declared to be
346 He openly reproves them for their pride^
SECT, fond of having repeated in every sentence, and
<^1^"- almost at every word.
"~ — But as for you, mv disciples, be not you call- 8 But be not ye
^ edRabbu nor value yourselves on the name, M '^^^ .^:^uJ:i
it should ever happen to be given you ; Jor one ^ven Christ, and all
is your Master^ {even'] Christ ; and ye are all ye are brethren.
brethren^ and as such should treat each other
9 with a loving freedom and familiarity. And 9 And call no man
call not {any one-\ on earth your father:^ nor be ^^l^^^ f ''^'7one is
fond of receiving this title from men, who may your Father which
be ready to speak of themselves as but chil- is in heaven.
dren in comparison of you, and implicitly
to follow all your dictates ; for one is your
Father^ and that of the whole family, [even]
he who dwells in the highest heaven^ and be-
fore whom all the most distinguished honours
of the children of men disappear, as less than
10 nothing and vanity. Neither be ye called mas- 10 Neither be ye
ters and cruides : for one is your great Master called masters : for
IT r 1 i^t • ** 5 u J' * * one IS vour Master,
and Instructor, [even] Christ^"- whose dictates ^^^^^ Christ.
you are ever to receive, and in whose name
and authority alone you are to teach others.
11 But^ on the contrary, he that is^ and would ap- n But he that is
pear in the eyes of God to be, the greatest among greatest among you,
you^ shall be most eminent for condescension ^^^^ ^°"^ ^^^"
and humility, and will be ready to wait on the
rest, and to behave himself on all occasions as
your servant, (Compare Mat. xx. 26, 27, p.
12 260.) And what I have often told you will 12 And whosoever
assuredly be found to be a certain truth, That
whosoever shall attempt in an ambitious way to
more amiable and v/eiglity than those of that not one word is said of Pefer'^Awf^or/ify
the prophets^ and equal to those of the Imis : over the rest, either here, or on the appli-
so that Gamaliel advised to get a rabbiy cation made by Zebedee's childreti ; though
that one might no longer doubt of any had such an authority been intended, noth-
thing. More passages to this purpose may ing could have been more natural, or neces-
be seen in Dr. Gale's Sennotis, Vol. I. p. 80, sary than to have mentioned and adjusted
and in Whitby and Eisner y in loc. They fully it. Compare note s on Mat. xx. 26, p. 260.
shew the necessity there was for such re- ^ Call not \_any o«e] on earth your father. "^
peated cautions as our Lord gives, and are The Pharisees-, no doubt, had this title giv-
an abundant answerto what Orobio objects en them ; and Bishop Wilkins observes,
to our Lord's conduct in this respect (see that it is a title which assuming priests of
Limborch. Collat. p. 119) ; for, considering all religions have greatly affected,
their inveterate prejudices against Christ, ' One is your Mastery f_eve7i'] Christ."] It
it could never be supposed that the com- is remarkable that this occurs twice in the
mon people would receive the gospel till very same words (here, and in verse 8).
such corrupt teachers as these were Our Lord knew how requisite it would be
brought into a just disgrace. to attend to it, and how ready even his
« 2> are all brethren J^ It is observable, ministers would be to forget it.
and exhorts his disciples to humility. 347
shall exalt himself, exalt himself, shall sooner or later, by one sect.
he'^h^ars^h^TMrnm"! "lethod or another, be abased ; and xv ho so ever, ^
ble himself, shall be o" ^^^ Other hand, shall humble himself shall ^^^
exalted. be exalted to the highest honour.^ ^^-^
13 But wo unto Then Jesus, turning from his disciples, to 13
youscribesandPhar- ^^\^qt^ he had hitherto been speaking, addressed
isees, hvpocntes ! , . ir 1 i n 1 c ^ . ,
for ve shut "in the himselt boldly to those cratty enemies who
king-'dom of heaven Stood around him, waiting for nothing but an
against men : for ye opportunity of mischief, and said, JVo unto ijoiu
neither g-o in your- •» j m • . . -_, n r \ ^
selves, neither suf- V^ '\cnbes and Pharisees, hypocrites l^ for by the
fer ye them that are prejudices you are so zealous to propagate
entering to go in. among the people, you shut up the kingdom of
heaven agmnst ynen, and do all you can to pre-
vent their regarding it ; for you neither g'O in
yourselves, nor permit them that are awakened
to a desire of entering, to go in ; and thus you
make yourselves in some degree chargeable
with their destruction as well as with your own,
by the false notions you instil into their minds,
and the prejudices you raise against me and my
doctrine. (Compare Luke xi. 52, sect, ex.)
14 Wo unto you, Wo unto you, ye scribes and Pharisees, hypo- 14
scribes and Phar- crites, that impose upon men by specious forms
iseeSjhypocrites I tor r 1 • 11 ^ r
ye devour widows °* devotion ! but these forms cannot impose
houses, and for a upon God, nor prevent his vengeance from fall-
pretence make long ing heavy upon you : for, by your cruel extor-
ye^shau'receive the ^'^^^^t V^^ devour the houses of widows and or-
greater damnation, phans, whose helpless circumstances, if you
[Mark XJI. 40. had any remains of humanity and generosit}'^,
Luke XX. 47.] might rather engage you to protect and vindi-
cate them ; audit is onlyy^^r a pretence to cover
these crying immoralities, that you 7nake such
lo77g and seemingly earnest prayers, hoping
thereby to engage the esteem and confidence
of others, that you may have the greater op-
portunity to injure and defraud them : but this
complicated wickedness shall cost you dear ;
for therefore shall you receive greater and more
dreadful dainnation, than if you had never pray-
ed at all, nor made any pretences to religion.
^Whosoe'oer shall exalt himcelf, &c.] 26, 27; xxiii. 10, 11; Mark ix. 35; %,
Christ seems by the frequent repetition of 43, 44 ; Luke xiv. 11 ; xviii. 14 ; xxii. 26;
this maxim to intimate that he intended it, and John xiii. 14.
not only for those who were to be teachers ' Hypocrites.'] Dr. More with great
of others, but for all his disciples without propriety observes, that the word hypocrites
exception. And it is well worthy of our [utt ok fallen'] in its most exact appUcation,
observation, that no one sentence of our signifies players, who, according to the
Lord's is so frequently repeated as this; unnatural custom of the ancients, acted a
which occurs at least ten times in the part under a math* More's Theoiog- Works,
evangelists. Compare Mat. xviii -4 ; xx. p. 293.
548 Their folly is discovered zvith respect to oaths »
SECT. Wo unto you^ ye scribes and Pharisees^ hypo- 15 Wo unto yoii,
<=*^"- crites as you are ! for with indefatigable indus- scribes and Phar-
^ J '^ , ^L J ^L iseesjhypocrites 1 for
Mat. ^^y y°^ ^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^'■^' compass the sea and the ^^ eompass sea and
xxiii. latid to 7nake one proselyte to your own parti- land to make one
15 cular sect and party ; and when he is become pi-oselyte, and when
H, you o{t,.n make him even doubly 'noreal^^^^^f.'^flf-
child of hell than you yourselves 2Lre ; while, in the child of hell
order to approve the sincerity of his conversion than yourselves.
to you, he is obliged to vie with you in all the
excesses of your superstition and bigotry.
16 Wo unto you^ ye blind guides^ who have in*- 16 Wo unto you,
vented so many nice distinctions, to make y^ bli"^ guides !
men easy in their sins, and subservient to your Jve'r ^slmll's^arby
secular interests ! who say, for instance, Who- the temple, it is
soever shall sxvear only by the temple, it is noth- nothing; but whoso-
ingr butrvhosoever shall sxvear by thegoldofl^i^J^fj^^l'^^^^^
the teinple, whether by that with which a part pie, he is a debtor.
of it is overlaid, or bv that which is laid up in
17 its treasures, he is obliged hy it. Te foolish 17 Ye fools, and
and blifid [creatures], is not the stupid sophistry blind : for whether
of this distinction apparent to the weakest un- o'-^thelemple^d^^^
derstanding? for which of these is greater, the sanctifieth the gold'
gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold, which
without its relation to the lempk would have
nothing in it more sacred than any common
18 metal ? And yQ also say, just with the same 18 And whosoever
degree of sense and piety as before. Whosoever shall swear by the al-
shall sxvear only by the altar of God, it is noth- ^aj', it isnothing: but
, , , T, 7 1 T I • / whosoever sweareth
zng ; but whoever shall swear by the gijt whicli by the gift that is up.
is upon it, he is obliged to the performance of on it, he is guilty.
19 his oath* Te foolish and blind\wretches'],\Y\\-Jit 19 Ye fools, and
an idle and senseless distinction is this ? for blind: for whether
,. , . * ^; •/# «.y greater the gift, or
w/zzc/i can you suppose 2^ ^r^-a^^r, the gift, 0/* th| ^Itar that sane-
the altar that sanctifies the gift, vA\iQh.,h^iovt it tifieth the gift >
was brought thither, was only a common thing,
and might be used to any of the ordinary pur-
20 poses of human life ? The truth of the case is 20 Whoso there-
therefore plain and obvious : he that swears by ^^^^ ,sball swear by
^11 * • rr 7 -^ J } n ^u theallar,swearethby
t/ie altar, swears m ettect ay it, ana by all the j^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^i things
things that are offered upon it to him whose thereon.'
^ Whosoever shall svcear by the temple, it it is plain that, without any regard to
z¬hing.'] It seems the Pharisees taught, common sense or decency, they were in-
that oa?7zj ^j ?Ae crcaiwre^ might be used on fiuenced merely by a view to their own
trifling occasions, and violated without interest ; and therefore represented fAe^e
any great guilt. (See note '' on Mat. v. 34, to the people as things of more eminent
Vol. I. p. 222.) But they excepted oaths sanctity than even the temple or altar
by the corban, aiid by sacrifices ; in which itself
Refections on thepr'ide^ Stc. of the scribes and Pharisees, 349
21 And whoso altar it is : And he that szvears by the temple^ sect,
shall swear by the sivears by it^ and by him also that dzvei/s in it, <^^^'"-
temple sweHrethby ^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ blessed Jehovah,
It, and by him that . . . *^ • , . Mat
dwelleth therein. who honours it in a special manner with the ^^^^
22 And he that tokens of his presence : And he that srvears 21
shall swear by hea- ^y /jff/y^;!, which someofyou are foolish enough 22
ven,swearethbythe ^^ ^j^'mk a little o?it\ sxvears by the throne ofth^
throne ot God, and ^ ' ^ r» t iii- t - • i
by him that sitteth most high ijod, and by lum zvno stts upon it, and
thcieon. fills all the train of attendant angels with the
humblest reverence and prostration of mind.
Now did you and your disciples consider this,
that every oath by a creature is an implicit ap-
peal to God, you could not surely talk of such
expressions in so light and dangerous a manner
as you commonly do.
IMPROVEMENT.
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise Mat,
reprover upon an obedient ear (Prov. xxv. 12,). Christ 'W2ls indeed xxiii.l
a zuise and faithful Reprover ; but the ears of these Pharisees ^^9-
were disobedient and uncircumcised. Let us, however, who are
his disciples, attend to these instructions of our heavenly Master,
and avoid every thing which has the remotest tendency to what
he here condemns with so just a severity.
Let not our zeal spend itself upon the externals of religion. 5
Let us not impose heavy burdens upon each other ; nor lay 4
down rules for the conduct of others, by which we do not in like
circumstances think fit to govern ourselves. Let us not impose
our own decisions in a magisterial manner on our fellow Chris^
tians, nor affect to be called fathers, masters, and teachers ; re- 8—10
membering, that Christ alone is our Master, and God our Father^
and that it is a dangerous presumption and folly to set ourselves
in the place of either. Let us be upon our guard against that 6 7
vain ostentation that would lead us to place any part of our hap-
piness in precedence, and to value ourselves upon our rank, or 7
upon any airy titles of honour, by which, perhaps rather by acci-
dent than merit, we are distinguished from others ; and which
to a truly wise man, and especially to an humble follower of
Jesus, will appear to be a very little matter. Let us desire that 11,15:
honour which arises from condescending to others, and serving
them in love ; that honour which springs from the Divine
approbation, which it will be impossible to secure without unaf-
fected piety. (John v. 44.)
God forbid that our devotions should ever be intended as a 14
cloak of maliciousness, or as the instrument of serving any mean
and vile purpose ! Such prayers would return in curses on our
own heads, and dra^v down on them aggravated damnation, t'*
550 The Pharisees reproved for their hypocrisyt
SECT. God forbid that we should spend that time, and that ardency of
civil, spirit, in snaking proselytes to our own peculiar notions and party,
^ which ou^ht to be laid out in making them the servants of God
^^^' through Christ / God forbid that we should delude ourselves
or others by such idle distinctions in matters of conscience, as
th'^se which our blessed Redeemer has with so much reason and
spirit exposed !
17.-22 Let us retain the greatest reverence for an oath^ and not ac-
custom ourselves to trife with any thing which looks like it.
Let us consider heaven as the throne of God^ and often think of
the majesty and glory of that illustrious Being that sits thereon ;
for a sense of his continual presence will form us to a better
temper, and engage us with a righteousness far exceeding that
of the scribes and Pharisees^ to walk before him in all his com-
mandments and ordinances blameless.
SECT. CLVIIL
Christ continues his discourse with the Pharisees^ reproving them
for their hypocrisy^ and threatening the?}i with approaching
judgme7its. Mat. XXIIL 23, to the end.
Mat. XXIIL 23. Mat.xxiii.ss.
SECT. /^U R Lord farther proceeded in his dis- "flT O unto you,
clvm. \^ course, and said, Wo unto you^ ye scribes ^^ scribes and
~ a?2d Pharisees, hypocrites! you may justly ex- ^^keT'^^for ye^^pry
xxiii. P^ct the severest vengeance ; for ye are careful tithe of mint, and
23 to tithe mint, and anise, and cummin, and every anise, and cummin,
other common herb which grows in your gar- and have omitted the
dens ; and y^t have XThoWy neglected the weigh- the law, judgment,
tier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and mercy y and faith :
fidelity:'' these should chiefly have been re- fj^^se ought ye to
gardedby you as whati/e ought more especially j^^J^ the^other un^.
to have practised, and indeed not to have omitted done.
the ether, as a reverent observance is due even
to the least of God's commandments. (Com-
24 pare Luke xi, 42, sectc ex.) Te blind guides 24 Ye blind guides,
of blind and wretched followers, xvho do (as it ^^^^^^^ strain at a
is proverbially said) carefully strain out a gnat
from the liquor you are going to drink, and
» Fidelity.'] The word <tB-/r<c has un- more in which it signifies the confidence
doubtedly this signification in many repoaed iii another ; and it is of great im-
places. (Compare Tit. ii. 10 ; Gal. v. 22 ; portance to observe this. See Col. i. 4 ;
and Rom. iii. 3.) But there ai-e many aiid 1 Pet. i. 21.
They are compared to whited sepulchres. 351
gnat, and swallow a yet can swallow dozvn a camel ;^ you affect to sect,
camel. scruple little things, and disregard those of ^^^"''
the greatest moment.
25 Wo unto you, lyg njifQ yQ^^ yg scribes and Pharisees^ hypo- xxiii*
Syp^crite^'lfor ^'"'"^^ •' fi'' V^ ^'f""'' "'^ "««* '/ ^^e cup and 25 '
ye make clean the Of the dish^ and are mighty exact m the ob-
outside of the cup, servance of external rights and washings of the.
and of the platter, body ; but are recrardiess of the inner parts ^
but within they are J ^ i i ^ i ^ j
full of extortion and ^^" unconcerned about your hearts and con-
excess, sciences, which are full o/" uncle anness, and of
all kinds of rapine and intemperance, (Com-
26 Thou blind pare Luke xi. 39, sect, ex.) Thou blind and 26
Pharisee, cleanse senseless Pharisee^ first beerin with the heart,
nrst that nxthich is , , , . ' ' i ^i • > i r i
within the cup and ^"^ thereby, as It were, cleanse the inside oj the
platter, that the out- Clip and of the dish^ that thus the outside of them
side of them may be ^ay be clean also ; for the life will of course be
clean also. reformed when the heart is purified.
27 Wo unto you, Wo iinto you^ ye scribes and Pharisees^ hypO' 27
scribes and Phan- ^^^-^^^ , y-^^ resemble xvhited sepulchres. which
sees, hypocrites! tor . , , ^ ^ f. . , , ./>;., ,
ye are like unto indeed appear lair and beautiful without^ but
whited sepulchres, -within are full of the bones of the dead^ and of
which indeedappear ^// ^^^ uncleamiess which arises from their pu-
beautiiul outward, . r ' ui* t i j • j j ^^
but are within full of ^^efyi^S bodies. Even so you also do indeed 'i.^
dead men's bones, outwardly appear righteous unto men, who view
and of all unclean- nothing more than the external part of your
"^28 Even so ve character ; but in the sight of an heart search-
also outwardly ap- i"g God, who has a clear and perfect view of
pear righteous unto all that lies withiji^ you are full of th^it hypocrisy
"^^"' ,V"^ within ye ^^^ iniquity which is infinitely more loathsome
are full of hypocrisy ^ i,- ^u ^u ^ j- ui u- ^
and iniquity. ^° '^^^ ^"^^^ ^"^ most disagreeable objects can
be to the human eye.
29 Wo unto you, Wo wito you^ ye scribes and Pharisees, hypo- 29
scribes and Phan- writes / for, under a pretence of your regard
^ Strain out a gnat y and sv:alloiv do'On a and particularly Maimonides, have observ-
Q.amel.'] In those hot countries, as Serra- ed) a heap of lime laid upon the grave
rius well observes (Trihceres. p. 51), gnats might answer the end ; it is evident they
were apt to fall into wine, if it were not v>^erc sometimes adorned (ver. 29), proba-
carefully covered ; and passirig the liquor bly not only with plaistering and vjhite^
through a strainer-, that 7io gnat, or part of one, ii^ashing, but with marble and other stone
might remain, grexv into a proverb for ex- nnonuments : and notwithstanding all the
actness about little matters. Could any applause which Vitringa fObserv. Sacr.
authority be produced in which x.*,a»xcv lib. i. p. 201) gives to the interpretation
signifies a large insect, I should with great which Dr. Lightfot ( Hor. Heb. in lac J
pleasure follow the translation of 1727, in and Dr. Pocock (Port. Mos. cap. v. p. 73)
rendering the latterclause, srjallow a beetle, have advanced, I conclude that such orna-
^ WJiited sepulchres, ivhich indeed appear onents were here referred to ; for I cannot
'heautiftl ivithoiit.'] Though the first in- think Christ would have called these
tention of nvhitening sepulchres might be sepulchres Z-eflw^i/i// if they had been noth-
only to viark them out, that they might be ing but heaps of earth covered with grass,
avoided ; and so (as some Jewish writers. Compare note % on Luke xi. 44, sect, cx.^
VOL. 2. 46
352 They tvere Jilling up the measure of their fathers'* sins^
SECT, and veneration for their characters, ifou sump- sees, hypocrites !
clviii. tuously build up the sepulchres of the ancient because ye build the
, .,\ 7 S ^1 ^ r^j 4.U tombs of the proph-
-—'-' prophets^ and adorn the monunients oj the other ^^g^ ^^j tarnish the
.t^.V 77^/i#eozi5menofformergenerations, as desirous sepulchres of the
cyk to preserve and honour their memories \^ And "§Jj5^°,^^»
-^ rr 111 T • - ^L J /* 30 And say. It
30 ye -^^^^ ^ ^^^ -^'^^ ^^^^ ^1V1"S "^ ^^^ ^'^^^•^ ^J °!^^ we had been in the
fathers^ zve rvould not haife been partakers with days of our fathers,
thein in the blood of the holy prophets which we would not have
they shed, but would have treated them in b- P-;^akers^_.jtU
31 another manner than our lathers did. oo that the prophets.
you really bear xvitness to yourselves^ that you 31 Wherefore be
are the sons of those that murdered the prophets ; ^'^urTelves'^hat""-
and indeed your present temper and conduct are ^the^ children of
more certainly speaks you to be their genuine them which killed
offspring, and to be full of that very malignity the prophets,
which you pretend to condemn in them. (Com-
32 pare Luke xi. 47, 48, sect, ex.) And do you 32 Fill ye up then
[thenlfill up, as soon as you think fit, what yet f^thers.'''''^ ""^ ^''''''
remains to be completed of the measure of your
fathers'* sins, that wrath may come upon this
guilty land to the uttermost.
'^'^ ^'^ painted and deceitful serpents, ye brood 33 Ye serpents, ye
o/' specious, but venomous and mischievous, p"^^^^^^"^^^^P^^'^»
^. ^ ^ t- ^^ j how cau ye escape
Vipers, how arttully soever you may evade ^^^ damnation of
human censures, how can you so much as hope, hell ?
by any of these vain pretences, to escape what
is infinitely more dreadful, that righteous sen-
tence of the unerring Judgd which will consign
you over to the damnation of hell P^ (Com-
pare Mat. iii. 7, Vol. I. p. 103.) howTsendumo w
34 Therefore,^ behold I send unto you prophets, p^ophe'ts," and wise
ajid wise men, and scribes instructed to the men, and scribes ;
^ You build the sepJilchres of the prophets, (Joseph. Antiq.Xxh. xvi. cap. 7 (al. 11), § 1.)
&c.] I can by no means think, with Mar- Compare Acts ii. 29. Grotius is certainly
kius (Exercit. p. 229), many of whose right in saying" that the ybz^r ■uer^e.y in this
criticisms are very low and fanciful, that paragraph are to be considered as one sen-
Christ here hlavies the building the sepulchres fence ,- of which perhaps ver. 31 may be a
of those holy men ;* which, as Eisner (Vol. parenthesis.
I. p. 160) and Raphelius ( Annot. ex. Xen. p. ^ Hovi canyon hope by any of these vain
48) shew, was a piece of respect which pretences to escape that sentence, Sec]
most nations have paid to persons of dis- Raphelius has abundantly proved that
tinguished merit, especially to those who dL'7ro<^uyiiv KpifxA (which is the same in sense
fell in a good cause. What Vitringa (de with the original) properly signifies to
^yrta§-. p 221) telh us of the extraordinary evade conviction in a court of judicature,
honours paid to the sepulchre of Mordecai, which is often done by the artifice of the
is an agreeable illustration of these words, criminal. Annot. ex. Xen. p. 50, 51.
^of(f7&/zz/5 also, from Nicolaus Damascenus, ^ Therefore.'] Though Oleai'ius here
mentions Herod's repairing in a very would render cT/st thIo in the mean time, the
splendid manner the sepulchre of David, version is so unex;impled that I cannot
and should answer for all the righteous blood that had been shed* 353
and 5ome of them ye kingdom of heaven, to try you once more, and sect.
shall kill and cruci- to give you the last Call to repentance and *^^^"'*
Si;iT'^>T''s1^Dur^e"^ ^.^formation which you must ever expect : but —
in your synagogues, I know that this last attempt will, with regard xxiii.
and persecute them to the generality of you, be entirely in vain ; 34
from city to city : ^^^ ^\^r^^ [some'] of them ye will kill^ and carry
your malice so far as to crucify them like com-
mon slaves ; and when ye cannot effect that,
[some'] of them ye will scourge in your sy7ia-
gogues, and persecute [them] from city to city,
35 That upon you For thus will God in righteous judgment per- 35
may come all the j^jt you to act, that ye may become the distin-
i^ptlre'St™ S^i^hed trophies of his displeasure, as if he
the blood of right- were reckoning with you lor the guilt ot all
eous Abel, unto the former ages ; so that upon you may seem to
blood of Zacharias, ^^^„^ the vengeance due for all the righteous
son of Barachias, ,, 7,.,,7 , j r su ^r t
whom ve slew be- blood wluch has been poured jortn on the earth
tween 'the temple from the beginning of the world ; even from
aiid the altar. ff^^ h^q^ qJ Mel^ that eminently righteous rnan,
whom his brother Cain then slew, to the blood
of Zechariah^ the son of Barachiah^ one of the
last of the prophets, whom ye murdered while
he was ministering betxueen the temple and the
altar y^ impiously presuming to intrude into the
acquiesce in It ; and if the connection, as Matthew. It is by no means necessary,
it stands, could not be accounted for, I with Cappellus, to allow that it was a slip
should think it better to connect this phrase in the eva7JgeUst*s memory ; but much more
with the close of the preceding verse : decent to suppose it an officious addition
Hoii: can ye escape the davmation of hell for of some early traiiscriber, who might con-
this ? or avoid the judgment of God for found this martyr with Zecharlah, one of
liiis mixture of injustice, cruelty, and the twelve 7ninor prophets, -who wsis indeed
hypocrisy ? the son of Barachiah, but who does not by
i To the blood of Zechariah, the son of any means appear to have been murdered;
Barachiah, &c.] Though very learned nor is there any reason to imagine the
men have interpreted this of four different Jews, so soon after their return from cap-
persons, I do not, with the learned and tivity, would have attempted so flagitious
candid Witsius fMisc. Vol. I. p. 269), think an act. Though Theophylact understands
it an inexpUcable difficulty which of these the text of Zechariah the father of John
is referred to. I scruple not, with Gro- the Baptist, on the credit of an idle tale of
tins, Drusius, Casaubon, Erasmus, and Origen's, confuted by Jerom, in which he
many more, to explain it of that Zechariah tells us that this good man was murdered
who is expressly said to have been slain'm in the temple, (see Erasmus, inloc.J he has
that remarkable' manner between the temple had few followers ; and indeed the story
andthe altar (2 Chron.xxiv. 20, 21), though seems to have been made on the mistaken
I take not upon me to determine whetlier authority of the text in question. Yet after
(as Chrisostom asserts) Jehoiada his all it seems still more unreaspnable, with
father was also called Barachiah, which Archbishop Tillotson (Vol. I. p. 197, 198),
signifies one that blesses the Lord, as Jehoi- to understand these words as 2i prophecy of
ada does one that confesses him; or whether that Zechariah, the son of Baruch, who, as
the original reading was different from ^osephus says (Bell. Jud. lib. iv. cap. 5
ours, as Jerom says he found in the gospel (al. v. 1), § 4), was assassinated in them.id-
nf the Na^are^es, or tlie Hcbrex: version of die of the temple, just before the Romans
SS4f yesus laments the unhappy case ofyerusakm.
SECT, court of the priests, to perpetrate that most
clvm. horrible murder as near as possible to God's
TJJ most immediate presence. Verily I say unto 36 Verily I say
rl-:^; you. That even the ^m\x of all this righteous if t« you. All thesg
ui J J 7; .1. L- ^-u ^ -111- things shall come
36 blood, and all these things that are mcluded m ^p^,^ ^j^jg genera*,
the woes I have denounced, shall come on this tion.
generation of men ; so dreadful are the calami-
ties which God will shortly bring upon it,
(Compare Luke xi. 49, 50, 51, sect, ex.)
Z7 0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem^lthou'] that killest the 37 O Jerusalem,
prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee ^^^^^^V^* thou that
by God for thy conversion and salvation ; thou ^^/^ stone^r^them
unhappy city, who hast so often been stained which are sent un-
with the blood of the martvrs, that it is grown to thee, how often
into a proverb. That a prophet can hardly per- -™/ ^^^^2^^;,
ish any where else (Luke xiii. 33) ; hoxv often together, even as a
would I have gathered thy children together hen gathereth her
unto me, even with as much tenderness as a hen ^^^.'^kens under her
gathereth her chickens together under her wings, not f ' / '^ "
to protect them from the assaults of any bird
of prey, or whatever else might threaten their
safety, and yet ye would not hearken to my
compassionate calls, but have hardened your
hearts against my love, and repaid me with
38 contempt, hatred, and persecution ? Behold, 38 Behold, your
the time is coming when you will see your house is left unto
folly, though too late ; for your sacred house, '
in which you vainly trust, even this magnifi-
cent temple in which you no^r stand, is so near
being utterly destroyed, that it may be said
to be even already left desolate to you, so that
the few who survive the general carnage shall
be forced to sit down and weep over its ruins.
39 For I am now making my last visit here, and 39 For I say unto
I say unto you, Th^Lt henceforth, sincQ you treat you* Ye shall not
me so ill, ye shall not see me any more, till even ^^^ ^,^ shaU sly,
ye shall say, as the multitudes lately did, but Blessed is he that
with sublimer passions and nobler views. Bless- cometh in the name
ed [w] he that cometh in the name of the Lord ;^ ^^^^^ ^°^^'
Besieged the city. Had we more evidence that Abel was the frst, and Zechariah in
of his being a righteous fnau, it Would be Chronicles the last eminently good tnan, of
harsh to suppose Christ in such a connec- whose murder the scripture speaks,
tion to speak of a future fact as what was '» Till he shall sayy Blessed is he that co^n-
already done ,- or to charge that deed on the eth, &c.] This was doubtless spoken after
tvhole Jewish nation which was done, con- Christ's triumphant entrance into Jerusa-
trary to the decree ofthejan/?c</nm, by two lem (though Heinsius most unnaturally
resolute villains. All the martyrs from Abel supposes it transplaced), which shews the
fo ZecAanaA, seems to have been a proverb ; necessity of giving the words some such
and it might naturally arise from observing turn as they have in the pargphrase. If we
Reflections en the iniquiiy of the Pharisees. 355
that Is, till your calamities have taught 3'ou sect.
eagerly to wish for the Messiah, and Divine clviii.
grace shall have inclined you, as a nation, •*
gladly to receive me under that character : ^.^^
but you little think through what scenes of 39"'
desolation, exile, and misery, you must pass
for succeeding ages, before that happy time
comes. (Compare Luke xiii. 34, 35^ p. 138,
139.) And when he had thus spoken he went
out of the temple.
IMPROVEMENT.
May we ever remember how necessary it is that our ri^ht- ^.j^
eoiisness should exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees ^i£ we desire xxiii.
to enter into the kingdom of heaven ! (Mat. v. 20.) May our 23
zeal be employed on the great essentials of religion, justice^
rnercy^ and fidelity^ and not be laid out merely or chiefly on
the circumstantials of it !
May we be concerned about the purity of our hearts^ and not 25, 26
merely attend to the decency of our external behaviour ! May
we be, not like painted sepulchres, fair and beautiful rvithout, and
full of all unclea?iness within; but rather like the vessel laid up 27,28
before the Lord, whose outside shone with polished ^0/^, while
within it was replenished with heavenly manna ! (Heb. ix. 4.)
How many, like these Pharisees, condemn persecution, and 29—32
yet themselves are chargeable with the guilt of it ! May that
never be our character, lest we he judged out of our own mouths^
and lest we thereby jf// up the measure of our iniquities !
Behold the repeated tenderness of our compassionate 37—39
Redeemer even towards that guilty city that killed the prophets,
and stoned the messengers of God I He would W\\}i\ the gentlest
and most solicitous care have gathered them, even as a hen gathers
her chickens under her wings I Thus does he still call and invite
perishing sinners. Oh that the obstinacy of their own perverse
and rebellious wills may not finally withstand all the overtures
of his grace ; lest eternal desolation be their portion, and they in
v^ain wish for the repetition of those calls which they once so
wantonly despised !
might be allowed, with Grotius, to translate ydu shall pet sec me any more, till that a v'-
iac atv iiTruli, till ye ivould be glad to say, or ful hour of judgment , in which I shall ap-
ivishyou had said. Blessed is he that comethy pear in such pomp and power, that the
&c. this would give a very plain and easy proudest of you all shall have reason to
sense,nearly parallel to Mat.xxvi.64, where luish you had cordially joined in those
a7r'«tp7/ is perhaps used in the same sense. Hosannahs which you lately rebuked."
And thus the words might be explained This interpretation, could the version be
as if owr Z,orc^ had said, " From the time justified, I should vastly prefer to any
of my present appearance at this passover, other.
3S6 Jesus commends the liberality of a poor widotv*
SECT. CLIX.
Christ applauds the liberalitif of the poor zvidozv whom he saw
casting her two mites into the treasury, Mark XII. 41, to
the end, Luke XXI. 1 — 4.
Mark XII. 41. Mark Xll. 41.
SECT. A ND fesus, having made an end of his dis- And Jesus sat
clix. ^ course to the scribes and Pharisees, as he -^ over against the
— was going out of the temple, sat down at a Jit- [^^^r/JIp],^ ^nd be!
sii.4l ^ distance, over against that part oi it which held how the people
was called the treasury ^^ because there the chests cast money \_and
for collecting the contributions of the people ^*'^^'' ^^^^'^ 'f"" ^^^
, 1 • 1 1 I 1 \ - treasury : and many
Stood, and in the chambers over that cloister that were rich cast
the sacred stores were kept : and he. looked iip^ in much. [Luke
and beheld^ with attentive observation, how the ^^^- -^-^
people cast their money ^ [aiid] brought their of-
ferings and free gifts, into the treasury, at this
public time ; and many rich men cast in much ;
there being still this remainder of national good-
ness among them, though true religion was
sunk to so very low an ebb.
42 And there came among the rest a certain poor 42 And there came
widow, whose character and circumstances he ^ certain poor wid-
'Avell knew ; and she cast in there two of the i^' r'thither] 'two
smallest pieces of brass coin then in use, called mites, which make
viites, which both taken together only 7nake a ^ ^^rthing-. [Luke
farthing of the Roman money. -^^^^ ^'^
43 And our Lord was so pleased with this gen- 43 And he called
erous action of hers, that he took particular no- ^"^^ '""] his disci-
r . , 77 7 / • 7- • 7 , • vAes., and saith unto
tice or It, and even called Ins disciples to him, to them. Verily I say
hear his remarks upon it ; and as they stood unto you, That this
about him, he saijsto them. Look upon yonder poor widowhath cast
A \ ^1 ri • more in, than all
woman, and observe the greatness ot her piety they which have cast
and zeal ; for assuredly I say unto you. That into the treasury.
this poor widow, however she may seem to men [Luke XXL 3.]
to have given but a very little inconsiderable
matter, has appeared in the sight of God to
have cast in more than all they who have throxvn
44 such sumptuous gifts into the treasury : And, 44 Forall [these]
in proportion to her circumstances, it is much
more ; for all these, who have presented such
* The treasury 7\ This treasury received money thrown into it was employed to buy
the voluntary contributions of the worship- wood for the altar, salt and otJier necessa-
pers who came up to the feaste ; and the ries, not provided for in any other wary.
Reflections on the kind acceptance of the smallest charity, 35 J
aid cast in of their large sums, threzu in^ comparatively, but a little sect.
abundance [unto the part of their superfluity and redinidaiicy of pos- ^^^^-
butshf^ftr'^Cpel: =«^i°!>= '"tojhe offerings of God ; ha she, in —
ury] did cast in all the midst of her poverty^ and the daily straits 3j.ii.44
that she had, even all to which she is exposed, has cast in all the little
Xx/'IT' ^^"""^^ ^^^^^ °^ money that she had, [even] all that she
had by her for her laving ; not knowing where
she should get the next mite for herself to fur-
nish out the necessary supports for her humbte
and indigent life.
IMPROVEMENT.
OUR Lord Jesus Christ had his eye on those who were bring- Mark
ing their gifts unto the sacred treasury. Let us remember his xii.41
eye is also upon us, to observe in what degree we are ready, on
proper occasions, to contribute for the glory of God and the good
of mankind ; and in w^hat proportion to the ability which God
has given us. Let not the poorest be discouraged from doing 42
something for these good purposes, however little they may
have it in their power to perform ; since Christ may acknowl-
edge the noblest charity in the smallest gift, as xvherever there
is a xvillingmind, it is accepted according to zvhat a man hath, and
7iot according to what he hath not, (2 Cor. viii. 12.)
Let us imitate the candour of our blessed Redeemer, and be 43
ready to be pleased with little services. The circumstances of
mankind are such that few have it in their power to do great
viatters frequently for the service of others : but the desire of a
man is his kindness (Prov. xix. 22) ; the principles and circum-
stances of an action recommend it more than the appearance it
may make ; and a multiplicity of Utile kind offces, in persons
frequently conversant w^ith each other, are the bands of society
and friendship. We ought therefore to preserve an habitual
tenderness and generosity of mind, and be mutually. willing to
oblige and to be obliged by them.
To conclude ; let us not despise the poor, since there are many 44
of them who will in Chris fs computation be found eminently
rich in good xvcrks ; many whose mite will, in the treasury of
God, have the value of a talent, and will condemn the sordid
parsimony with which many of the rich and great have cast
their presents into it ; while what the latter part with out of
their abundance bears no proportion in the account of God to
what the former freely spare from their necessity, Happy is it
for every truly pious and benevolent mind that it is to give up
its fmal account to him who searches the heart, and who is wut-
nesB to those devout and charitable purposes which will always
Mat
658 The stately buildings of the temple being shewn hinij
stretch themselves out beyond the limit of actions^ and engage
the charitable soul to wish more good than the power and rev-
enues even of kingdoms could effect.
SECT. CLX.
Our Lord foretells the approaching destruction of ferusalem^ and
here insists on the reynoter signs of its approach. Mat. XXIV.
1-_14. Mark XIII. 1—13. Luke XXI. 5—19.
Mat. XXIV. 1. ^ Mat.xxi\M.
SECT, /f iVZ) when Jesus had thus confoimded his A ND Jesus went
clx. ^ adversaries, and had foretold the desola- -^^ ^ut, and cle«
, , . , . ^ ^ ^ ^ parted from the tem-
tion that their aggravated sms would shortly 'jg . ^^^^ ^ns, disci-
]\ bring both on the city and the temple (Mat. pies came to him
xxiii. 38, p. 354), he left the place, and proin^ ^"i^.^o shew him the
\c V V, ^ J r. 1? ^ ,7 ^-u ^ buildin^softhetem-
outiromuiQuce, departed Jrom the temple^wberQ .^ . tluke, and as
he had been discoursing to them. A?id as he some spake 'how it
w^as going away, his disciples came to \Jiim\ and was adorned with
took that occasion to shew him the splendid ^^^^^^ r^^°"^f f"^
, .... . .-. - • r 1 S'lts,] [one ot them
buildings and magnificent decorations oj ?«e saith unto him, Mas-
temple: «72^^(??7ze observing what a noble struc- ter, see whatman-
ture it was, 3.nd speakinp- horu it was adorned ^'^^J^ °^, ^^,"J1^^ ^"^
.,, , ^r 1 ^ r T • • , , what buikhng-s are
With beautijul Stones^ oi a prodigious size,* and j^^j.e.'] [MarkXIII.
with costly gifts^ which many persons, in i. Luke XXI. 5.]
accomplishment of their vows for deliverances
received, had hung up on the walls and pillars
of it^ besides what was laid up in its treas-
ures ; ^ one of [theni] says unto him^ Master^
behold what vastly large and curious stoneSy
and what stately edifices [are these], 2 And Jesus [an-
2 And Jesus replying, saidwito them, [As for-] ^^^^'^f};^^f ^^f^^
these things rvhich ije behold with so much ^i^gse' thine-s which
admiration, do you not see the splendor and ye behold,] See ye
» Beautiful stories of a prodigious size. J several golden viries, of exquisite workman-
Josephus says that some of them were ship, as well as immense size (forjose-
/orty fve cubits long-, Jive high, and six phus tells us, in the chapter cited above,
broad, (^^e//. ^wi/. lib. v. cap. 5 (al. vi. 6), § 4, that they had c/wi^^er.? [stvcTgoftexs;;] as
§6.) See liis large and beautiful de- ?«//«.? a in an J ,• which some have thought
scription of the whole temple in that referred to God's representing the Jewish
chapter, which is one of the most enter- nation under the emblem of a -y/^e / Isa. v-
taining passages of such a kind I ever 1,7; Psal. Ixxx. 8 ; Ezek. xv. 2, 6. And
met with. yosephts likewise asserts (ibid. § 6), that
^ Costly giftsy Sec] Hanging up such the marble o^ \.\\e temple was so 'tu/wV^ that
avA%y,fxctidi, or consecrated gifts, was com- it appeared to one at a distance like a
inon in most of the ancient temples. Tacitus 'mountain of snow ; and the gildirig of sev-
speaks oFtl^e immense opulence of the tem- eral of its external parts, which he there
pie at Jerusalem. ( Histor. lib. v. § 8.) mentions, must, especially when the sun
Amongst others of its treasures there shone upon it, render it a most splendid
w;is a golden table given by Pompey ; and and beautiful spectacle.
J esufi foretells Us approaching' destruction*
liot all these [great
buildings] ? Verily I
say unto you,[L u k e,
the days will come,
in the which there
shall not be lefthefe
one stone upon an-
other, that shall not
be thrown down.]
[Mark XIII. 2.
Luke XXI. 6.]
3 And as he sat
upon the mount of
Olives [over against
the temple], the dis-
ciples [Peter, and
James,and John, and
Andrew] came unto
him privately, say-
ing, [Luke*, Mas-
ter,] tell us when
shall these things be?
and what*/m// he the
sign of thy coming,
and of the end of
the world, [when all
these things shall be
359
magnificence of all these great and pompous sect.
buildings^ which are the pride of the Jewish *^^^'
nation, and the wonder of all the rest of man- ■
kind ? Yet notwithstanding all the present gran- ^xf^'
deur of this stately temple, verily^ I say unto 2
you, That the days if i// quickly come, in which
a victorious enemy shall profane its sanctity,
and deface its, beauty, insomuch that there shall
not be left one single stone upon another here,
that shall not be entirely demolished,'^ till no re-
mains of any part of it shall be preserved.
And when he was retired from the city, as 3
he sat down upon the mount of Olives, which
was over against the temple, and commanded
the finest prospect of it from the east, the dis^
ciples, Peter, and James, and John, andAndrexv^
who were favoured with a peculiar share of his
intimacy and confidence, came to him privately^
saying. Master, we entreat thee that thou
wouldst tell us rvhen these awful things shall
happen P and what [shall be] the sign of thy
second coming, when thou wilt execute thy
vengeance on these thine enemies : and of the
end of the present age and dispensation,** when
« There shall not be left one stone upon an-
other here, &c.] It seemed exceedingly
improbable that this should happen in that
age, considering the peace of the Jews
with the Romans,and the strength of their
citadel, which forced Titus himself to ac-
knowledge that it was the singular hand
of God which compelled them to relin-
quish fortifications which no human power
could have conquered. (Joseph. Bell. Jud.
lib. vi. cap. 9 (al. vii. 16), § i.) (Compare
note ^ on Luke xix. 43, p. 288.) Bishop
Chandler justly observes that no itnpostor
would have foretold an event so unlikely,
and so disagreeable. Defence of Christian-
ity, p. 4?2, 473.
^ The end of the present age."] So
a-vvliXiiaL T8 Aiuva may well be rendered.
Compare Mattli. xii. 32 ; Rom. xii. 2 ; 1
Cor. X. 11 ; Eph. ii. 2, 7 ; Heb. vi. 5 ; ix.
26 ; in all which places etiuv may be ren-
dered age. Archbishop Tillotson, and
many other excellent writers, would re-
tain our translation, and suppose here are
tizo distinct questions ; What should be the
sign of his coming to punish the ungrateful
inhabitants of Jerusalem ? and, What the
^^S^ of his final appearance to the universal
judgment ? And that Christ answers the
first question in the former, and the second
in the latter part of the chapter : though
where the transition is made, has been,
among those that embrace this interpre-
tation, matter of much debate. Others
have supposed the apostles took it for
granted that the ivorld was to be at an end
when Jerusalem was destroyed ; and that
Christ was not solicitous to undeceive
them, as their error might make them so
much the moi-e watchful ; and therefore
answers in ambiguous terms, which might
suit either of these events. But it seems
much more natural to conclude that they
expectedthe wicked persecutors of Christ
(in which number most of the magistrates
and priests were) would by some signal
judgment be destroyed ; and that hereup-
on he would erect a most illustrious J^ing-
dotn, and probably a more magnificent
tem,ple, which they might think described
in Ezekiel : an expectation which they
did not entirely quit even to the day of his
ascension, (See Acts i. 6.) Our Lord,
with perfect integrity and consummate
wisdom, gives them an account of the
prognosticating and concom.itant signs of the
destruction of yerusalan : and then, with-
out saying one word of any temporal h'n^"
VOL. 2,
47
S60 His disciples asking xvhen these things shall he^
SECT, all these things shall be accomplished^ to make fulfilled ?] [Mark
clx. way for the brighter glories of that kingdom ^xiT^l^* ^^^^
"~" which thou wilt establish, when all thy suf-
xxiv%3 fenngs are over, and every thing which opposes
thy triumph subdued ?
4 Andjesus ansxvering them^began to saij^ with 4 And Jesus [an-
an air of solemnity agreeable to the importance swering them, be-
of the subject on which he was going to dis- L"d\hSmant'
course, As to the event concernmg which you ceive you. [Mark-
how inquire, let me in the first place caution XIII. 5. Luke ZXI.
you, that you see [to it] in the most solicitous ^""'^
manner, that 7io man deceive you with false pre-
tences to a Divine revelation and commission.
5 For many shall come in my name^ and with the 5 For many shall
title peculiar to me, sayings lam the Messiah ;^ come in my name,
ajid the time of deliverance, so long promised, ^^^ ^'and^'th J
and so long expected by the Jewish people, is {imedrawethnear:]
now come^ w^hen the yoke is to be broken off and shall deceive
from their neck, and their enemies are to be many: [Luke, g-o
subdued under them ; and by these plausible ter them.^]^^[MARK
pretences they shall deceive many: but do not ye xill. 6. Luke XXL
therefore go after them ; for all their promises — 8 ]
and hopes will be in vain, and sudden destruc-
tion will overtake them and their followers. ^ C^^ ^ \ ^;, ,^^^^
n . J 1 11 1. r J when J ve shall Jiear
6 But xvhen ye shall hear of wars, and rumours of wars',and rumours
qfxvars^ among the Jews, and seditions raised of wars, [LuKE,and
dotn to be erected, raises their thoughts lib. lii. cap. 8, al. 14.) But as it would
to the final judgiyicnt (to w^hich the figures swell my notes too much to enter into a
used in the former description might ma- particular detail of those circumstances,
ny of them be literally applied), and sets I must content myself with referring- to
before them an heavenly kingdom, and eter- Dr. Whitby's excellent notes on the xxivt'^
nal life, as the great object of their pur- of Matthew, and to Arclibishop Tillotsoii's
suit. Mat. XXV. 34, 46. This I take to be larg-e and accurate discourse on the same
the key to this whole discourse ; the par- subject, in the second volume of his Fosthu-
ticular parts of which have been admira- vioiis Works-, Ser. 183 — 187, \i.547,lSfseq.
bly illustrated by many learned covivieii- ^ The time is come.'] The word Dyfu^:
tators ; but the whole scope and connec- may signify either the approach or arrival
tion of it, so far as I can recollect, fully of the time, and may with great propriety
explained by none. express the first opening of a scene to be
^ Many shall come in my name, Sec] See gradually disclosed ; in which sense it is
Joseph. Bell. yud.Y\h.n. cap. 13 (al 12), applied to CAm«'5-^i/!^(/om, as preached by
§ 4, 5. Christian writers have always hi?nse!f and his apostles, during the time of
with great reason represented yosephus''s his personal ministry. Such pretended
History of the Jevjish War as the best com.- Messiahs did indeed arise towards the
vientary o\\ this chapter; and many have close of the Jewish state. (Seel John iv.
justly remarked it as a wonderfulinstance 1 ; Acts v. 36, o7 ; and Joseph. Antiq. lib.
of the care of Providence for the Christian xx. cap. 8 (al. 6, 7), § 6, 10.) The Rhemish
cAurcAjtliat he, an eyewitness, and in these Jesuits, as much as they triumph in their
things of so great credit, should (espec- infallible guide to the interpretation of
ially in such an extraordinary manner) be scripture, ridiculously explain this as a
preserved, to transmit to us a collection of prophecy of Luther and Calvin ; which
important facts^ which so exactly illus- I mention only as one instance, among
trate this noble prophecy in almost every many more, of their contemptible igno-
ciixuiiistance. {Qqiv^^^vq Joseph. Bdijud, ranee or wicked prevarication,^
He mentions the calamities that would forerun them. 361
commotions,] see by them in several places against the Romans, sect.
that ye be not trou- see that you be not troubled [and^ terrified^ as if ^^^'
''r'ifie^] •"^-'^U *e great event that I have now foretold would —
[L UK. these thin£,rs] immediately happen ; Jor all tfiese tilings 7nust xxiv.6
must [Luke, ^v^i] first come to pass^ and be the gradual openings
come to pass ; but ^£ j^ ^^^^ the end of them, in the utter destruc-
tlie end is not yet. . r i ▼ • i • ^ ^ ^ > ^4-'
[M ARK XIII. 7. tion of the Jewish state, z^ not ijet: nay, some o,t
Luke XXI. 9.] you, my disciples, will have several important
services to perform here, after these alarms are
begun ; services which even by means ot these
alarms vou may pursue with some peculiar
advantages.
7 [Luke, THen And then he further added, and said to them^ 7
said he unto them,] Judea shall not be the only seat of war at that
Nation shall rise a- ^-^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^1^^ neicjhbouring countries 72«?z07J
cramst nation, and , ,, . . ° . ji- j •.,„* -
kingdom against shall rise np against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom: and there kingdom : s and, partly as the consequence ot
shall be (amines, ^j^ggg ravages and slaughters, and partly by the
[lll-Kt^-^^^^^^^ immediate hand of Providence on sinful men
quakes' in divers who have rejected the gospel, as also to exercise
jjlaces, [and trou- t|^e faith and charity of its professors, there shall
l^il ^sl^gMs? "Id be severe famines, and mortal pestilences ; and
great signs shall there shall also happen great and terrible eart/i'
tliere be from heav- quakes ill various places^and troubles and nn^msh.
8— ^lIke"" XXi' ^^ ^^^^ ^" ^^^ apprehension of yet greater ca-
10, 11.] ^^^ lamities. Here at home there shall also be dread-
ful sights, and great signs from hecruen, particu-
larly a comet like a flaming sword waving oyer
Jerusalem, and the appearance of contending
8 All these are j g j^ the air.^ But all these things {arel g
the rbegmnmgsj ot,,,., „, 11
sorrows [Ma r k only the beginnings oftho.se sorrozvs and alarms
XIII.— 8.] that will issue in the destruction of Jerusalem.
Mark XIII. 9. ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ f^ yourselves, and be cautious Mark
to^'yourselves -.for how you behave j and though you meet with xili- 9
g Nation shall rise up against nation, &c.] J> Dreadful sights, and great signs from
Grotius gives us a particular account of hean.^en, Sic] Of these appearances, see
several iw.rs of the Jews among them- Joseph. Bell. Jud. lib. vi. cap. 5 (al. vii.
selves, and of the Romans with the Sy- 12), §3, and Tacit. Histor. lib. v. § 13. I
rians, Samaritans, and other neighbouring cannot here but add an excellent observa-
nations, before Jerusalem was destroyed, tion of Mr. West relating to the auJ.hors by
There were also earthquakes at this time whom this prophecy, which is expressed
in Apamea, Laodicea and Campania, in terms so very plain and circumstantial,
(See Tacit. Annal. lib. xii. § 43, 58; lib. is recorded; that Matthew and Mark
xiv § 27 ; lib. xv. § 22 ; Sueton. Nero, cap. were incoutestably dead before the event,
48 ; Gal6. cap. 18.) The famine in the as Luke also probably might be ; and as
/lays of Claudius is mentioned Acts xi. 28, as for John, tlve only evangelist who survived
well as recorded in history (Sueton. Claud, it, it is remarkable that he says nothing
cap. 18, and Euseb. Hist. Eccl. lib ii. cap. of it, lest any should say the prophecy was
8) ; and many perished by it in Judea. forged after the event happened. See
?2ce Joieph. Antiq. lib. xx. cap. 2,;J 6. West on the Resxirrection of Christy p. 393-
S62 His disciples should Jirst he violently persecuted :
iTt-T. the severest persecutions, be not discouraged [Luke, before all
cl^- from persisting in the truth, and from contin.u- these] they [Luke,
.1 I I • f„:4.uf,i • 1 ^ r V r" shall lay their hands
Mark '"? f ^^ ^"""^^ regards to me : for before ^^ ^,J^ ^,^^i ^^^^^_
xiii. 9 ^'''' ^"-^^^ things shall happen they shall lay their cute you, anct] shall
violent hands upon you^ a}id persecute you with ^^^^^^^ yo^' up to
the greatest cruelty and rage ; [and] shall de- lZ'"to\hl' "svna-'
liver some of you up to the greater councils^ g-og-ues, and 'into
\^and2 cite others of you to appear before the prisons,] [to be]
inferior courts in the suna^osrues^andshdW cast ^^=^t^" C"'^ f^^^\\
r • . • *^ ^ 7 1 ed, and shall kill
some or vou z7ito prisons^ to be severely scour g- y^^-j . g,^^ yg [shall
ed^ [and] otherwise afflictedby confinement and be hated of all na-
a variety of hardships there j'^ arid indeed they tions, amq shall be
1 ;/ ' r J. I- 11 c ' c broudit before ru-
shall go so tar as to kill some ot you, m a tew ^^^^ \,^j j^i^^.^ ^^^
years : and as for the rest, ye shall be generally my [name's] sake,
hated, not onlv by the Jews here at home, but f«r a testimony a-
by those abroad, "^and by all the Gentile nations JxTv^'a ""* L^^e
to whom vou go ; [and'] shall be brought before xxi. X2.]
rulers and kings for 7ny name^s sake, and for a
testimony against them, that the gospel has been
offered to them in the most public manner, even
to the greatest of men, to whom you might
otherwise have had no access. (Compare Mat.
Luke X. 17, 18, sect. Ixxv.) And it shall ?i.\so turn Luke XXL 13.
^^•^^ to you for a public and honourable testimony oi And it shall turn to
the innocence of your cause, however it may yo^ for a testimony.
be misrepresented, and of the integrity and
uprightness of your conduct.
Mark And indeed, notwithstanding this early and Mark XIIL 10.
xiii.lO violent opposition, yet before the destruction f"^^^^^°j^i?^^T^^
of Jerusalem the gospel must frst be preached ^^^\l\^l^^,l^ *'
among all the heathen nations, which are sub-
jected to the Roman empire (see note ") ;
and there also you will be followed with the
11 like assaults and persecutions. But when 11 But when they
they shall bring you before governors and ^^^^^\ ^^^^ you, Ar\A
kings, and deliver you up to the officers of jus- [^^ '^rin^our hearts,"
tice, to be prosecuted as criminals in their most not to meditate be-
solemn courts, settle it at such times in your fore, what ye shall
hearts as a constant rule not to draw up any no^^roug-ht before!
formal speech, nor to premeditate zuhat answer hand what ye shall
or apology you shall make ; [and] be not anxious-
ly sclicitoua beforehand what you shall speak in
your defence, to vindicate yourselves and your
' Shall deliver you up to the councils, &c.] Paul before Nero the Emperor, as well as
All this was exactly accomplished: for before the Roman Governors, Gallio, Felix,
Peter and John were called before the and Festus. (Acts xviii. 12 ; xxiv. xxv.
sanhedrim (Acts iv. 6, 7) ; James and Pe- xxviii.)
ter before Herod (Acts xii. 2, 3) ; and
But the Spirit would help them to make their defence, 363
speak : btit whatso- religion from the unrighteous charges and as- sect.
ever shall be given persions of your enemies ; but rvhatsoever shall '^^^'
ihat spelk^ye :7oi' ^e given in to you, and be strongly suggested to —
it is not ye that your minds in that hour, that speak boldly and xiii.n
speak, but the Holy resolutely j for it is not you that speak, but the
Ghost. [Luke XXI. ^^^^ ^^-^.-^ himself, who shall assist and dic-
tate to you. (Compare Mat. x. 19, 20, sett.
Luke XXL 15. Ixxv. and Luke xii. 11, 12, sect, cxi.) For Lnke
Fori will give you a it jg really my cause in which you are engaged ; ^^^^
X'h aif rour'";": and therefore, though you are ignorant and
versaries shall not Unlearned men, and so may be apprehensive
be able to gainsay, you shall be confounded in the presence of
nor resist. persons who are in rank and education so much
your superiors, yet depend upon it, that / xvill
give you a mouth to plead, and xvisdom to answer
A\ hatever they allege against you, which all
your adversaries shall not be able to contradict
cr xvithstand, but shall be even astonished at
the freedom and propriety with which you
shall express yourselves, according to the
various occasions which arise. (Compare Acts
iv. 13, 14.)
Mat. XXIV. 10. And many that have owned themselves my Mat.
And tlien shall ma- followers shall then be offended, and give up all xxivf
shall\etray one Tn- ^f gard to the gospel, when they see the profes- ^^
other, and shall hate sion of it must cost them so dear ; and having
one another. proved apostates, they shall become persecu-
tors too, and shall betray one another, and hate
one another, as being in their consciences secret-
ly galled at the greater fidelity of their compan-
Mark XIII. 12. ions. And this wretched temper shall rise to Mark
Now the brother such a height, as to break through all the bonds 2tiu.l2
shall betray the of nature, insomuch that 072^ (^roM^r^Afl/Z^^^/r^z/
brother to death, , ' , . . , , ,*
and the father the a?20^/ier, not only to imprisonment, but ?(? ^.fr/m.*
son : and children and the father, on the one hand, shall betray
shall rise up against ["/^^^-j ^^^^ ^q^ , ^„^ children, on the Other hand,
Ihdi c^ausT\'hemTo *^^«^^ ^"^ ^P ^^ witnesses against [their] aged
be put to death. parents, and cause them to be put to death
Luke XXI. 16. without compassion or remorse. ^n^ these Luke
And ye shall be be- scenes, monstrous as they may seem, shall pass ^^-^^
trayed both by par- \^ Yo\xr days, and before your eyes ; nay, you
ents, and brethren, -' , v n i • r i u • A.
and kinsfolks, and yourselves shall have a paintul share m them :
friends : and^omeof For you, my apostles and servants, shall be be-
you shall they cause frayed and persecuted even by parents, and
to be put to death, brethren, and kindred, and those that pretend to
be the most faithful and affectionateyri^7z^.y;
and [some] of you shall they cause to be slain by
the hand of public and oppressive violence.
364 They are exhorted to possess their souls in patience,
SECT. And indeed this temper shall so generally pre- 17 And ye shall
<^^^- ym\,i\\?it ye shall be hated buiAmost all vdiuis^wd ^e hated of all men
■■ , *^ ,, . -^ „ r ^, 1 tor my name s sake.
orders, as well as nations oi rnen^jor the sake rMARKXIlI.13 .1
KKi.l7 '^f ^y ^^^^^ ^"d gospel,^ though they can find
nothing else to object to your character, or ac-
cuse in your conduct ; and they shall treat
you as public enemies, while you are acting the
most generous and benevolent part. (Com-
18 pare Mat. x. 22, sect. Ixxv.) But in the 18 But there shall
midst of all your sufferings be courageous and "«t an hair of your
cheerful, as knowing you are the care of apecu- ^^ perish.
liar and most gracious Providence ; so that, on
the whole, you shall be safe, and not an hair of
your head shall utterly perish^ or fall to the
19 ground unregarded. In your patience there- ^jg^^^^ ^"poslTs^s ^ye
fore possess ye your soidsy^ and be calm and your souls.
^Te shall he hated by all men for the sake acter and prejudices of the populace, it
of tny tiatne.'] Thai not only the apostles^ must be very easy to do.
but all the pritnitive Christians, were in ^ Kot an hair of your head shall perish.^
general move hated and persecuted than <9;ir Zor^ had foretold but just before (ver.
any other re lig-ious sect of men, is most 16), that scvei-al of them should be put to
notorious to all who are at all acqtiainted death ; he must therefore here intend to
•with ecclesiastical history. A fact which assure them, that when they came on the
mii^ht seem unaccountable, when we con- whole to balance their accounts, they
sider how inoffensive and benevolent their should find tl'.ey liad not been losers in
temper and conduct was, and how friendly any the least instance ; but that whatever
an aspect their tenets had on the security damage they had sustained, it should be
of any government under which they lived, amply made up, and they at length placed
We are not to imagine (as Mons. St. Jieal in astate of entire security. This is plain-
weakly insinuates in hisilldigestcd,though ly the import of this/jrc/^uer^/a/ expression,
elegant, History of the Life of Jesus, p. 264) See 1 Sam. xiv. 45 ; 2 Sam. xiv. 11 ; IKings
that they had any peculiar aversion to the i- 52 ; and Acts xxvii. 34.
name of Christ. The learned Dr. War bur- '" In your patience possess ye your souls."]
ton has shewn, beyond all contradiction, in Though the word kIat^oh does often sig-
his masterly manner, tliat the true reason nify to acquire or procure (see Mat. x. 9 ;
of this opposition was, that while the dif- Acts i. 18 ; viii. 20 ; xxii. 28), yet I can-
ferent pagan religions, like the cenfede- not suppose with Brennius, that our Lord
rated demons honoured by them, sociably intends here chiefly to ultimate that forti-
agreed with each other, the ,^>-o.s;^6e7 taught tude and composure of spirit might have
Christians, not only like the Jews, to bear a tendency to secure their lives, as it would
their testimony to the falsehood of them enable them calmly to deliberate on the
all, but also with the most fervent zeal to several circumstances which might arise,
urge tlve renunciation of them, as a point I cannot but think that the sense which
of absolute aiecessity ; requiring all men, the accurate and pious Dr. TFr ig ht gi\es of
on the most tremendous penalties, to be- this passage, in that excellent piece of
Iteve in Christ, and in all things to submit Christian Philosophy, his discourse on Self
themselves to his authority , see Dr. War- Fossession (p. 4, 5), is much more natural,
lrurton''s Divine Legation of Moses, Vol. I. as well as more noble ; as if oj^r /-ore/ had
book ii. § 6, p. 278 — 295. A demand said, " By keeping the government of your
which bore so hard especially on the pride ownspiritsintheseawfulscenes,which will
and licentiousness of their princes, and the bear down so many others, you will secure
secular interests of their priests, that it is the most valuable "self enjoyment, as well as
no wonder they raised so violent a storm be able most prudently to guard against
against it,; which, considering the char- the dangers which will surround you,."
The gospel should first be preached in all the xuorld. 365
serene, the masters of yourselves, and above sect.
the agitation of any irrational or disquieting ^^^*
passion. JJJ^
Mat. XXIV. 11. For though your discouragements are great, xxlv.
And many false pro- ^,^^/ particularly on this account, that (as In
"^I'^lxf'fjl'^Z^ hinted before, ver. o) many false prophets shall
shall deceive many. . , , n 7 • ^'^ ^^^ -n
arise^ and shall deceiue many ; which some will
urge as a farther excuse for suspecting and
12 Andbecausein- abusing you : And^ though because iniqidty 12
iquity shall abound, 5/^^^// ^\^y^^ abound under such a variety of forms,
shall wlxcdd.™""'^^^'^ ^^'^'^ of niajiy professing Christians, who
should be your protectors and comforters, rvill
grow cool; so that they shall be afraid or
ashamed to entertain you, and shall be ready
to throw up the cause which you so zealously
13 But he that defend : Yet sink not under the burden ; 13
shall endure unto but remember this, and let it animate you
the eml, the same amidst all your difficulties. That he zvho reso-
Sil3.lL DC SU.VCO.- -_ 7111 •• 1
[Mark XIII.~13.] lately endiires all these extremities, and perse-
veres to the end^ shall finally be saved^ and have
his life given him as a prey. (Compare Mat.
X, 22.)
14 And this ^os- And know, for your farther encouragement, 14
pel of the kingdom that all their raj?e shall not be able to destroy
shall be preached in , . . 9 . , 111 , -^
all tlie world, for a ^"^ interes-t in which you are embarked, and to
witness unto all na- which you sacrifice so much ; for I assure you,
tions ; and then shall that this glorious gospel of th^ kingdom of
tlie end come. heaven shall first be preached in all the xuorld^
for a xvitness to all its most distant nations ;^
and then shall the end oi the Jewish state come^
and God, having thus gathered for himself a
people from among the Gentiles, shall destroy
even this temple itself, in which they have
trusted so much, and which they have fool-
ishly looked upon as an inviolable pledge of
his favour.
^ This gospel — shall be preached 171 all the thia, by Matthew ; in Scythia, by Philip
tiw/o', &c.] The accomplishment of this and Andrew; in the northern and westenn
extraordinary prophecy is admirably illus- parts of Asia, by Bartholomew ; in Persia,
trated by Dr. Arthur Toiutg on Idolatry^ Vol. by Simon and Jude ; in Media, CaiTnania,
II. p. 216 — 234. It appears, from the and several easiern parts, by Thomas ;
most credible records, that the gospel was through the vast tract from Jerusalem
preached in Idumea, Syria, and Mesopo- round about unto lUyricum, by Paul, as
tamia, by Jude ; in Egypt, Marmorica, also in Italy, and probably in Spain, Gaul,
Mauritania, and other parts of Africa, by and Britain : in most of which places
Mark, Simon, and Jude ; in Ethiopia, by Christian churches were planted in less
Candace's eunuch, and Matthias ; in Pon- than thirty years after the death of Christ,
tus, Galatia, and the neighbouring parts of which was h^i'vr^ tfi^ Jatr action of ^^erw
Asia, by Peter ; in the territories of the -salevi.
seven Asiatic churches, by John ; ir Par-
666 Reflections on the sig7is of the destruction of Jerusalem »>
IMPROVEMENT.
SECT. The whole of this prophecy most evidently shews us how
^^^' vain and dangerous it is to trust in external privileges, and to
■"""■ cry out, as these foolish and wretched Jews did, The Temple of
^y2 ^^^ Lord^ the Temple of the Lord^ the Temple of the Lor d^ are
these buildings ; when of this stately and magnificent structure,
within less than half a century after it was finished, not one stone
was left on another undemolished.
So particular a prediction, when compared with the event,
must surely confirm our faith in Christy as the great Prophet
which was to come into the world. And we shall see reason to
admire the wisdom and goodness of Divine Providence in giv-
ing us, almost by a miraculous preservation of the author, such
a commentary on this prophecy as is delivered down to us in the
works ofjosephus^ the fewish historian, which throw a much
stronger light upon it than if they had been written by a Christ^
ian on purpose to illustrate it.
Luke Let us bless God that our own eyes have not seen such desO"
I'ffii ^^^^^^^^ ^"^ riiins^ such commotions in the natural and moral
2^'^j. world, such dissentions in civil life, such persecutions and hatreds
xiii. amongst the nearest relatives^ under the pretence of propagating
12,13 religion ; which, however propagated, is nothing without that
love which is so often made the first victim to it.
Mat. Yet too plainly do we see, in one form or another, iniquitif
^^'^* abounding^ and the love of many waxing cold. Let us endeavour
to revive on our own hearts a deep and lasting impression of
Divine things ; and remember, whenever we are tempted to let
go our integrity, that it is he alone who endures to the end that
1 3 shall be saved.
Luke Whatever our trials are, let us cheerfully confide in the pro-
^xi. tection of Divine Providence ; nor let us despair of those con-
' tinned influences of the blessed Spirit which may animate us to
the most difficult services, and support us under the most pain-
19 ful suflferings. Let us therefore in patience possess our own soulsy
and maintain that composure and steadiness of spirit, as those
that know how much more valuable it is than any enjoyment
which can be taken away, or any temporal interest which can be
brought into question.
Jesus declares the nearer signs of this destruction* ^^"f
SECT. CLXI.
Our Lord proceeds to describe the nearer prognostications of the
destruction of Jerusalem^ and the extreme severity of those ca-
lamities xvhich should then fall on the Jewish nation. Mat.
XXIV. 15—28. Mark XIII. 14—23. Luke XXI. 20—24.
Luke XXI. 20.
A ND^^hen%e /^^R Lord having proceeded thus far in his sect.
.A.shallseejerusa- ^^ discourse, added some more immediate clxi.
leni compassed with signs, by which the near approach of this ter- J"
armies, [aW the a- ^ible destruction might be determined ; and J:''^
bomination of clcso- ., „^ i n or i ! Ti.xi.^KI
lation spoken of by said. When you shall see Jerusalem encompassed
Daniel theprophet,] on every side ivith the Roman armies^ [and] the
[Mark, standnij^ abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel
nn'the"hZ';Ce^. theprophet (Dan. ix. 27), .tand,ng cohere it
(whoso readeth, let ought not^ and displayed in an luhj place; that is,
him understand) ] when the Standards of their desolating legions,
dtltTtherlof U °" ^hi-^h they bear the detestable images of
nigh. [Mat. XXIV. their idols, are planted on holy ground;* then
15. Mark XIII. knozv^ that the desolation thereof is just approach-
^^•~"3 ing. And, by the way, now I mention that
remarkable prophecy, let every one that reads
it pause seriously upon it, that he may under'
stand its meaning ; for it contains one of the
most eminent predictions which can any where
be found, of the time, purposes, and conse-
quences of my appearing ; and the whole con-
dl Then let them text is of great importance.^ Now I say, 21
which are in Judea when you see this signal, then let them that are
in Judea fee^ as fast as they can from the forti-
fied cities and populous towns, to the mountains
" Planted on holy ground.] Not only the Roman armies, see Grotius's excellent
femple, and the inountain on which it stood, note on Mat. xxiv. 15.
but the whole city of Jerusalem, and sev- >> The whole context is of great import-
eral furlongs of land round about it, were ance.] If any wonder that so impoi'tant
accounted holy. (See tiote e, on Mat. iv. 5, a prophecy is not more frequently insisted
Vol. I. p. 118.) It is remarkable, that by upon in the Neiu Testavient, I think we
the special providence of God, after the may justly answer, that it was not proper
Romans under Cestius Gallus made their for the apostles to urge it ; as the exact
firstadvancetowards Jerusalem, they sud- commencement and termination of the
denly withdrew again, in a most unex- .jei»e«fy licc^-y was a nice controversy out of
pected, and indeed impolitic manner; at tlieir way, and not capable of being fully
which ^oje/b/iwj testifies his surp)-ise, since cleared up to the populace, with whom
the city might then have been easily tak- they were chiefly concerned ; and as sev-
en. By this means they gave as it were eral of the events referred to in it had not
a signal to the Christians to retire; which, their complete accomplishment till some
in regard to this admonition, they did, years after most of their writings were
some to Pclla, and others to mount Li- published. But that the period is long
banus, and thereby preserved their lives, since elapsed is certain, however it might
See Joseph. Bell. Jud. lib. ii. cap. 19 (al. be reci:oned ; as Dr. Bullock has excel-
24), § 7, and Euseb. Hist. Eccles. lib. iii. lently shewn. See his Vindication, book
cap. 5. Oi Xhit idolatrous standards in \X\Q ii, chap. 4, § 6 ; p, 216 — 218, and Dr.
Sykes ofdwinianity^ chap, xvi- p. 29r--30l.
VOL. 2. 48
368 He warns his disciples to flee from the danger,
SECT, and the wilderness, where they will be secure ; flee to the moui».
<^lxi. flr;2ar especially let them that are in the midst q/ tains ; and let them
_____ ., 1 ^ T 1 ^ J , ^' J* ^ 1 which are in the
L^^g 2^ where Jerusalem Stands, fl^^/irtrnmmediately ^^^^^ ^f j^^ ^^p^^.^
<ii.21 ^"^ ^^ '^^^ before their retreat is cut off by the out ; and let not
union of the enemies' forces near that centre ; ^Jiem that are in
and let not them that are in the adjacent coun- Jherehua'^fMrxT.
tries ^ by any means attempt to enter into it^ as XXIV. 16. Mark
a place of safety ; for all its strength, and all XIII.— 14}
its sanctity, will not secure its inhabitants.
^^^^r L^t every one therefore retreat as fast as pos- Mark XIII. 15.
^ sible, and let not him that is taking the air on And let him that is
the battlements at the top of the house, go down ^o dowr'fnto' "he
into the house, nor enter into it, to ^cr/^e crwaz/ house, neither enter
anif thing, though ever so precious, out of his therein, to take any
house ; but let him go down by the outer stairs, [ mTt.'' XXI V^^'ir^]
as the shortest way, lest he should linger to his
16 own destruction. And let not him that is at 15 And let him
work in the f eld, and hath laid aside his upper that is in the field,
garment as an incumbrance, go back, so much J?^°^ \"^"tak^^^ ^^h*^
as a few steps, to take his clothes,"^ lest the ene- garment [Matt.
my should surprise him before he can recover XXIV. 18]
Luke them. (Compare Luke xvii. 31, p. 185.) In Luke XXI. 22.
xxi.22 a word, let every one flee for his life, and reck- Forthesebethedays
on himself sufficiently happy if he can escape ^fi S:^^[^l,^^^^^
with it, though in the most naked and destitute written may be ful-
circumstances ; for these are days of most ter- filled,
rible vengeance, to which most of the threaten-
ings of the prophets, even from the days of
Moses, do ultimately refer ; and they shall be
so full of distress and misery, that all the most
dreadful things xuhich are ivritten in them w«z/
then be said to be complettly fulfilled,^ _ Mark XIII. 17.
T»« 1 T^ . 11 1 ' • u 1: J ... Jout wo to them that
Mark But more especially there will be xvo and ter- ^^.^ ^-^j^ ^^.^^^^ ^^^^
^"^■^'' ror to them that are with child, and to them that to them that* give
give suck in those days ; as their incumbrances s'lck in thosedays.
will be peculiarly great, and they that are with Luke XX I 23-.]
« Go back to take his clothes."] These are going back (as we speak in the country) so
is strong expressions as one can imagine 7nuch as a iand's ieiigth to take them up ;
to urge the speediest retreat. It is in- and so it rises on the former verse,
deed observable, that this whole discourse
abounds with very lively figures of ora- ^ May then be said to be completely
lory, and is heightened with the noblest fuljilled.] Among many admirable thing*
beauties of description. Were it neces- to be found in that great original, Dr.
sary to produce authorities to prove that Jackson's Credibility of the Scriptures, I can-
husbandmen laid aside their upper gar- not but reckon-that part of it in which he
ment when at work, they might be found shews how exactly the prophecies of
in Eisner (Obser=o. Vol. I p 109, 110), but Moses were accomplished in the slaugh-
that learned critic has impaired the beau- ter and dispersion of the Jews in, and
ty of the text by interpreting it as a cau- quickly after, this fatal war with the Ro-
tion not to go home to fetch them. Not to mans. See the passages quoted belowr
tuTn back, implies fleeing directly without in note ">, p. 372.
Great tribulatioii would be in those days : 3^9
them will be driven in a wild consternation to sect.
consult their own safety, to the neglect of those ^ '"•
whom common humanity might teach them to j^^^.j^
guard and assist. xiii.17
18 And pray >e And therefore praif that no additional cir- 18
that your flig'ht be cumstances of difficulty mav attend vou; as, for
?,?eittrtthc's^':i"^^^"^^' that this z/cz^r precipitate >^/.? may
barhday.] [Mat. ^ot he in ivinter^ when the roads are bad, and
XXIV." 20] the days short and dark ; nor fall out on a sab-
bathdaif ; for a short journey may not be suffic-
ient, and the regard which most of the Christ-
ians in these parts will have for that day, may
make them scrupulous of violating a rest they
think so sacred, by a longer march, even in a
case of so much extremity.
19 For in those And a case of extremity it will indeed be \for 19
days [Luke, there ifi those daijs there shall be a scene oi great trib'
f,'r"nn'^v?rJ'^'''^" ^i^t'^on [and] distress in the /««^ of Judea, and
ulation amtJlLuKE, . , ,r i , r i n .7 • ,
distress in the land, oi dreadiul wrath trom heaven vpon all tins peO"
and wrath upon this ple^ such as the like has not been known before,
people,] such as was either here or elsewhere, even from the be^in^
not trom the beffin- . ^ , . , • , \> 1 , 1 ^ ^l-
ning of the creation ning oj the crealionivhich bod has made unto tnis
which God created, time ; nor ever shall the like be heard of any
unto this time, [no, more ;^ as no people ever have been, or ever shall
[Ma^t.^^XXIV. 21 ^^1 g'-ii^ty ^^ so aggravated a crime, and so inex-
LiKE XXL— 23] cusable a series of impenitence and infidelity.
Luke XXL 24. J;2<i therefore they shall fall by the edge of the Luke
And they shall fall sword in multitudes, both within and without ^-^^
sworcra^nf shaVbe "^^^'^7'^ a^^'the consequence of all shall be, that
led away captive in- the miserable remnant which survives the gen-
to all nations: and eral camage shall be carried away captive into
Jerusalem shaU be ^// ^^i^ j^ost distant nations of the world,^ and
continue for many ages under great infamy,
calamity, and oppression. And^ in the mean
time, Jerusalem itself shall be trampled down
• Such as the like has not been, — nor ever mans, but by the yet greater cruelties of
ihall be.'] This Josephus expressly asserts the seditious and zealots within the city,
to have been the fact ; and whoever reads who really acted the part of so many incar-
his account, or even that judicious abstract nate fiends rather than of men.
from him which Eusebius has given us ^ They shall fall by the edge of the sword)
(Hist. Eccles. lib. iii. cap. 5, 6), will see a and shall be carried captive, &c.] It ap-
sad illustration of all this ; and, criminal pears from jfosephus that eleven hundred
and detestable as the Jewish nation now thousand yeu^s were destroyed in this war,
was, will hardly be able to forbear weep- and near an hundred thousand tsiken prison-
ing over those complicated miseries ers, and (according to Deut. xxviii. 68)
brought upon them by /)/n^/wc5,andyaw/He, sold for slaves at the vilest prices. See
and j?re^^, occasioned by the siege, and by Joseph, Bel. Jud. lib. vi, cap. 9 (al. vii. If)-?
the carnage made, not only by the Ro- §3.
ro But the days should be shortened for the sake of the electa
SECT, and kept in possession by the GentUes^^ till the
clxi. times appointed for these triumphs and insuhs
of the Gentiles shall be fulfilled, and the day come
sx'i^24 ^^^^" ^^^ ^^^^^ remember his ancient people in
mercv.^
Mark And during the wars which are to bring on
^"^•20 this sad catastrophe, exxept the Lord had short-
ened those days, no flesh could be saved; the whole
nation would be utterly exterminated from the
earth, and the name of Israel no longer be had
in remembrance :^ but for the elect'' s sake^ zvhom
trodden down of the
Genliles, until the
times of the Gentiles
be fulfilled.
Mark XIII. 20..
And except that the
Lord had sliortened
those days, no flesh
should be saved :
but for the elect's
sake, whom lie hath
i Jerusalem shall be trampled down by is here intended. (See Isa. xxvii. 12, 13 ;
the Gentiles-I Their land was sold, and Ezek. xi. 17; xx. 40, 42 ; xxxiv. 13 ; xxxvi.
no Jew was 'allowed to inhabit there (a 24, 28 ; xxxvii. 21—28 ; xxxix. 28, 29 ;
rigor never used, that I know of, to- Hos. iii. 5 ; Amos ix. 14,15; and Zech.
wards any other people conquered by the xiv. 10, 11.) With this indeed is con-
Romirtis) ; nay, they might not come nected the bringing iri, what St. Paul calls,
within sight of Jerusalem, or rather of thefullness of the Gentiles .- Rom. xi. 25, 2^.
Elia, the name given to the Jieivi city, which But, unless it could be proved (which I
t^^1s built without the circuit of the for- do not recollect) that the inhabitants of
mcr when the foundations of the o/(/ were Palestine shall then peaceably surrender
ploughed up. A heathen temple was after- it to the returning Jews, it seems most
wards built where that of God had stood; natural to suppose the time of the Gentiles
and a Turkish mosque pollutes it to this here signifies the time when they shall be
day : so remarkably was the hand of God visited ^X)d punished ; which is the sense in
upon them. And it is well known, by the which this very phrase, and others nearly
testimony of a heathen %vriter (who i-idic- parallel to it, frequently occur in the Old
ulously ascribes it to the fatal risistance in Testament,- as Brennius justly observes,
the element), that Julian's impious attempt (Compare Ezek. xxx. 3 ; as also Jer. xxvii.
to rebuild their temple, and settle them 7; 1. 27; Ezek. xxi. 25,29; xxii. 3,4.)
in Jerusalem again, in professed contempt And, if this be the sense of it, it seems an
of this prophecy, was several times mirac- intimation that the Turks, or some other
ulously defeated by the eruption of balls antichristian power, may continue possess-
of fire, which consumed the workmen, ed of the holy land till the restoration of the
SeeAmmian. MarcellAih. xxiii. cap. 1, p. Jews ; for one can hardly suppose their
286. way into it should then be opened by the
'» Till the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled!] conquest of a Christian nation.
It is much easier to vindicate the author- • Except the Lord had shortened those daysy
ity of the words x.jtigoisSva'v from the objec- no jiesh could be saved ; &c.] Such were
tion of Dr. Mill (Proleg. p. 133), chiefly the quarrels that prevailed among the
founded on their being omitted in the Jews, that numbers of them were de-
Cambridge Alanuscript, than to determine stroyed by one another ; and the whole
the signification of them. I cannot suppose, country was become a scene of such deso-
with Mess. Le Clerc and L'Enfant, that lation and bloodshed, that not only those
by the accomplishment of the times of the who were r,hut up in Jerusalem, but the
Gentiles we are to understand the time whole Jewish nation, would have suffered
when Constantine put an end to the Gentile much more by the longer continuance of
idolatry in Jerusalem, and established the the siege, considering how much the same
Christian worship there. (Euseb. Vitring. spirit prevailed among them in other pla-
CoJist. lib. iii. cap. 26.) It seems reason- ces. Mr. Reading, in his Life of Christ, p.
able to suppose that here, as in most other 309, understands the days being shortened
places, the Gentiles are opposed to the for the elect's sake, of the preservation
Jews; and, consequently, that all the pe- of the Christians at Pella, whose safety
riod between the destruction of Jerusalem he supposes to have depended on th^
and the restoration of the Jews to their shortening of the siege, and whom he
own land, so expressly foretold in scripture, takes to be the elect intended here. (See
Pretended Messiahs would attempt to deceive them : 371
chosen, [those days he has graciously chosen to be at length par- sect.
shall be shortened.] takers of the blessings of his gospel, God will ^^^■
[Mat. XXIV. 22.] ^^ order it in his providence, that those days ,
shall be shortened; for he hath still purposes of xm.20
love toward the seed of Abraham, which shall
at length take place (Rom. xi. 26) ; and, in the
mean time, he will make their continuing a dis-
tinct people a means of confirming the faith of
Christians in succeeding ages.^
21 And then if any As these then are the counsels of the Divine 21
raan shall say to you. Wisdom concerning this people, do not expect,
^\ ^^^r ■' th ^re^- ^^^^ when calamities begin to threaten them,
believe him not. ^^Y miraculous deliverer should be raised up
[Ma t. XXIV. 23.] for them ; and if any one shall then say unto you^
Behold^ the Messiah [?*] here^ or behold^ [^lie is]
there^ do not believe [??], or shew the least re-
gard to any such report. (Compare Luke xvii.
22ForfalseClmst5, 23, p. 1^4.) For as this unhappy people, 22
and false prophets -^yho are now SO obstinately rejecting me, will
shall rise, and shall ^^ ^^^ j^^^ support themselves with vain hopes
shew L&'cat] signs ^ i i • i *^ i i ^ ^ i i
and wonders, [inso- 01 that xmd, and be ready eagerly to hearken
much that, ifitiverc to every bold impostor^ false Messiahs and false
possible, they shall py^ph^ts shall arise, and shall pretend to shew
deceive tiie very e- ■' ■* . . <•
lect.]rMAT.XXIV. ^''^^^^ si^/is and prodigies} managed .with so
24.] much art, as might, if \it were\ possible, be
sufficient to deceive even the very elect, and to
pervert my sincere followers and disciples
themselves ; though indeed their hearts shall
Dr. rr/n>6;/ on Mark xiii. 20. Of the spe- miracles: they might be like the lying
cial providence by which the siege was powers, sigiis, and ivonders, mentioned 2
shortened, see Grotius on Mat. -jLxiv. 22. Thess. ii. 9. Or, (2.) That if we should
, . . . _ . , for argument's sake erant them to be real
« Their continmng a distinct people, a ^i^^']^,^ yet thev 'are supposed to be
means of confirming the faith of Christ- ^ ,^f ^^ ^ ^i,^^ ;,,l^en there were in the
ians, &c.] This I have shewn at large in c^^j-istian church teachers subsisting with
my fen Sermons, Ser. x. p. 277, 279 ; and ^„.^^-^^ miraculous tourers. But it can
the reader may see the remark farther ^^^^,^^, ^^ inferred from such a supposition
illustrated by Mr. ^^t//.yo«, Spectat. Vol. i^ that case, that God will suffer w/rac/e^
VII. No. 495, and in Bishop ifur«ef^Fo«r ^^ ^^ ^vonghUn proof of falsehood, when
Discourses, p. 8 10. there are none of his servants to perform
' False prophets shall arise, and sheiv great greater miracles on the side of truth. ^ And
signs and prodigies.'] This is not a mere when such superior miracles on the side of
repetition of what was said before. Mat. truth do exist, the opposite miracles at
xxiv.,5. (p. 360), but relates to those im- most can only prove that some invisible
posters who appeared during the time of beings of great power, who are the abettors
the siege ; of which see Joseph. Bell. Jud. of falsehood, are strongly engaged to sup-
lib, vi. cap. 5 (al. vii. 11), § 2, and Euseb. port the contrary doctrine ; the consider-
Hist.Eccles.\\h.\\.cvi[i.6. See also Grof/wj ation of which must excite all wise and
on Mat. xxiv. 24. As for the objection good men to receive a frwf A joo/»/?oW with
which is urged from this text against ad- greater readiness, and to endeavour to
mitting miracles as a proof of doctrines, I promote it with greater zeal ; as they may
would here transiently observe two things: be sure the excellence and importance of it
(1.) That it cannot certainly be proved is proportionable to the solicitude of these
that the works here referred to were true malignant spirits to prevent its progress.
37S But they should not go after ^ or regard them,
SECT, be so established by Divine grace as finally to
^^^^- be secured from the danger. But be ye cau- 23 But lake y-s
T tiouslv upon your sruar d ^^^mst so dangerous J>eed: behold, I have
Marie ' " ' ' ^ r I V UTJ ir foretold vou all
5rtii.23 ai^ imposition ; for behold I have expressly/ore- ^j^i,^^,^ ^^ ^ ^ ^
told you all these th'm^s ; that on comparing the XXIV. 25.2
event with the prediction, your faith may be
established by those very circumstances which
in another view might have a tendency to
Mat. shake it. Therefore if they shall saif unto you^ Mat. XXIV. 26.
xxiv. Behold^ we have found the expected Messiah, Wherefore, if they
26 and he is now gathering his forces about him !|^'V^'^\ '"'H* >T'
. . ... ^ r T ] r ru- Behold, he IS in the
tn the wilderness tor the deliverance ot his peo- jesert, go not forth :
pie, do not ^o forth to join yourselves to his Behold, he is m the
followers ; [or] if they shall say, Behold, [he secretchambers, be-
is] in the secret apartments of some particular ^^^^ ^^^^ '
friend, where he is waiting to give satisfaction
to those that desire it, do not believe [it], nor
give yourselves the trouble so much as to in-
27 quire into the affair. For you know there 27 For as the light-
is, and can be, no other Messiah but me ; and "in& cometh out of
when I appear it will be in a sudden, amazing, '^^ti:tfZ^
and irresistible manner ; and as Uie lightning so shall also the
breaks forth from the east, arid shines in a mo- coming of the Son
ment even to the west part of the horizon, so ®* "^^" ^^*
sudden and conspicuous also shall the coming
of the Son of man be, both in his appearance to
the destruction of Jerusalem, and to the final
judgment. (Compare Luke xvii. 24, p. 184,)
28 And very extensive also will the desolation 28 For whereso-
be ; for, as 1 formerly told you (Luke xvii. Z7, ever the carcass is,
p. 186Y, wheresoever the dead carcass is, there [l^ere will the eagles
will the eagles naturally be gathered^ together ; ^^ gathered togeth-
and wherever the obstinate enemies of my
kingdom are, they shall be sought out and de-
stroyed: and here in particular I will send the
Roman eagles againstthem, who shall consume
and devour them as a helpless prey, not only
at Jerusalem, but over the face of the whole
country ; and afterwards in some more dis-
tant regions, where the greatest numbers of
Jews are settled."^
>n In some more distant regions, &c.] fulfilled, and as an ea^/e flies upon its prey,
There may perhaps be an oblique intima- their enemies pursued them to destruc-
tion in this passage of the slaughter after- tion ; and the calamities they underwent
wards made on tile Jews elsewhere, and were such, that (as Bio Cassius informs
particularly under Adrian and Trajan ; us. Hist. lib. 69) 50,000 were slain, 500
when what had been foretold by Moses of their fortresses were demolished,
(Deut. xxviii. 49, Isfseq.j was remai'kably and 900 of their chief town-s in Egypt,
Refections on the ruin that should come on the Jews. 3*5
IMPROVEMENT.
If our Lorduvges his disciples^ with such speedy and solicitous sect.
haste, \.oJiee from the sword of God's temporal judgments^ how *^^-'^*-
much greater diligence should we give \o flee from the -wrath to
come ! What are any of the little interests of Ife^ that out of re- ^^^ ^
gard to them we should be willing to continue one moment Mark
longer exposed to a danger which may sink us iiUo everlasting x"'-
perdition and despair ! l^> IS
We have here a lively description of that aggravated ruin Mat.
which was brought upon the Jews for neglecting Christ ; even '^"iv
great tribulation^ such as had never, from the very beginriing of
the ivorldy fallen upon any other nation, nor shall ever he equalled.
Thus was his blood upon them, and their children, (Mat. xxvii.
25.) May we never know what it is to have this blood crying
against us for trampling it underfoot as an unholy thing I (Heb.
X. 29.) For surely to the feius, who thus rejected the counsel of
God against themselves, all these things which they suffered were
but the beginning of sorrows ; and thefamitie and sedition, pesti^ r, 8
lence and slaughter, by which so many thousands perished,
served only to consign them over to infinitel)^ more terrible in-
digfiation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, which will at last
fall on every soul of man that doth evil, whether jfew or Gentile*
(Rom. ii. 8, 9.)
These unhappy creatures eagerly listened to the very name of Mark
a Messiah, by whomsoever it was assumed ; while they rejected ^i"-
him whom God had sent them, and who had so long, and with ^^'2*
so much importunity, been renewing to them the offers of life
and salvation. May none of us ever know the sad impatience
with which condemned sinners will wish, and wish in vain,
for those overtures and messages of grace which they now des-
pise ! In that sense, wheresoever the carcass is, there will the Mat
eagles be gathered together: wherever there is the like unbelief oo'^^^'
and impenitence, there will be in its degree the like ruin. Christ jyj^rk
has graciously told us these things before : may we humbly at- xui.25
tend to the warning, that none of this terror and destruction
may ever come upon us !
Crete, ^c. were plundered and burnt to the decline of the Roman empire : of all
the ground : not to mention the terrible which see Dr. ^achoji's Eternal Truth of
things they afterwards suffered in France, the Scriptures^ book i. part 2, sect. 3j chap-
Italy, Spain, and other parts of Europe, in vi. 10 — 13.
S74f Jesus describes the tribulation of those days. '
SECT. CLXII.
Christ describes the total destruction of the Jewish state by strong
figures^ many of them literally suiting the day of judgment ; to
the mention of which he proceeds ^ declaring the particular time
of it unknown. Mat. XXIV. 29—36. Mark XIII. 24—32.
Luke XXI. 25 — 33.
Luke XXI. 25. Luke XXI. 25
SECT. /^UR Lord proceeded in the awful repre- a nd there shall
clxii. v_y sentation of the judgments that were -t\. be signs in the
coming on Jerusalem, and said, before this ^^"' ^"^ ^^ Jj^®
xxi.25 ^^solation shall be completely come, there shall stars • and upon the
be (as I told you, ver. 11) some extraordinary earth distress of na-
si^rns in the sun, and in the moon, and in the ^}^'^^y with perplex-
, r ^ J . . ity, the sea, and the
stars; eclipses, comets, and surpnsmg me- ^^^'^^^ ^^^^.^'^^ .
teors ; and on the earth there shall be anguish
and distress of nations ; the sea and the proud
zvaves thereof roarings and breaking in upon
the land with an irresistible inundation ;
26 While men shall be almost expiring with fear^ 26 — Men's hearts
«n<5^ overwhelmed with the s?id expectatio?! o/'failingthem for fear,
those c^Umaous things rMch are coming upon t.^\^:^:^
the land : lor this shall not be like former in- are coming on the
vasions or captivities, which only produced earth.
some transient disorders in the state, or, at
most, an interruption in the government for a
few years ; but it shall be attended with such
a total subversion of it, and with such vast,
extensive, and lasting ruin, that it shall be a
most lively emblem of the desolation of the Mat. XXIV. 29.
whole world at the last day. Immediately after
Mat. For immediatelu after the affliction of those ^^^ tribulation of
-%days, which I have now been describing,^ ^^^ ^be d^Setd!:'!
sun shall as it were be darkened^ and the moon the moon shall not
» Expiring ivith Jear."] Thjs is the lit- days ; so it would, on the other hand, be
eral rendering of atto-^vxovIccv atto <poCii. equally so to say that the general judg-
The signs here spoken of seem to be some tnent^ which probably will not commence
of the latest of those mentioned in the till at least a thousand years after their
ii'riters referred to above in notes e and ^ restoration, will happen i'lnniediately after
on ver. 10, 11, p. 361. their sufferings ; nor can I find any one
'> Immediately after the affiiction of those instance in which iubiaz is used in such a
days.'\ Archbishop Tillotson, and Bren- strange latitude. What is said below (ift
nius, with many other learned interpre- Mat. xxiv. 34 ; Mark xiii. 30; and Luke
ters, imagine that our Lord here makes xxi. 32 ; p. o77) seems also an unanswer-
the transition from the destruction of yeru- able objection against such an interpre-
salem, which had been the subject of his tation. I am obliged therefore to explain
discourse thus far, to the ge?ieral judg- this section a.s m the. paraphrase ; though I
'nient : but I think, as it would, on the acknowledge many of tlie^f^wrf* used may
one hand, be very harsh to suppose all with more literal propriety be applied to
the sufferings of the Jewish nation, in all the last day, to which there may be a re-
ages, to be called the tribulation of those mote, though not an immediate relerenc^.
Messengers should be sent to assemble his elect, 275
g:ive her light; and shall uot seem to give her usual light ; and the sect.
the stars shall fall f^i^ys shall fall from heaven^ and the poxvers of *^^^*-
^re'r^frtl! ^^e heavens, all the m'^htv machines and strong —
vens shall be shaken, movements above, shall be shaken and broken ^^^^
[Mark XIII. 24, in pieces j*^ that is, according to the sublimity 29
25. Luke XXI— of that prophetic language to which you have
been accustomed, the whole civil and eccle-
siastical constitution of the nation shall not
30 And then shall only be shocked, but totally dissolved. And 30
appear the sign oi then shall there evidently appear such a re-
heaven"": IcT'lhen markable hand of Providence in avenging my
shall all the tribes of quarrel upon this sinful people, that it shall be
the earth mourn, like the sign of the Son of ynan in heaven at the
thf SoTJ:.- r,'cr. '=^'t d-y ■' -"^ <■" the tribes of the land shall then
ing in the clouds monrn, and they shall see the Son oj man coming
of heaven, with pow- as it were in the clouds of heaven^^ xvith potver
erand great glory. ^„^ ^^^^ / for that celestial army which
[Mark XIII. 26. , ,,^ ^ .^ \ . -i n j j ♦u
Luke XXI. 27.] ^"^ appear m the air marshalled round the
city, shall be a sure token to them that the
angels of God, and the great Lord of those
heavenly hosts, are set as it were in array
31 And [then] he against them. And^ to pursue the allusion, as 31
shallsendhis angels, jit ^^ great day the angels shall in a literal
ru-u^f^ramUh^v^ense assemble all h,s saints together, so also
shallgather together /z^<s^a// then send forth his messengers^ with
his elect from the the great sound of his gospel, 2iS of a loud
four winds, from tnmpet, and they shall assemble his elect from
one end of heaven to ,/'., "^ r i r i u
the other, [from the thejour "Winds ^ twtwjrom one end oj the heavens
uttermost 'part of to the other ^ or from the utmost part oJ the earth
the earth, to the^^^ xvay. to those climates which lie under the
uttermost part or . '^ ^ , , , i
heaven.] [Mark ^^ttermost part OJ heaven the other way ; ana
XIII. 27] multitudes of all nations shall obey the sum-
= The sun shall be darkened, &c.] It Luke xxi. 11, p. 361) lead us into the
was customary with the /jro/j/zef.?, as it still exactest interpretation of this text, and
is with the eastern writers, to describe the greatly illustrate the propriety of these
utter ruin of states and kingdoms, not only expressions here.
in general by an ujiiversal darkness, but ^ Send iovXh his messengers.'] Most trans-
also by such strong ^^«re5 as those here /^fio«.y, as well as our own, greatly obscure
used, which all have their foundation in this text, by rendering the word A-yfiKm
that way of speaking. Compare Isa. xiii. angels ; for though it generally signify
10 ; xx'xiv. 4, 10 ; Ix. 20 ; Jer. xv. 9 ; those celestial spirits who are on great oc-
Ezek. xxxii. 7, 8 ; Joel ii. 30, 31 ; iii. 15 ; casions iht messengers of God to our world,
and Amos viii. 9. it is well known iliat the word refers not
to their nature but to their office ; and is
^ Coming in the clouds of heaven.] Sud- often applied to men, and rendered mes-
den and irresistible destruction, in which sengers. . See Mark i. 2 ; Luke vii. 24, 47;
muchof the hand of God evidenily appears, ix. 52 ; 2 Cor. viii. 23 ; Phil. ii. 25; and
is (as Dr. Whitby justly observes) often Jam. ii. 25. In some of which places it
expressed by God's coming in the clouds, signifies, as here, preachers of the gospel,
(Compare Psal. xviii. 9 ; 1. 3, 4 ; xcvii. 2, who were sent forth to carry on God's
3; civ. 3; Isa xix. 1; xxvi, 21; Ixvi. great design of vmiting all his chosen peo-
15.) But I think the celestial appearances pie in one society under Christ, as their
described by Josephus (as above, note ^, on common head. Eph. i. 10.
VOL. 2k 49
37Q He delivers the parable of the figtree*
SECT, mons, though the Jews have ungratefully and
clxii foolishly despised it ; and the Son of man
shall he honoured and trusted by millions now
^^^ unborn, when this wicked and perverse nation
is perished in their rebellion and infidelity.
28 And zuhen these things beg-in to come to pass, be Luke XXI. 23.
not vou terrified and dismayed, but rather f^'}'^ T'^^'''' ^^^se
T_ "r 11 » / . J f 1 rr. ^ thing's beffin to come
cheerfully look upwards,^ and lift up your to pass, then look up,
heads with joy and assurance ; for whatever and lift up your
happens, you will be secure ; and as soon as heads ; for your re-
you see the first appearance of these signs, you ^f^^P'^^" ^'^^^^^
may comfortably conclude that ijour complete
redemption and deliverance draws nigh ;^ for
many of you will be safely brought home to the
haven of eternal peace before these storms are
ended, and the rest of you will not long survive
them.
29 And, further to illustrate what he had been 29 And he spake
savincf, he spake to them a very easy and famil- r*^^^^^^™ \ parable,
• " J. Lt • r, L ij r ji J [Now] behold [and
lar parable, saymg, Behold noxv, [and] learn a ["earn a parable of ]
parable froj7itht Q'^'SiXxv^Xt oi the figtree, and all the fi^tree, and all
the other trees that drop their leaves in the ^^^ ^^^es : [Mat.
30 winter : When buds appear upon the figtree, xni^28— ] ^^^^
and its branch is now become tender, and iht 30 When [his
sap rising in the other trees, they shoot forth branch is yet tender,
their young leaves, and begin to open and gl-th ^ nLTelf """e
spread, you see and know of your oxvnselves, by see and kno'w of
the observation you have often made, M^^ your ownselves, that
summer is nozv near at hand, as these are cer- summer is now mgh
31 tain prognostications of it : So likezvise you, xxiv^— 32 Mar^
zvhen you shall see all these things co??ie to pass, XIII. —28.]
may assuredly knozu that the destruction of the 31 So likewise ye,
Jewish state, and the advancement of the king- 7!ln ll^!l'^^lllll
J r n J ' n V 1 ' • ^ . u J L^"-! ^^^^ things
dom oj God m all its glory, is just at hand, come to pass, know
\ever{\ at the doors ; or that the time is commg ye that the kingdom
when the desolation I have been speaking of °^ ?^^r ^^ '^^^J^i,^^
, ,, T 1 1 V 1 hand, \evcn at the
shall come upon J erusalem, and the gospel doors.] [Matt.
shall be propagated all abroad, and take such XXIV. 33. Mark
root in the world, that you may assure your- ^^^^- 29]
selves it shall never be destroyed.
' Look upnaards : Avsixi/lct??.] This is xiii. 14) so in a less proper sense the de-
an expression which admirably suits the liverance from all the toils and sorrows,
load of labour and sufferings under which temptations and infirmities, of this sinful
the apostles would be depressed in this and calamitous life, may, on the like prin-
afflicted state. See Raphel. Annot. ex. ciples, be called redemption. And if we
Herod, p. 270. may judge of the length of the apostles*
s Tour redemption draws nigh.'} As the lives by the extent of their labours, though
resurrection is the time when we shall in we know not the time when many of them
fact be fully redeemed, or delivered from all died, there is reason to conjecture it was
the sad consequences of sin, and therefore not till about this period ; which, by the
is called the redemption of our bodies: (Rom. way, would be an argument they were
viii. 23 } compare Eph. iy. 30, and Hos» now most of them/oww^ men.
That generation shall not pass till all were fulfilled. 377
32Verily I sayun- And verily I say unto you^ and urge you to sect.
to you, This genera- observe it, as absolutely necessary in order to ^^^^-
Itvfmi' XU^::: understand what I have been saying Thai this —
things] be MHWed. generation of men now living shall not pass ^^^2
[Mat. XXIV. 34. azvay until all these things be fulfilled -^ for what
Mark XIII. 30.] j ^^^^ foretold concerning the destruction of
the Jewish state is so near at hand, that some
of you shall live to see it all accomplished with
33 Heaven and a dreadful exactness : And the rest may die 33
earth shall pass a- in the assurance of it : for another and yet
way ; but my words j^jore awful day shall come when, in a literal
r>flr^x'xiV''l'5. sense, heaven and earth shall pass azvay, and the
Mark Xlll. 31] whole fabric of this visible world shall be dis-
solved before my majestic presence ; but my
rvords shall not pass axvay till they are perfectly
fulfilled, and the efficacy of them shall remain
in the eternal world which shall succeed these
transitory scenes.
Mark XIII. 32. But though Jerusalem shall be destroyed Mark
But of that day, and before this generation disappear, yet of that ^^^^'
that hour, knoweth ^^^^ decisive daif which is appointed for the
no man, no, not the o. , , . ^, . , i r ^i. u
angels which are in dissolution and the judgment ot the world,
heaven, neitlier the and of the hour or season when it shall open
upon men, and shall bring on their final sen-
tence, there is no one who knoxvs the precise
time,^ neither the angels in heaven^nor even the
Son of man himself,'^ with respect to his human
^ This generation shall not pass aviay un- ter of great Importance; and as for the
/// all these things be fulfilled.'] Though season of it, I see not how it could proper-
Brennius, andikfec/e(mhisfror/^5,p 752), ly be said to be entirely unknovin after
have here tlie honour to be followed by so such an express declaration that it should
great an authority as Dr. Sykes (of Christ- be in that generation ; and yet at some con-
ianity, p. 60), yet I must beg leave to say siderable distance, for otherwise there
that'l cannot think the texts they collect would not have been room for the gi ad-
sufficient to prove that by this generation ual accomplishment of the many predic-
r« >ev«ct «t;;7;)] we are here to understand tions uttered above. It seems therefore
fAe 'Je^Kish nation through all ages; as if our much fitter, with Dr. Whitby (after Gro.
Zo;i/ intended to say they should continue tius), to explain it of the last day, when
a distinct people to the judgment day. heaven and earth shall pass au^ay^ which is
What I have expressed in the paraphrase sometimes called that day with a pecu-
is plainly the most obvious sense of the liar emphasis ; a phrase answering to f/z^
words, and seems to me an evident key great ov remarkable day. Compare 2 Tim.
to the whole context, especially when i. 12, 18, and iv. 8.
compared with Mat. xvi. 28. There be ^ Nor even the Son of man himself]
some standing here, ivhich shall not taste of There is not any thing in this assertion of
death, till they see the Son of man coming in our Lord, if we consider the t^o natures in
Iiis kingdom. See note ', on that text. Vol. him, that is inconsistent with his true di-
I. p. 491. mnity. For what is applicable only to one
''Of that day and hour no one inoius.'} I 7iature is frequently expressed in terms
cannot agree with Dr. Clarke in refei'ring inclusive of his li) hole person. Thus, as
this verse to the destruction of Jerusalem, the endowments of his human nature were
the particular day of which was not a mat- commumcatcdin a gradual manner to him.
378 Refections on the day ef Christ'' s coming to judgment,
SECT, nature, or as a part of what he is commissioned Son, [but my Father
to reveal ; for
Divine decree,
clxii. to reveal ; for though it be determined by the only.] [Mat.XXIV.
, it is not known to any but my '^ -'
ijii.32 Father alone^ or the indwelling Godhead, from
whom nothing can be concealed : and, as he
does not think fit to disclose it, let it be your
care to improve this uncertainty as an en-
gagement to the most diligent and constant
preparation for its coming.
IMPROVEMENT.
Let us now raise our contemplations to that awful day when
all that was figuratively spoken of the destruction of ferunalern
shall be literally accomplished ; and let us consider our own
intimate concern in it. Where will our hope and comfort, our
light, and our safety be, when the sun shall be darkened^ and the
Mat ^^'^^ shall not give her lights when the stars shall fall from heaven^
xxiv. and the po'wers of the heavens shall be shaken f where, indeed,
29 unless the almighty G&<^, the everlasting y^/zo^or/i, by whose voice
they were created, and by whose hand they shall be dashed in
pieces again, shall condescend to be our lights and our salvation f
liuke (Psal. xxviii. 1.) And if he indeed be so, then we may lift up
^^^'^^ our heads Vf'iih ]oy -y as knowing that our complete redemption
drazveth 7iigh, even that long expected day which, with all its
solemn horrors, has still been the brightest object of our faith
and our hopes,
jyj . Then shall the Son of man indeed come in the clouds of heaven,
xxiv! with poxver and great glory, and send his angels to summon his
SO, 31 elect, and to assemble them f'o?n one end of heaven to the other :
for the Lord hiinself shall descend frorn heaven xvith a shout, -with
the voice of the archangel, and zvith the trump of God, (l Thess.
Mark iv. 16.) May we hear the summons with joy, and stand in our
xiu.32 iQf among his chosen ones ! What though the day and season be
unknown P It is enough for us that we know that all these inter-
posing days and years, be they ever so numerous, will at length
be past ; for the promise of the great Redeemer is our security,
and he will hasten it in its time. (Isa. Ix. 22.)
31 These visible heavens shallbe rolled together as a scroll, and the
earth shall be removed out of its place ; but the sure word of his
promise shall never pass cavay ; even that/?ro??2?6'^ which is engaged
for the salvation of his people. Let us often review it ; let us
Jesus is said to have increaaed in 'voisdoon that he should here be said not to hww the
(Luke ii. 52) ; and even while he was on day appointed for the fir^al judgment, than
earth, as he was present every where with that it should be elsewhere said that the
respect to his Bitine yiature, he speaks of Lord of glory was crudfed (1 Cor. li. 5),
himself as the Son of man who is in heanien. and that God purchased the church ivith his
(John iii. 13.) Noris itat all more strang-e o'-j.-n blood. (Acts xx. 28.)
The comhig of the Son of man shall be as the days of Noah, 379
firmly realize it to our souls, and, seeing we look for such things^ sect.
fetus seriously consider rvhat manner of persons rue ought to be in ^^^"-
holy conversation and godliness, (2 Pet. iii. 11, 14.) "
SECT. CLXIII.
Our Lord urges the suddenness of his appearance as an engagemejit
to constant xvatchfulness^ repeating several things which he had
formerly said on that subject. Mat. XXIV. 37, to the end,
Mark XIII. :^^, to the end, Luke XXI. 34 — 36.
Mat. XXIV. 37. Mat. XXIV. 37.
BUT as the days /^UR Lord having told them in the pre- seci.
of Noe <were, so \^ ceding words, that though the time of his ^1 iii-
ffSno^Sbe^ appearance to the general judgment was uncer- —
tain, yet the destruction ot Jerusalem should ^.j.:^,^
happen before that generation of men was 37
passed away, went on with his discourse, and
added,5wnhis I will in general inform you, that,
as sudden and unthoughtof as the deluge was
which came upon the world in the days of Noah j
so unexpected and surprising also shall the com-
ing of the Son of??ian, to execute his vengeance,
38 For as in the be. For as in the days which were before the Q,^
days that were be- universal deluge^ they xvere so inconsiderate
fore the flood, they and secure, that they went onwHth all their usu-
■were eatinff and . , . ^ , . i • ^' • ^ ^ •
drinking, marrying ^1 ousmess, and spent their time in entertam-
and giving in mar- ments, eating and drinking^ marrying wives,
riage, until the day ^^^ q-imn^ their daughters in marriage^ think-
t'"r\r'''^''''^"S of nothing but present indulgence and
future settlements in the world ;* and went on
thus, in contempt of every serious admonition,
even until the very day that Noah entered into
39 And knew not, ^l^^ <^^k ; And kneiv not^ nor suspected, that 39
until the flood came, any evil was approaching, till the deluge came
and took them all yf^\x\^ ^n irresistible violence, and bore them
tir^com^ng of ^the «^^ «^«!/ ^^'i^^ ^ horrent of destruction : so also
Son of man be. shall the coming of the Son of man be ; and, not-
withstanding men have been so frequently and
» They icere eat'vig and drinking^ 81c.] soever there may be to believe that the
Dr. Wood'iMard (\n\ns, Theory of the Earth, Antediluvian sinners did so, these words
p. 98) thinks these were modest expres- may be intended to express no more than
sions to signify their giving themselves up the security and gaiety with which they
to all the extravagances of riot and lust ; pursued the usual employments and
and Wolfius (in loc.) has most learnedly amusements of life when they were on
proved that yuLixnT^^i is often used in a the very brink of utter destrlietion.
rery criminal sense. But how great reason
380 JVe should take heed that day do not come upon tis unawares*
SECT, plainly warned of it, yet multitudes shall be
"• surprised in an unprepared state. (Compare
j^^^ Luke xvii. 26, 27, p. 1 84.) 40 Then shall two '
xxiv! I formerly told you, with relation to the tern- ^^ >" /^^J^ field, the
40 poral desolation of your country, and I now ^"^ the other left !"'
repeat it, That of tzvo men who shall then be
at work together in the Jieldy the one shall he
41 seized^ and the other dismissed ;^ And of 41 Two nsomen
two -women who shall he grinding corn at the ^^^^^ ^f finding at
same wi//, the one shall be seized, and the other shall "be'^taken and
dismissed, (Compare Luke xvii. 35, 36, p. 186.) the other left.
And I may say the like with respect to that
important event of the final judgment ; many
who have been engaged in the same station
and employments, and who were intimately
conversant with each other, shall then be found
exceedingly different in their characters and
states ; and some of them shall be made the
prisoners of Divine justice, while others shall
not only be spared, but be signally favoured
by God,
Luke ^72^ therefore, that no calamities of life, or Luke XXI. 34.
^^^* solemnities of judgment, may be dreadful to -^"^ ^^^^ ^eed to
you, take heed to yourselves^ lest at any time your any ame^your ITearrs
hearts be overloaded^ and your rational powers
*» Tvio 'men shall then be in the field, &c.] been here the subject of almost the whole
Though in the paraphrase, for its better preceding- discourse. And the remem-
connection, I have introduced these words brance of what had passed on the former
incidentally, and hinted how they may allu- occasion might more easily lead them into
si<cely be accommodated to the day ofjudg- the distinct understanding of what was
'nient, yet I doubt not they originally refer now added. Though it may not be ira-
to the destruction of Jerusalem, to which proper to recollect that the same pious
alone they are properly applicable. After care in their temper and conduct, which
fAz\r/)a7a^ra/)/z there is not a word peculiar would be a preparative against national
to that ,' but many circumstances are in- judgments, and entitle them to the special
troduced which refer to the day of judgment protection of Providence in them, would
(and of flfeaM, as transmitting to it), and also secure them from any unwelcome
wliich can only be thus understood. I surprise by a call to the tribunal of God.
therefore humbly conceive that the grand <= Tour hearts be ovtrloaded.~\ The word
transition, about which co-tnniefitators are so 0a.pvvBa)<nv properly signifies burdened, or
much divided, and so generally mistaken, pressed down ,- and so very elegantly and
IS made precisely after these two verses- strongly expresses the hateful consequen-
Our Lord, in the following verses of Mat- ces of intemperance, and the load which it
thew and Mark, directs their thoughts to brings on those rational faculties which are
that final soletnnity in which they are so the gloryof the human nature. The reader
highly concerned, by repeating almost in will observe that Luke's account of this
th6 same words the cautions and advices discourse is very short, in comparison with
he had formerly given, Luke xii. 35, ^ that of Matthew and Mark, for this obvi-
seq. sect. cxiv. in which whole context (as ous reason, that he had given the chief
I there observed, note *, p 117) there is no heads of it before, partly in a discourse of
reference to those temporal calamities ih2X our Lord's last coming, which was deliver-
were coming on the Jews, which have ed to a very numerous assembly in Galilee,
For we know not the hour when the Lord comes, 381
be overcharged with depressed Sind stupified by gluttony and drunken* sect.
surfeiting, and driin- ^^^^^^or distracted With worldly and secular cares ; dxiii-
\Zm:ZiZi:l''>'di'y this means t/mt awful and important day, —-
day come upon you of which I have been speaking, should come un- .f^
unawares. expected Upon tiou. For the character of the gen- 35
35 For as a snare ^^.^j-^^, ^^ mankind at that time will be such, that
shall It come on all . , -„ , cut,
them that dwell on ^^ shall co7?ie 071 the greatest part or all them that
the face of the whole divell on the face of the whole earth^ as a snare
^^^^^^- upon a thoughtless bird which, in the midst of
its security, finds itself inextricablytaken. (Com-
36 Watch ye there- pare Eccles. ix. 12.) Let me therefore address 36
fore, [Mark, take this most serious exhortation to you with an
alwaystthaut may earnestness proportionable to its importance,
be accounted worthy IVatch ye against every temptation to negligence
to escape all these and sin, take heed of every thing which might
things that shall j^^jj, -j^j.^ ^ dangerous securitv, and praii
come to pass, and to,-^ -ii c • - *^ , ^
stand before the Son always^ With the most lervent importunity, that
of man : [for ye know through Divine grace you may be accounted wor^
not [Mark, when ^/j^ ^q escape a// Mf^-e calamitous and destructive
the time IS, J or what ,,. i-llii ji ^ j ' ^ ■
hour vour Lord doth ^^^^ngs, xvhich shall assuredly come to pass just m
come'] [Matth the manner I have described them, /f/??^ may be
XXIV. 42. Mark happily enabled, even in the day of his universal
111. 3o.J judgment, to stand forth with courage and ac-
ceptance before the Son of inan ;^ for you knoxu
not when the time of his appearance «•, [pr^ at
what hour your Lord does come to summon you
before him.
Mat. XXIV. 43. -^"^ ^his you know^ and would do well to con- Mat
But know this, that sider it, that if the master of a house that has at ^^iv.
!J ^u^ good man of ^^y time been plundered by robbers had known ^3
the house had known -^ , . ,^ . , r i • i , , • r-
in what watch the exactly in xvhat watcfi ot the night the thief
thiefwouldcome,he Tfow/^ have come^ he wi>w/^ undoubtedly have
would have watch- watched then ; a/z^ taking care to be provided for
(Luke xii. 35 — 48, sect, cxiv.) and partly this clause limit the extent of the word
in another discourse, relating only to the [a//] to a considerable number ; for were
destruction of yerusaleniy which was deliv- it to be taken otherwise there could have
ered in his journey thither at the ftast been no room to offer them.
vj dedication. (Luke xvii, 20—37, sect. « To stand before the Son of manS\ I do
cxxviii.) Here therefore he chooses to not apprehend that this is merelv the coun-
omit what had been inserted on either of terpart oi escaping the thmgs spoken of be-
those occasions ; as John, who probably fore. There were thousands of the Jews
■wrote after the accomplishment of this that by one providence or another escaped
prophecy, entirely omits it, as already so temporal destruction^ who could with no
largely recorded by the former three. ; from propriety be said to stand before the Son of
whom, considering the circumstance of man at his coming. I have therefore para-
time, it came with infinitely better grace phrased this latter clause as an advance
than it could afterwax'ds have done from upon the^rwer, which gives this context
him. a greater connection, and juster distinc-
'^ It shall come on all them that dwell, &e ] tion, than the order in w^hich most harmo^
The exhortations that are connected with mes place these xersci.
38^ The Jaiihful servant shall be greatly rewarded*
SECT, him^ would not have suffered his house to be broke ei^, and would not
clxiii. open, or have left the thief to make his advan- l^ave suffered his
/■ \ • ^ ^ J *;^^ \^A house to be broken
— tage by coming at an unexpected time. And
■^^'; M^r^re,asitisof so much greater consequence 44 Therefore be
^^44 oil this occasion that you should be prepared ye also ready : for
against an unseasonable surprise,^^ z/^ a/6'(? r^fl^z/, ^^J^^^^^^^^^
and learn from such a common occurrence to Sonofmancometh.
be upon your guard ; for I tell you again, That
at an hour xvhen you think not of it, the Son of man
cometh ; and multitudes of people will be as
much surprised as if they had never heard in
their whole lives that he would come at all.
(Compare Luke xii. 39, 40, p. 117.)
Mark IFor the Son of man is'] in this respect as a Mark XIII. 34.
xui.34 man travelling to a distant country^ rvhOy as he For the Son of man is
xvas leaving his house, gave authority to his head fo,fr,^';"^ho"l!ftMs
servants to direct and oversee the rest in their ^ouse,' and gave au-
business, a;?^^ assigned to every man in the fam- ihority to his ser-
ilv his proper work, and particularly commanded vants, and to every
, . ^ . z. J ^ ^ '*. *u *. «.u roan his v^'ork, and
the porter to zuatch, and to see to it that the ^„,^j^^„^^^ ^j^^ p^j._
doors were properly secured, and ready to be ter to watch.
opened to him at his return.
Mat. And who now, do you my apostles suppose, Mat. XXIV. 45.
sxiv. is the faithful and prudent servant^ of whom his Who then is afaith-
45 Lord has so good an opinion as to have appointed ^^^^ hTs Lord hTth
him ruler over the rest of his household, to give made ruler over his
them [theirl proper portion oifoodin due season ? household, to give
You must easily apprehend that the expression ^^^^ J'^^ ^^ ^^^
may with the utmost propriety be applied to that
high office with w^hich you are invested, and to
the confidence placed in your integrity and wis-
46 dom. And, to excite you to discharge this 46 Blessed w that
office with the greatest fidelity, let me add, IX^^^l^'Tcom.
Happy indeed is that servant whom his Lord, eth, shall find so do-
when he cometh, shall find thus employed in the ing.
proper duties of his important office, distributing
47 to each his portion in a proper manner.^ Verily 47 Verily I say
I say unto you again, as I formerly did, That he ^nto you. That he
will prefer him as highly as if a man should
* Happy is that servaJit ivhom his Lord G?iostics, or, with Dr. Whitby, the apos'
tuhen he cometh, &c.] As no peculiar re- tate ^civs, as particulai'ly intended by
•war^s were conferred on any of the aj&os«/e5, the ivicked servant mentioned afterwards ;
or other faithful 7ni7iisters,' at the time of which seems plainly to refer to a debauch-
Christ's coming to destroy Jerusalem ^ this ed and persecuting clergy, hypocritically
clause sufficiently proves a reference to pretending to a distinguislied zeal ^OP
X\\& final judgment ; and will not permit us, Cli;-istian forms and institutions,
'.vith Dr. Hammond, to understand the
But the wicked shall have his portion xvith hypocrites* 383
shall make him ruler wfl/^e his domestic Steward, who had served sect,
over aU his goods. f^if^^ faithfully, ruler or director of all his estate, ^^^";
as a reward for his care in the due manage-
ment of his office. (Compare Luke xii. 42 — ^^y,'
44, page 118.)
48 But and if that But, on the other hand, the faithless wretch 48
evil servant sliall say that is dishonest in the execution of so high a
idrd^'^diireih his charge shall be severely punished : and if that
coming-^; ^^ ^ "^ wickecl servant shall presume to say in his heart,
49 And shall be- My lord delays his coming ; And shall on that 49
gin to smite his fel- presumption begin to beat and abuse those of •
lowservants, and to ^.^ feUowservants, who are more faithful than
eat and drmk with ,.*',^ , ' i i • i - - ^ j
the drunken : himself, and to eat and drink m a riotous and
extravagant manner xvith the debauched and
drunken part of them, or with other dissolute
50 The lord of persons ; he will do it at his peril : For the 50
that servant shall lord of that servant shall certainly coine in a day
come in a day when ^^ f^ ^ ^ .^^^ r^ -^-i ^„^ ^^ ^^ /^^^^
he looketh not for , , . .{ -" i ^ v
him, and in an hour T^hen he is not at all axvare, and cannot nave
tliat he is not aware time to put on a face of better order, or to pro-
<>f 5 ^ J , „ ^ vide and invent artful excuses ; And, seeing 51
51 And shall cut ,.., ., r a - i j ^*
him asunder, and "^^^ "^ ^"^ midst of his revels and usurpations,
appoint him his por- he shall scourge him so severely, that he shall
tion with the hypo- even cut him asunder,^ and appoint [him] his
^t^infa^dgrht/f '/»" ^ith hypocrites, the most odious kind
in^ of teeth. of sinners m the sight ot God :^ with these
shall this false creature be righteously doomed
to dwell for ever in those doleful regions where
there shall be nothing but weeping and gnash'
ing of teeth, proportionable to his former in-
dulgence and luxury, and to the importance of
that trust which he so wickedly betrayed.
(Compare Luke xii. 45,46, p. 118, 119.)
g Shall cut him asunder.'] That tearing with a most obvious propriety. See sect,
and cutting persons into several pieces was a cxiv. 7iote '.
CTixel punishment used among the ancientsy ^ His portion vjith hypocrites.] Mahomet
none acquainted with antiquity can doubt ; in his Alcoran mentions Seven Caverns in
and Wolfius qn this text has demonstrat- Hell, the deepest and most wretched of
ed it more copiously than any other critic which is to be inhabited by hypocrite*
I have seen. Yet, as the criminal is here fSur. iv. v. 144). Eisner, who takes this
represented as surviving this punishment, for a Jewish notion, by a very singular
and consigned over to nuailing and gnash- criticism supposes it, or something anal-
ing of teeth, after it had been inflicted, I ogous to it, referred to here, and Rev. xxi.
therefore, as before (Luke xii. 46), must 8, where he thinks liars are the same
understand it of being severely scourged, with hypocrites ; and observes very pre-
after which idle slaves were often thrown cariously, that taking the fearful and un-
into a prison, where they lived miserably believing, or those that through cowardice
ill every respect. To this our Xorc/ alludes apostatize, for the/r^« sort of criminalg,
liars are the*ewnfA class.
VOL. 2. 50
5^4 Reflections on preparhig for the coming of Christ,
SECT. Let me then caution you, O my apostles and Mark XIII. 35.
^ ^*"' ministers, never to suffer this important ex- Watch ye therefore,
^^ hortation, which I have now been giving you, ';^T^^.rTZ
xiii.35 to be forgot in any circumstance of life ; but house cometh (at
watch ye therefore continually, /or ye know not even, or at midnight,
when the master of the house cometh, whether P^ ^^ ^^^ ^°^^ ^^■«^-
, . ^ , . , . , , ing, or m the morn-
tn the evening watch, or at midnight, or at the ing-) :
36 cock crozving^ or in the morning : Early and 36 Lest coming-
late hold yourselves in a prepared posture, lest suddenly, he find
coming siiddenlif, he find yoit sleeping, and n eg- °'
37 ligent of your proper duty. And what I say 57 And what I say
to you in public characters, I say to all my dis- ""^o you, I say unto
ciples, in every station of life, and in every age, ^ * ^^^ ^*
Watch ; for in every age and station you will
have need to do it, and security may be at-
tended with the most fatal consequences.
IMPROVEMENT.
Luke What slothful hearts must we have if these repeated admO'
Mat ''^^^^ons do not awaken us ; even line upon line, and precept upon
xxiv. precept f The patience of God is zvaiting upon us, as it did on
42 the old world, while the ark was preparing, (l Pet. iii. 20.)
xiii^33 -^^y we take the warning, and seek shelter before the door be
Luke shut against us ! Let us therefore take heed, lest sensuality and
xxi.34 secular cares overcharge and depress our hearts, and amuse us
with vain delusions, till sudde?i and unavoidable destruction come
upon us. (1 Thess. v. 3.)
Mark We are by profession the domestics of Christ. Let us attend
xm.34 to the ojices he has assigned us, though he seem at a distance,
^jjj^* Let us diligently wait his coiJiing, at whatever season. Let his
45, 46 ministers especially wait it ; and be solicitous, that they may be
found so doing, conducting themselves like xvise stewards of the
47 mysteries of God, dispensing to every one his portion oifood in
due season. Then will our account be honourable, and our
rexvard glorious. '
48, 49 May God deliver us from the guilt and condemnation of the
cruel, the imperious, and the luxurious servant, who began to beat
his felloxvs, and to eat and drink with the drunken ; since we are
^^ expressly told his dreadful doom! Justly does our Zcr^ declare
that to such a one he will appoint a portion with hypocrites, ter-
rible as their portion must be ; for no hypocrisy can be baser
than to call ourselves the servants and ministers of Christ, while
we are the slaves of ambition, avarice, and intemperance.
Wherever such are found, under whatever mask and form, may
he reform them by his grace, or disarm them of that power
and influence which they continually abuse to his dishonour,
and to their own aggravated damnation ! Let us in the mean
The parable of the wise and foolish virgins* 385
time be exhorting each other daily^ while it is called today, lest sect.
amy bv insensible degrees be hardened through the deceitfidness <^j^"^-
^f sin {nth. iii. 13) ; and let us always remember that every
exhortation which we give to others returns with redoubled
weight upon ourselves.
SECT. CLXIV.
Christ enforces his exhortation to watchfulness by the parable of
the ten virgins. Mat. XXV. 1 — 13.
M.T XXV 1 ^^^'^- ^^^- ^•
THEN shall the /^UR Lord, in order to impress upon the sect.
kingdom of V^ minds of his hearers a concern about the ^'^^^-
heaven be likened ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^£^| ^^^ q£ f^ufe judgment, to ^^^
wllkh ^Too J'Their which the latter part of his preceding discourse ^xv. i
lamps, and went had SO plainly referred, went on to represent it
forth to meet the trader a variety of most lively figures, and par-
bridegroom, ticularly by the following parable; saying.
Then, or in that day of final account, w^hen the
faithful servant shall be rewarded, and the
treacherous hypocrite so severely punished,
shall the kingdom of heaven, or the state of things
under the gospel dispensation, appear to ^^ like
the case of ten virgins,^ who, being invited to
a marriage feast (which, according to the cus-
tom of this country, was to be celebrated in the
night), took their lamps as soon as it begun to
grow dark, a7id went out together to meet the
bridegroom^ and to light him to the house where
the banquet was to be kept.
2 And five of them And it appeared by their conduct that five of 2
were wise, and five f^em were prudent persons, a7id five of them
uere foolish. ^^^^^ foolish and inconsiderate, who made no
provision against an accident which might very
a Ten virgins.'] This whole parable bridemaids, who used afterwards to sup
contains a plain reference to the custom with them ; and some tell us their number
which prevailed among the Jews then, must at least be ten. It seems, trom the
and still prevails among manv eastern na- circumstances of this parable, that it any
tions. (See The Customs of the Je^s and of the neighbours, besides those who
Indians compared, p. 41, l:f seq.J The were directly invited, thought it worth
bridegroom used to conduct his bride home their while to pay their respect to the
in the evening by the light of lamps, which new married couple, it was esteemed a
were used (as Eisner shews, Observ. Vol. decent piece of civibty to admit them to a
I. p. 114, 115) by the Jews and Romans share in the bridal feast, if they made their
on the like occasion : they were carried by appearance at a proper time.
386 The wise^ who were ready y go in with the bridegroom :
iECT. naturally happen. They that were foolish^ 3 They that were
clxiv. xvhen they took their lamps^ went forth with foolish took their
-Tj^ them lighted, but did not take any oUxvith them o^I^'^^k t[|em°^ ""^
XXV. 3 t)t*side that which was at first poured in :
4 Whereas the prudent maidens, considering that 4 But the wise
they miffht perhaps be obliged to wait some ^"""^ °'^ \" ^J^^!^'
■• vessels "Wltll t.il6lt*
hours, took a reserve of oil with them in their li^mpg.
vessels^ which they carried xvith their lamps^ to
feed the flame when the former stock should be
wasted.
5 But while the bridegroo?n (or 2i\on^ lime de- 5 While the bride -
iayed his coming, as they were sitting near the g"i'oom tarned, they
place irom whence they expected him to come, g^gp^.
they all of them slumbered^ and at length fell
6 fast asleep* And i?i the very middle of the 6 And at midnight
ni^ht^ there was a loud cry made in the street, *^^^^^'^ ^Yf^, '\ "'y
r> z- ij ^L 7 -J . ^ . . ' made. Behold, the
Behold, the bridegroom is coming, go ye out im- bridegroom cometh,
mediately to meet hitn, and arise to attend the g-o ye out to meet
procession according to order. ^^n^-
f Then all those virgins presently arose, and, 7 Then all those
to prepare hr h\^ rtc^^Uo^, dressed their lamps, ZiZi'^l^^X^"^.
that they might shine as bright, and appear as
8 clean, as possible. And the foolish damsels in 8 And the foolish
cjreat surprise said to the prudent. Give us some ^^'^ unto the wise,
°y, • » y ^ .1 Give us of your oiL
of your oil, for you seem to have a great stock ^^^ ^^^ ja^ps are
with you ; whereas our lamps are gone out, and gone out.
9 all our oil is spent. But the prudent replied 9 But the wise
[We cannot do it"], lest there should not be enough answered, saying,
for us and^ you, and so we should all be left on a ^''norenough L^us
sudden without light, and the bridegroom be and you ; but go ye
disappointed and affronted ; but rather go ye to rather to them that
them that sell oil in the neighbourhood, ««^% yourselves. ^"^ ^""^
some for yourselves, as soon as possible, that ye
may follow and join in the procession.^
10 And while they ivent to buy it at that incon- 10 And while they
venient time of night, the bridegroom and his ^^^^^ ^® ^"y» ^•^^
retinue camej and those maidens that were and "hevThat'Tere
ready to receive him joined the company ; and ready went in with
•» In the middle of the tiight.'] Perhaps rusalem would have on different persons,
the tradition, which Jerom mentions,
that asserted Christ would come to judg- = Buyforyonrsehes.'] This seems merely
ment at midnight, might be borrowed an ornamental circumstance ; and it is
from hence ; though to be sure it is a very strange that any Popish writers should
absurd one, since that can be the case consider it as favouring their doctrine of a
only under one meridian at a time. A stock of wenV* in the church, founded on
celebrated commentator has clouded f/z/j u^orh of supererogation; since, if it vefeTTed
parable exceedingly, by attempting to ex- to them at all (which there is no reason to
plain it of the different effects Christ^s ad- imagine), it would rather expose than en-
'inanition concerning the destruction of ye- courage any dependance upon them.
But the foolish came too late^ and are shut out, 38f
him to the marriage, when they came to the bridal house, they went sect.
and the door was jnwith him to the marriaf^e feast ; a;jfl^, to prevent ^^^^^;
^"^ disturbance, the door was shut and fastened. ^^^
11 Afterward came And some time after the other virgins also jxv*
also tlie other vir- came, and, knocking at the door, called with n
Crd/oTrfto ur^^' S^e^^ importunity, saying, Sir, Sir, we desire
you would open to us, who are also some oi
your guests, though by an unfortunate acci-
12 But he answer- dent we are come a little too late. But he, 12
l^sa^^'^untif ' ""^^"^^ ^^^"S unwilling to be disturbed in the feast,
kn'ow you^not^^"' ^ ^"^ ^^ ^P^*^ ^^e door again, answered them,
saying. Truly, I say unto you, J know you not
whence you are :** my house is already furnish-
ed with guests, and I will admit no more. Thus
these thoughtless creatures entirely lost both
their labour and expense, meeting with noth-
ingbut disappointment and shame. And such
will be your case if you content yourselves
with a mere empty profession of religion,
while you sink into a careless and negligent
conduct, and remain destitute of that princi-
ple of real piety which ought to give lustre and
vigor to it.
13 Watch there- See to it, therefore, that you maintain a con- IS
fore, for ye know stant watch, not presuming on preparations to
the '"ouMreL^ be made hereafter , for your removal may be
the Son of man much more sudden than you are aware, and ye
eometh. know 7ieither the day nor the hour in xvhich the .
Son of man eometh to receive his prepared peo-
ple to himself, and forever to exclude the hyp-
ocrite and the sinner from the entertainments
of his heavenly kingdom.
IMPROVEMENT.
Let us apply our hearts to the obvious instructions which Mat.
this well known parable so naturally suggests. We are under a ^^^'
religious profession : our lamps are in our hands ; and we go forth
as those that expect to meet Christ; as those that desire and
hope to be admitted to the marriage supper of the Lamb, But,
alas, how few are there that are truly prepared for such a bless-
edness ! Would to God there were reason to hope that the
Christian church were so equally divided, that five of ten in it 2, 3, 4
^ J tnoiD you not'] This circumstance such a pretence might have been multipli-
in the /bara^/e is not absurd ; for nothing ed beyond all reason and convenience. At
intimated a personal acquaintance with least its significancy in the application is
them, and guests asking admittance with very appai-ent and important.
388 /Reflections on the parable of the ten virgins.
SECT, had the oil of Divine grace in their hearts, to render them burn"
^ ^^^' ing and shining lights !
^gj, ^ Let even such as have it be upon their guard ; for our Lord
intimates that the wise as well as the foolish virgins are too apt
to slumber and sleeps and carelessly to intermit that watch which
6 they ought constantly to maintain. There may be, at an unex-
pected time, a midnight cry. Happy the souls that can hear it
with pleasure ; being not only habitually but actually ready to
obey the summons ! Happy they that have their loins girded^
and their lamps burning / (Luke xii. 35.)
8, 9 The foolish virgins saw their error too late : they applied to
the xuise ; but their application was vain. And as vain will the
hope of those be who trust to the intercession of departed saints^
or any supposed redundancy of merit in them^ while they are
10-12 themselves strangers to a holy temper and life. In vain will
they cry, Lord^ Lord^ open to us. The door of mercy will be
shut for ever, and the zuorkers of iniquity utterly disowned.
The day of grace has its limits ; and for those that have trifled
it away there remaineth nothing but the blackness of darkness for
ever I (Jude, ver. 13.)
SECT. CLXV.
Christ repeats tJie parable of the talents in a form something dif
ferent from that in which he had before delivered it. Mat*
XXV. 14—30.
Mat. XXV. 14. Mat. xxv. 14.
SECT. TESUS, having delivered the preceding np'OR the kingdom
^^^^' J parable of the virgins, went on farther to ^ of heaven is as a
— illustrate the subject, by the repetition of a par- ^1"^^:^,^^ To
XXV. able resembling one which he had used some called his own ser-
14 time before ; (Luke xix. 12 — 27, sec. cxliv.) vants, and delivered
and said. Let me again remind you of the unto Uiem his goods,
great importance of preparing for my coming
by a diligent improvement of your gifts ; for
the time when [the Son ofrnati] shall come, and
the grand administration of judgment attending
it [will be'] as the proceedings of a man [whoj^
going along journey ^called his servants to^eth.'
15 ex, and deliveredhis effects to them. Andto one oi ^^^^J^^g^^^^^'ll
them he gave five talents^ and to another two, to another two, and
* To one he gaHie five talents^ Accord- if silver, 2250 pou?ids. (See the Preface to
ing to Dr. Pr/WeaHx'i calculation, if these his Con7iection, p 20.) And perhaps this
were talents of gold, the value of Xhefive great sum was chosen to intimate the value
attust have been o&^QOQ pounds sterlingy and and importance of those capacities and op-
The parable of the talents, 389
to another one ; to and to another one ; to every man according to sect.
every man according ^j^ respective capacity to manage the sum, and <^^^^-
t'^: and ^tT^uwiy to the prospect there might reasonably be of his —
took his journey. improving it : and immediately he xvent away^ xxv.15
and set forward on his journey.
16 Then he that And he who had received the five talents^ went 16
had received the five and GV\^2L^tdmh\xsmG.ss^ and traded with them in
talents, went and g^ diligent a manner during the absence of his
same and made Mew master, that he doubled the sum, and produced
other five talents. Jive talents more. And in like majiner hewho 17
17 And hkewxse ||^^^ received'] the twoy was so industrious in
tvvo, he dso'^alnTd employing them to the best advantage, that he
other two. also gained txvo more. But he who had received 18
18 But he that had but one talent, being displeased that he had
received one, went ^^^^ intrusted with no more, was seized with
and digged m the ,, . , , , -i r i
earth, and hid his sullen mdolence and servile rear, and went away
lord's money. directly, and attempted no improvement of it,
but privately digged \a hole] in the earth,, and
hid his master^ s money in it, till he should return
home.
19 After a long Thus the matter passed off for a while ; but 19
time the ^o^d of ^^^^^. ^^^^^^ considerable time the master of those
those servants com- */ » i i •
eth, and reckoneth servants comes home, and makes up nts accounts
with them. rvith them^ demanding from each the sum with
20 And so he that ^^^^^^ ^^ had been intrusted, and inquiring
had received five what was the interest he had gained by it.
talents came, and And he who had received the five tcdents came 20
brought other fiv^ ^^^^ ^^^ brought other five talents with them,
taleatSjSavmgjLord, -o-i ^ i r ^ • 1
thou deliveredst un- *^^^^i''>'-*^''^ thou wast pleased SO lar to mtrust
to me five talents: me, that thou didst deliver to ?ne Jive talents^
behold, I have gain- ^yhen setting out on thy journey ; and such is
Llents rore.'"" '^ the improvement I have made of them, that be-
21 His lord said hold,, I have doubled the sum, and gained to them
unto him,Welld()ne, fi^je talents more. And his master said unto him,, 21
thou good and faith- ^^^^^ ^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ Jaithful servant,^
lul servant ; tliou ' r • i r i • i ^ c
hast been faithful thou hast been Jaithjul in the management ot a
portunities committed to every reasonable •» Well done-, thou good and faithful ser-
creature, and especially to every professing va}it.'\ The original word tu has a peculiar
Christian. But I do not lay any very great force and energy, far beyond what I can
stress on this remark, because it is plain, exactly express in English. It was used
that as Horner uses the word rtthoivlov for by auditors ov spectators in any public exer-
& swn or perhaps a small ivedge of gold, of cise, to express the highest applause when
considerably less value than the price of any part had been excellently performed,
two fat oxen ("Iliad 4. ver. 750, 751), so the Bravely done f comes something near it,
signification of it among much later wri- but is not equally elegant or forcible*
ters is very indeterminate.
390 The faithful servants are rexvardedfor^improving them :
SECT. fe7v things ; and, having proved thee to be so in over a few things, I
cl^cv. this lower trust, I will prefer thee to a higher, will make thee ruler
^ and set thee over many more valuable things enter Thou inlo^he
^ than these: in the mean time, enter thou i?2?o joy ofthylord.
21 ^h^joy of thy master^ and share with me in the
banquet prepared for myself and my friends on
this happy occasion of my return.
22 He also who had received the two ^olentscame 22 He also that
forwards, and said. Sir, thou wertso indulgent, had received tvvotaU
, , /• 7 7 f 1 -1 6"ts, came and said,
that thou didst deliver to me at thy gomg hence Lord, thou deliver-
txvo talents, which I have endeavoured to em- edstuntometwotaU
ploy as carefully as I could ; and behold, by ents : beholdj have
trafficking with them / have gained two other fnts^beslde° them"
23 talents to them. And his master said unto him^ 23 His lord said
as he had done to the former, Well dofie, thou unto him, Well done,
good and faithful servant, thy care and diligence fe"rtntTfhof'hast
is as agreeable to me as if thy trust had been been faithful over a
greater; thou hast been tvidGntW faithfid in « few things, I will
few things; and I zvill in like manner prefer »"^^^ thee ruler oyer
', ^ <5 ' I many things : enter
thee to a higher trust, and set thee over many thou into the joy of
more valuable things than these : in the mean thy lord.
time, come to the entertainment now prepared,
and enter thou with thy companion into the joy
of thy master.
24 But he also who had received the one talent,"" , 24Thenhe whick
» • f • 1 11 J 1 had received the one
came and said, with a sullen and gloomy coun- ^^^qvw. came, and
tenance. Sir, I knew thee, that thou art a severe said. Lord, I knew
man, and that it is a very difficult thing to thee that thou art an
please thee, sin^e thou art so exact with thy ^itreZ; hlsTno?
servants, as even to think of reaping w/^^re sown, and gathering
thou didst not sow, a?id of gathering whence thou where thou hast not
hadst 7iot scattered Any thing that could be taken strawed:
up ; requiring more in many instances than it
is possible for them to do, be they ever so care-
2-5 ful : And being terrified with this thought, I 25 And I was a-
concluded that, if by any accident thy money f^'^'^' and went and
tij.. j-^ •' ^^u hid thy talent m the
should miscarry under my management, thou ^
wouldst shew me no mercy ; and therefore /
went azvay, as soon as I had received it, and
hid thy talent in the earth, in a place where it
* He luho had received the one talent.'] wealth, and genius, give them the greatest
Tliis may intimate tliat we are account- opportunities of service, seem to forget
able for the smallest advantages wiih which they have either any onaster in heaven io
we are intrusted ; but it cannot imply that serve, or any future reckoning to expect ;
they who have received much will ordinarily and many of them render themselves much
fiass their account best ; for it is too plain in more criminal than this viicked and slothful
fact, that most of those whose dignity, serva7it who hid his talent in the earth.
3ut the slothful is condemned for his negligeHCem 391
earth : lo, there thou has been very secure ; so that I have now sect.
hast Mat is thine, taken it Up, and behold^ [there] thou hast thine ^^^^'
own again, and wilt find it to be the full sum ^^^^
I received. xxv.
26 His lord an- And his master answering^ said unto him with 26
swered and said un- a just indignation, Thou xvicked and slothful
cd'^ami sTothfurseri servant^ what a false and scandalous excuse is
vant, thou knewest this, and how easily may it be retorted upon
that I reap where I thee ! For if it were indeed, as thou maliciously
sowednot,andgath. gayest, and thou knewest that I was such a ty-
er where I have not -^ . i i , « i i "^
strawed : rannical and unreasonable man as thou hast
described, even that I reap where I did not sow^
and expect to gather something up from whence
I had not scattered \t^ thou mightest certainly
depend upon it that I should expect to reap
where I had sowed, and to gather where I had
scattered that which, in this instance, as well
as the others, might have been an increasing
27 Thou oughtest seed. And therefore^ if thou hadst been 27
S^i^'l^rtotr^x^ afraid to employ it in trade, as these my faith-
chai^'rsfandthenat ^^^ servants have done, thou shouldst have put
my coming I should my money to the bankers upon sufficient secu-
have received mine rity ; and thus when I came I might at least have
own wit usurj', received mine own with the coTCivaon interest,
28 Taketherefore And then, turning to the attendants, he said, 28
the talent from him, j^^j^^ therefore the talent which he has thus
and ffive it unto him , < n r- j - -. »• i i
which hath tea tal- abusedyrow him^ and give it to htm that has ten
ents. talents^ as a farther token of my acceptance and
29 For unto every favour. For I would have all mv ser^^ants 29
one that hath shall Qj^g^j.^^ ^j^^^ j gj^^jj constantly make this a
be eriven, and he . . i i • ri-n »
shall have abund- maxim m my behaviour. That to every one that
aiice : but from him hath^ and diligently improves what he hath,
^at hath not shall more shall be given^ and he shall have abundance ;
that\vhichhThath.^ l^utfrom him that hath not improved it to any
valuable purpose, even xvhat he hath shall be
taken axvay. (Compare Mat. xiii. 12 ; Mark
iv. 25 ; Luke viii. 18 ; xix. 26.) Such un-
faithful creatures must expect to be stripped of
all, and not imagine that I will perpetually suf-
fer my trusts to be abused, and my business to
50 And cast ye the be neglected. And^ to deter others from 30
unprofitable servant such an idle and unfaithful conduct, cast ye the
Into outer darkness : ^ z?^ / / ^ i u -in
there shall be weep- ^^"/''"'^y^^^^^^ servant^ who has SO wickedly
ing and gnashing of abused my goodness, 2*72^0 the dreadful darkness
^•eeth. which is without; and there, instead of the
delight and joy to which my faithful servants
shall be introduced, there shall be nothing but
weeping and gnashing of the teeth. Now this
VOL. 2. ^1
392 Reflections on the duty ofhnpromn^ our talents*
9ECT. horrible darkness, to which my parable refers,
clxv. is no other than the dungeon of hell ; to which
every unfaithful servant must expect to be con-
,xv. demned in that approaching day of general ac-
30 count : fail not therefore to observe and report
what I now say, that it may give the alarm to
all who need it.
IMPROVEMENT.
What can excite us to a becoming care and activity In the
duties of life, if we are deaf to those various and important mo-
Mat, tives which this excellent parable suggests ? We have each of us
XXV.15 received our talents^ whether^t;?, or two^ or one ; and if we be
faithful^ it matters not much under which of these classes we
fall. Our acceptance and reward will be proportionable to our
diligence ; nor will any be blamed because he has not received
five^ though many will be condemned for neglecting one,
J9 Yet a little while, and our Lord comes to reckon -with us^ and
even now his eye is continually upon us. Let us ask our own
souls, with what temper, with what courage, with what cheer-
fulness, shall we appear before him ? Let us think of that appear^-
24 ance with awe, but not with terror. Away with every unjust
thought and reasoning (with whatever artifice it be excused,
with whatever honourable name it be dignified) that would
represent him as a rigorous and severe Master^ and produce a
servile dread, which would cut the sinews of industry, and sink
the soul into a sullen negligent despair.
30 Whatever our particular snares in life may be, let us think of
the doom of the slothful servatit, to awaken our souls, and to
deter us from every degree of unfaithfulness. And, on the other
hand, let us often reflect on that unutterable transport which
will overflow the breast of every real Christian^ when his gracious
Master shall condescend, in so honourable a manner, to com-
memorate his honest, though feeble, attempts of service ; and
21 23 shall say. Well done^ thou good and faithful servant : thou hast
been faithful in a few things^ I will make thee ruler over many
things : enter thou into the joy of thy Lord I May that joy be
the great object of our hopes and pursuits ! and may our daily
care in the improvement of every talent lodged in our hands be
a token to us that it will be sure and great !
Christ gives a description of the last judgment* 393
SECT. CLXVI.
Christ concludes this important discourse with a plain and affecting
description of the last judgment^ and of the different sentences
then to be passed and executed on the righteous and the wicked.
Mat. XXV. 31, to the end.
M.T.XXV.31. ^lAT. XXV. 31.
WHEN the Son /^UR Lord, having hitherto described h?s sect.
of man shall V^ last coming in a parabolical manner, thought clxvi.
*^T^ i/?v, *"L?,l°T it proper to conclude his discourse with a plain- •
and all the holy an- ri' ,., -i i^ Mat.
gels with him, then er account of it, which might serve as a key to ^^^
shall he sit upon the many preceding passages ; and he added. When ^j
throne of his glory. ^^^^ g^eat and illustrious Person, whom you
have so often heard of, and so well known, by
the title of the Son of inan^ shall come in all his
final glory ^^ in the most public honours of his
mediatorial kingdom, to which all things shall
then be completely subjected (1 Cor. xv. 25, 28);
and all the holy angels^ who have long been sub-
jected to him as his ministering servants, shall
come with him; then shall he set upon his glori'
ous and majestic throne^ conspicuous in the eyes
of the whole world, as the universal Judge.
32 And before him And all the nations of men, who have lived on 30
shall be gathered all earth from the remotest ages of time, shall be
nations ; and he shall assembled before him -^ and he shall separate them
frTm'InotheT ^slfrom each Other, according to their different char-
shepherd divideth acters, which he most perfectly knows, with as
his sheep from ^^^ 'axwQ\\Q2iSQ as a shepherd separates the sheep vfhich
^^^^^'' belong to his flock from the goats which may-
be mingled with them, and places them in dis-
33 And he shaU tinct companies. And he shall set the sheep^ 33
set the sheep on his that is,the righteous, whom he will own as such,
and whose characters resemble the innocence,
meekness, and usefulness of that animal, on his
right hand, in token of his favour to them, and
^ When the Son of man shall come in his which is one of the noblest instances of his
glory.^ If we observe the correspondence pue sublime tha.tl have any where read;
between these words and those in chap, and indeed few passages, even m the sa-
xxiv. 30, 31 (p. 375), it may seem probable cred writings themselves, seem to equal
that Christ intended to teach his disciples it. Methinks we can hai'dly read it with-
to conceive of his frst coming to the de- out imagining ourselves before the awful
struction of Jerusalem as a kind of emblem tribunal it describes.
of his fnal appearance to judgment; and ^ All the nations shall be assembled before
consequently it will authorise us to use him.'] Had the notion which prevailed
some of the texts in the former chapter among some later Jews, that the Gentdes
when discoursing of that great and im- should have no /Sarfin the re.^urrec?/o«, been
portant day. I hope every reader will as old as our Lord*s time, it is easy to see
observe with what majesty' and grandeur these words might have been understood
our Lord speaks of himself in this section, as a direct intended opposition to it.
394 He "Will reward the righteous for their kindness to him :
SECT, of the farther honours he will bestow upon right hand, but the
clxvi. them : hut the goats ^ that is, the wicked, who ^o^^s outhe left.
•"^■^ are so offensive to him, that they may justly be
^^' represented by goats, he shall place on [^w] lefty
33 to intimate his displeasure against them, and
their final removal from amongst his people ; nor
shall the haughtiest and mightiest sinner be
able to resist that appointment by which he is
placed in this situation to avoid his sentence.*^
(Compare Ezek. xxxiv. 17, 18.)
34 Then^ when by the ministry of the angelic 34 Then shall the
attendants thev are thus separated from each ^i"& ^^y ""^^ ^^^m
other, the great Zi«^of glory and of grace, who "^J^^ /e'^kss'^ed of
presides C)ver this grand solemnity, shall^ with my Father, inherit
the most condescending endearment, say to them the kingdom prepar-
en his rtght hand. Come, ye blessed ^A favour- ^J^J^ 'T ttl
able people of my iather^ approach yet nearer world:
to me, that, having been assessors with me in
what yet remains of this day's awful proceed-
ings (1 Cor. 2, 3), you may go in with me to
inherit the kingdom of holiness, glory, and joy,
appointed for your portion in the Divine pur-
pose and decree, and prepared for you from the
ZS foundation of the world. And I am now de- zs For I was an
scended to receive you to this kingdom with all hungered, and ye
these public marks of approbation and honour : ^^^^ "^^ meat : I
yr 11 u J 1 1 ' 1 was thirsty, and ye
or 1 well remember your good deeds m the gave me drink : I
days of your flesh, and felt my own bowels re- was a stranger, and
freshed by them, when / was hungry^ and ye ^^ ^°°^ "^^ ^^ •
gave me [food] to eat ; when J was thirsty^ and
ye caused me to drink ; when I was a stranger^
and ye took me in like one of your own families ;
36 When [Izvas] naked^ and ye clothed me ; when 36 Naked, and ye
J was sick, andye looked after me ;^ when I was clothed me : I was
shut up in the solitude, confinement, and aflSic- s^^k, and ye visited
,. r . • 7 t • 11 ^ It nie : I was m prison,
tion or a prison^ ana ye came kmdly to condole and ye came unto
with me in my sufferings, and to relieve my me.
necessities there.
e Nor shall the haughtiest sinner, l^c,"] ^ Iivas ski, and ye looked after me."^
I can imagine no more magnificent image This seems the exactest sense of tTno-Ki-
than this ; the assembled world distin- 4*^'^^ /"*» which in general signifies to
guished with such unerring penetration, take the oversight and care of any thing
and distributed into two grand classes, with that requires dihgent inspection and
as much ease as sheep and goats are ranged attendance (compare Jam. i. 27, and
by a fiAff/>/2C/-<i in different companies. The Eisner. Observ. Vol. I. p. 117): and it
toropriety with which our Lord speaks of strongly intimates that such an attendance
himself in the following words, by the title on the poor in their illness is a very accept-
oithe King, is very observable ; and it adds able charity : and this is what many may
unutterable beauty to the condescending have an opportunity of doing who have
words he is represented as speaking on very little money to spare,
this great occasion.
But the wicked shall be punished for neglecting' htm, 395
57 Then shall tlie Then shall the righteous^ in humble amaze- sect.
righteous answer ment, be ready to answer hirn^ and sa?/. Lord, cUvi.
wlTenl^^;e^heeWhat service were we ever capable of doing -—
an hungered, and thee, that we can deserve such notice from ^^
fed thee ? or thirsty, thee ? When did xve ever see thee hungry, and 07 '
'"ss^Whersawte/^'^f'^^^] ^ Or thirsty,andcaused[thee-] to drink ? 33
thee a stranger, and ^^ when did we ever see thee in the destitute
took thee in ? or nak- condition of a stranger, and took [thee] in P or
ed,and clothed thee? naked, and clothed [thee] P Or when did we
39 Or -when saw .. • / • . • , » ««
vre thee sick, or in ^^^^ ^^^ ^'^^^ ^^^^t °^ in prison, and came to thee 39
prison, and came for thy relief? We never saw thee, blessed
unto thee ? Lord, in such circumstances of distress, nor
ever had an opportunity of shewing any such
kindness to thee, that thou shouldst now dis-
tinguish us in such a manner, and speak so
honourably of the service we have done thee.
40 And the King And the King, answering with renewed con- 40
shall answer and say ^g5j.engiQj^ from his exalted throne, ^^fl// not
unto them, verily 1 ,. , . , t n » i
say unto you. In as Qisdam to say unto them, I well know that ye
much as ye have abounded in such kind and compassionate ac-
done /( unto one of tions to the necessitous and afflicted saints
the least of these j j •/ r . t
my brethren,yehave around you ; ^nd yenly I say unto you. In as
done it unto me. much as ye did [it"] u7iio one of the least and
poorest of these my dear brethren, who now
stand with you in this happy company, ye in
effect did [it] to 7ne :^ and I declare in the face
of all the world, That I take and reward it as
if I had been relieved in person, and joyfully
welcome you to that blessed world,, where you
shall be for ever reaping the harvest of these
labours of love.
41 Then shall he Then, when his faithful servants are thus ac- 41
say also unto ^them quitted and honoured, he shall turn and say
Depart from^me?ye ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ¥^ ^^^^^ Depart from me,
cursed, into ever- ye cursed and detestable creatures, into the
lasting fire, prepar- agonies cf that everlasting and unquenchable
hfs angds f ^""'^ ^"^A^' ^^^^^ w^s originally prepared fir the devil
and his angels,^ whose companions you must
for ever be in the regions of horror and des-
42 For 1 was an pair. And ye cannot but know in your own 42
* 31? did it to mc.3 That almsdeeds * Prepared for the devil and his angels.'^
should be remembered with peculiar re- There is a remarkable difference between
gard in the day of judgment was a notion our Lord's expression here and in ver. 34
that early prevailed among the Jews, as There thekingdomxs said to have been pre-
appears by the Chaldee Paraphrase on Ec- pared for the righteous froiu the foundation
cles. ix. 7j which bears a remarkable re- of the viorld ;^ whereas here the everlasting
semblance to these words of Christ, and fre is not said to have been prepared for the
might perhaps be an imitation of them, luicied, but for the devil and hfs angels.
See Mede's Workst p. 81. Compare Rom. ix. 22, 23.
396 What is done to his brethren he regards as done to himself,
SECT, consciences that ye well deserve it ; for I was hungered, and ye
clxvi. hungry^ and ye did not give me so much as &ave me no meat : I
bread to eat} I was thirstif, and ye did not give ^^^ thirsty, and ye
Mat 1 1 ' } r 1 g"^^^ "^^ "o drink :
sxv* ^^ ^^ much as water to drink ; I was wander- 43 i v^as a stran-
43 ing among you as a poor helpless stranger^ and ger, and ye took me
ye did not take me in amonsr your domestics and "°^ I" ! "f'^ed, and
"^ r If r J- 7 ^ t ^L ye clothed me not:
guests ; I was naked, ana ye aid not clothe ine ; gi^k^ and in prison,
I was sick, and in prison, and ye did not look and ye visited me
after 77ie, or do any thing at all for my relief. "^t.
44 Then shall they also answer and say unto him,^ 44 Then shall they
Lord, we are surprised at so stranere a charcre, ^^^^ answer him,
1 ^ u J 1 1* ui ^ • r saving, Lord, when
and cannot apprehend ourselves liable to it ; lor g^w we thee anhun-
•when did we ever see thee hungry or thirsty, or gered, or a thirst, or
a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and ^ stranger, or sick,
J- J ^^ ^1- u ^ r u-r*- • • 1 ^ or in prison, and did
did not to the best 01 our abilities minister to ^^^ minister unto
thee ? If we had ever seen thee in distress, we thee ?
would not have neglected to relieve thee ; but
we had never any opportunity of doing it.
45 And then shall he answer them, saying, Veri- 45 Then shall he
ly I say unto you, and declare it in the most answer them,saying,
solemn manner, That inasmuch as ye did [it] you, in as much"as
not to one of the least of these once necessitous, ye did it not to one
though now triumphant saints, who dwelt of the least of these,
among you on earth, and needed your assist- ^^ ^'^'^ ''''^ ^° "'^•
ance, ye did [it] not to me ; and I justly thought
myself neglected and injured when you shut
up the bowels of your compassion towards
them.
46 And so, to conclude all, these miserable 46 And these shall
wretches, notwithstandinor all the excuses they p .^^^y *l^to ever-
' , ,, ° ^ . J jf 1 lasting punishment :
can urge, shall go away into a most dreaarul b^ ^^e righteous in-
state oi everlasting punishment; but the right- to life etenial,
eowA', through the abundant grace of God mani-
fested by his Son, shall enter into everlasting
life :^ and thus the great scene shall close in
the eternal happiness or misery of every human
creature who has ever lived on the face of this
earth.
e Then shall they also ansu^r^ &c.] Per- the number of those to whom it will be
haps it may only intimate this shall be made !
the language of their hearts, which Christ ^ Everlasting punishmeiity — everlasting
perceiving, will reply to it. 1 see no ne- life.'] As the original ivord Aicevtov is the
cessity for supposing they shall actually same in both places, I thought it proper
plead thus. Multitudes will no doubt re- to use the same word in the translation of
member they have often heard what reply both ; and miserable are they that dare
■will be made to such a plea : God grant venture their souls on its signifying a /i7n»<-
tliat none who read it here may be in ed duration in cither.
Reflections on the sentence he xvillpass on the wicked: 39f
IMPROVEMENT.
Let us now behold, with an attentive eye and a solicitous sect,
heart, the end of all the living ; that awful scene, in which the *^^^^*'
various dispensations of God to mankind shall terminate in the TTT
solemn day, xvhen the Son of man shall come in his glorify and sit xxv.
on his magnificent throne. All nations and people shall be assem- 31,32
bled before him^ and we must make up a part of the assembly.
The sheep and the goats must then be separated : and, O my 33
soul, amongst which wilt thou then be numbered ? Is there an
inquiry, is there a care, of greater, of equal, of comparable im-
portance ?
Let us view the sentence we must shortly hear, as he who
will himself pronounce it has been pleased to give us a copy of
it. Can we conceive any thing more dreadful than that which 4^
shall be passed on those on the left hand P To be driven from the
presence of Christ as accursed^ and to be consigned over to a
devouring j?r^ / and this not only to the tortures of a moment^
or an hour (as in some painful executions that have been known
here), but to everlasting fre^ yea, to fire prepared for the devil
and his angels^ where they will be perpetual companions, and
perpetual tormentors ! Should not the thought that he Is in dan-
ger, in hourly danger, of being sealed up under this sentence,
awaken the most stupid sinner, and engage him eagerly to cry-
out, What shall I do to be saved P And on whom is this sentence
passed ? Let us attentively observe it ! Not merely on the most 42, 4rS
gross and abandoned sinners, but on those who have lived in an
habitual neglect of their duty : not merely on those who have
ravaged and persecuted the saints (though surely their furnace
will be heated seven ti}nes hotter than that of others), but even
on those who have neglected to relieve them.
On the other hand, let us seriously reflect what It will be to be
owned by Christ before the assembled world ; and to hear him
saying, with a sweet smile, and with a voice of harmony and
love, Come^ ye blessed of my Father ^ inherit the kingdom prepared 34
for you from the foundation of the world. How infinite is the
love that prepared that kingdom for us before we had a being !
how rich the blood that purchased it ! how overflowing the
grace that bestows it on such mean, such undeserving creatures !
Bless the Lord^ 0 our souls, in the prospect of it ! Let men curse,
O Lord, if thou wilt thus bless, (Psal. cix. 28.) Let them
load our names with infamy if thou wilt adorn them with such
glory : let all the kingdoms of the earth, and all the pomp of them,
be despised and trampled under foot, when off'ered as an equiv-
alent for this infinitely more glorious kingdom.
Let us attentively observe the character of those who are to 35, 3^
receive it. They are the useful and the benevolent souls : such
^98 and on his favour to the righteous in the judgment day^
SECT, as have loved the Lord Jesus Christy not only in his name, and
^^^^' ordinances, and promises, but have loved him in his laws, and
ver40 ^^ his people too ; and have known him in those humble forms
in which he has been pleased, as it were by proxy ^ to appear
among us. I xvas hungry^ and ye fed me; thirsty ^ and ye gave
me drinky &c. for in as much as ye did it to one of the least of these
my brethren^ ye did it unto me. Amazing words ! that the mean--
est saint should be owned by the King of glory as one of his
brethren I Irresistible argument to those that do indeed believe
these words, to stir them up to abound in every good word and
work ! Under this impression, methinks, instead oi hiding our^
selves from those who should be to us as our own flesh by virtue
of our common union to him, we should not only hearken to
their entreaties, but even search them out in those corners to
which modest want may sometimes retire, and cast about in our
thoughts how we may secure any happy opportunity of relieving
some Tponr saints for their sakes, and^r their iJfc^er'^, and even
for our 01V71, What if Christ came to us in person as a poor
helpless stranger P What if we saw him destitute of food and
raiment J or in want of any other necessaries of life ? Should we
not contend for it as an honour, which of us should receive him
into our houses^ which of us should entertain him at our table^
^ which of us should even strip ourselves oi our clothing to give it
to him? And yet he tells us that he is in effect with us in his poor
members ; and we invent a thousand cold excuses for neglecting
to assist him, and send our compassionate Saviour away empty.
Is this the temper of a Christian f Is this the temper in which
we should wish to be found at the judgment day ?
44, 45 But xve know not Christ in this disguise. Neither did these
unhappy creatures on the left hand know him: they are surprised
to be told of such a thing ; and yet are represented as perishing
. for it. Away therefore with all those religious hopes (vainly so
called) which leave the heart hardened, and the hand contracted
from good works ! If we shut up the bowels of compassion from
6ur brethren^ how dxvelleth the love of God in us f (l John iii. 17.)
Or to what doth the love of Christ constrain us^ if it be not to the
exercise of gratitude to him, and the offices of cheerful and
active friendship to those whom he now owns as his brethren^
and whom he will not be ashamed to call so in the midst of his
highest triumph ? Blessed fesus, how munificent art thou ! and
what a fund of charity didst thou lay up in the very words
which are now before us ! In all ages since they were spoken,
how many hungry hast thou fed, how many naked hast thou
clothed^ how many calamitous creatures hast thou relieved by
them! May they be written deep in our hearts, that the joy
with which we shall finally meet thee may be increased by the
happy effect of this day's meditation \
The passover was now xvithin two days : 599
SECT. CLXVII.
The Jewish rulers consult how they might take Christy and Judas
agrees xvith them to deliver him przvatehf into their ha7ids.
Mat. XXVI. 1—5, 14—16. Mark XIV. 1, 2, 10, 11.
Luke XXI. 37, to the end. XXII. 1—6.
T TTx^TT vvT '\7 Luke XXI. 37.
L.UKE AAl. J/. ^ ^ , , 1 t • i» --.
AND in the day- HnHUS our Lord ended his discourses on sect.
time he was X this subject on the third day of the week ^ ^^"'
teachinffin the tern- -^^ ^^y^-^j^ j^^ suffered ; and thus he was gen- TT^
pie, and at nioht he ,, - i r i • c v,' ur *-^^^
wentout, and abode erally employed from the time ot his pubhc xxi.
in the mount that is entry into Jerusalem to his last passover : he 37
called the mount of ^^^ teaching by day in the temple^ and at night
^^'^''" he went out of the city, and lodged at the inount
called [the mount'] of Olives^ in the neighbour-
hood of which Bethany lay ; in the retirement
of which, particularly in the garden of Geth-
semane, he often spent a considerable part of
the night ; being desirous to secure that only-
season of solitude, that he might prepare him-
self for his approaching sufferings by a proper
38 And all the series of extraordinary devotion. And as soon 38
people came early in as it was light, he returned to the city ; and
in^th^rmpCfor'S «'' '^^^ W/^ ^"-^ ^'v ^» "}" lornmg to him
hear him. tn the temple^ that they might thus lay hold ot
every opportunity to hear him; and he was
solicitous not to lose any time that might be
improved for so profitable a purpose.
Luke XXII. 1. Now it may not be improper here to ob- Luke
Now the feast of un- serve, that the feast of unleavened breads xvhich ^txii.l
leavenedbreaddrew ^^^ commonlv called the passover, drezv near,
nicrh, which IS called ^ ,t , '. i • i • ^ j /\
the passover, land [and] xvas celebrated within two days ajter our
was after two days.] Lord had delivered the prophecies and admo-
[Mark XIV. l—.j nitions so largely recorded above.*
Matt. XXVI. 1. And it came to pass, that xvhen Jesus had fin- Mat.
And it came to pass, ishedall these discourses, and the appointed hour xxvi.
■tt?^ lu'^l^^'^ ^"* fo^ his sufferings was now at hand, he said to his 1
ished all these say- .... ^5 > , r \ j ^t *>
ings, he said unto disciples, Te know that after two days the ^
his disciples, passover Cometh ; and in the plainest terms I
2 Ye know that ^^^ assure you the Son of man is then to be
alter two davs IS Me , , i • • • ♦u^^. „^
feast of the passover, ^^f^^}/^^ to his inveterate enemies, that, a(>.
and the Son of man cording to what I have often told you (Mat.xvi.
* Tu-o days after.'] I apprehend that evening, which was just trio days before
the preceding discourses (from sect, cli.) the paschal iamb was eaten. I do not
were delivered on the Tuesday of the find that any of the transactions of the
week in which he suffered ; and he prob- Wednesday are recorded besides the g-en-
ably uttered the following words that eral account given above.
VOL* 2. 52
400 And the Jewish rulers consult how they might take him,
SKCT. 21, and xx. 18, 19), he may be put into the is betrayed to be
clxvii. hands of sinful men to be crucified : prepare crucified.
"TJ ' yourselves therefore for that trying season, that
xxvi y^^ "^^y "^^ ^^ hurried into any thing which
2 you may afterwards l>ave reason to repent,
3 77^^72 that very evening the chief priests of 3 Then assembled
every class, and others employed in distin- tog-ether the chief
cruished services in the temple, together with f^^^^* ^!J^i ^^?
?, ., , , , \i r 1 I scribes, and the el-
the scribes^ and the other elders oj the people^ ders of the people,
who were members of the grand sanhedrim, unto the palace of
assembled together, not indeed in the temple, the hi^h priest, who
, ^1 '^ ,, ^ \ ^ ^ ^1 . 1 r , was called Caiaphas;
wmere they usually met, but at the palace of the tmark XIV.— l.-l
high priest^ who was then called Caiaphas ; (as Luke XXI. 2—.]
was observed before, John xi. 49, p. 252)
4 Andxhtx^ Me?/ entered into a secret conspiracy, 4 And consulted
and consulted how they might privately take [how] they might
Jesus by some artifice, without giving an "f^^^^^^^^ by subtil-
•^, I • r • 1 ' f • 1 , . , , ty, [and put him to
alarm to his iriends, and might put him to death death.] rivi a r k
as soon as possible, which one way or other XIV.— 1. Luke
they were determined to do. But they had ^^^l;~^T'-'
5 such an apprehension of his interest in the peo- Not on'the feast%'
pie, that some of them were rather for delay- lest there be an up-
ing it, and said. It will be more advisable to ^^^^ among the peo-
wait till after the passover, and 720^ to attempt feared'thT'pX'M
to seize him at the feast, while there is such a [m a r k XIV 2.
concourse in the city from all parts ; lest the Luke XXIL— 2.]
design that we have formed against him should
be discovered, and, considering how popular
he is, there should be a tumult raised among the
people, either to rescue him from our hands,
or to revenge his death. Such were the cau-
tious sentiments of some among them ;yor they
feared the people : but others pushed the matter
on with greater forwardness and zeal, and were
by no means for deferring it ; to which at
length the rest agreed, upon finding a more fa-
vourable opportunity than they expected, offer-
ing itself through the treachery of Judas.
Luke For then, just at that very juncture of time, Luke XXIL 3.
x*u. 3 Satan, by Divine permission, entered into Ju' Then entered Satan
das, who was also called Jscariot, and was (as i"toJudas,sirnamed
we observed before) one of the number of the orthe^nurabef ofthe
twelve apostles who were chosen by our Lord twelve : [Matt.
from the rest of his disciples to the most hon- ^^VI. 14.-— Mark
ourable trust as well as the most endearing "^'^
yudas comes to them^ and agrees to betray him, 401
intimacy :^ and as this malignant spirit had sect,
before suggested to him the horrid design of clxvii.
betraying his Master, he now strongly im- 7"
pressed his mind that during his retirement he ^^■^ 3
might easily find a convenient time for exe-
cuting it, and might be sure of being well
rewarded for it by the rulers of the Jews.
4 And he went And, under this impression, he immediately 4?
his way and com- ^vtnt awaif from Christ and his company to the
muneu with the , c r^ ' \ l i_ i i_ '
chief priests and "Ouse ot Caiaphas, whom he knew to be a most
captains, how he inveterate enemy to his Master ; a7id having
mig-ht betray him found means of introducing himself, and com-
unto them : PMat. • ^- u* i j • i. j
XXVI — 14 M \RK "^^^"^^ S "*^ general design, he conversed
XIV, —10.] xvith the chief priests and captains of the
temple, who were not yet gone awavy and de-
liberated how he might with the greatest
convenience and security betray him unto them.
Mat. XXVI. 15. And as the sordid wretch proposed it with a Mat.
rr^'^^Tv.^^!^ u"^" covetous view, before he would come to anv ^^^^
them. What will ye • 1 i , . , • 1 ^' \5
give me, and I will agreement with them, he said, without the
deliver him unto least appearance of shame or remorse, What
y^^ ^ are you zuilling to give me, and Ixvill undertake
to deliver him to you at a time and place in
which you may effectually secure him without
the danger of giving any alarm to the people ?
Mark XIV. 11. And when they heard his proposal, they Mark
Z^:L:t:; ^ thought [iq very practicable ; and they rvere -.11
glad, and promised g^^d or SO unexpected an otter irom one oi his
to give him money, own disciples to facilitate their measures i and
[And they covenant- .|.}^gj.g£Qj,g readily pro7nised iTi c:eneral to P'ive
ed with him for thir- , . ^ ^ r i ^
ty pieces of silver.] ""^^ ^ ^^^ °* money as a reward tor that ser-
fMAT. XXVI.— 15. vice ; and at last they expressly agreed with
Luke XXII. 5.] him for thirty pieces of silver,'^ which was the
price to be paid for a slave who had been slain
(see Exod. xxi. 32) : and as they proposed it
to express their contempt of Jesus, so God
permitted Judas, covetous as he was, to ac-
quiesce in that mean and trifling sum (though
he might easily have raised it higher), that
thus the prophecy might be fulfilled in which
^ ' it had been particularly specified. (See Zech,
xi. 12, 13.)
^ One of the number of the twelve, &c.] rated by the law at thirty shekels of silver,
This WHS a circumstance of sucli high ag- wliich, if we reckon them at ha(f a croivK
^avation, that it is observable, each of the (which is supposed to have been about
tf^a,^^e/?>f* hath marked it out in this view, their real value), amounted to no more
Compare with these places John vi. 71, than three pounds ffteen shillings of our
Vol. I. p. 458. money ; a goodly price that he 'was prized at
* Thirty pieces of silver.'] A slave was (fthetii. Zecli. xi. 13.
402 Refectiom on the zeat of Christ and the treachery of Judas.
SECT. And he pro7n}sed to take a punctual care in Luke XXII. 6,
clxvii. the affair : and accordingly from that time he -^"/^J^^ promised,
— — j-r ^1 t^ .. ^ -. X 7 . and rfrom that time"}
Luke ^l^^gently sought a proper opportunity to betray ^^^^^^^ opportunity
j^- g hhn unto them^ that they might come upon him to betray him unto
privately, and apprehend him in the absence o/" them in the absence
the multitude: nor was it long before this hap- pM^-^^ xxvi"l6i
pened, as we shall quickly relate in its place. Mark XIV.— 11.]
IMPROVEMENT.
Luke We see with what unremitting vigour the great Author and
^•37 Finisher of our faith pressed forward towards the mark^ and how
he quickened his pace, as he saw the day approaching ; spending
in devotion the greatest part of the nighty which succeeded to
his most laborious days, and resuming his work early in the
38 morning ! How much happier were his disciples in these early
lectures than the slumbers of the morning could have made them
on their bt;ds ! Let us not scruple to deny ourselves the indul-
gence of unnecessary sleep, that we may come morning after
fnorni?ig to place ourselves at his feet, and lose no opportunity
of receiving the instructions of his word, and seeking those of
his Spirit.
Mat. But while his gracious heart was thus intent on doing good,
^^v'- the chiej priests and rulers of the people were no less intent on
^»'*' mischief and murder. They took counsel together how they
14,t5 might put him to death : They set upon his head the price of a
slave^ and find an apostle base enough to accept it. Blush, O ye
heavens^ to have been witness to this ; and be ashamed, 0 earthy
to have supported so infamous a creature ! Yet this was the man
who but a few days before was the foremost to appear as an ad^
vocatefor the poor ^ and to censure the pious zeal of Mary, which
our Zen/ vindicated and applauded (John xii. 4 — 8, p. 276, 277).
Luke Let the fatal proofs of his covetous disposition, instigated by
2^"-3» Satan, be marked with abhorrence and terror ; and if we see
^>" this base principle harboured in the breasts of those who call
themselves the disciples and ministers of Christ, let us not won-
der if by God's righteous judgment they are given up to those
excesses of it which bring upon them lasting infamy and endless
perdition.
SECT. CLXVIIL
Christ, having directed his disciples where to prepare the passover
for him, comes to Jerusalem for the last time before his death,
and sits down xvith thefu to the celebration of it. Mat. XXVI.
17—20. Mark XIV. 12—17. Luke XXII. 7—18. John
XIIL 1.
Luke XXII. 7. LukeXXII. 7.
TVTO Rafter this infamous bargain which Ju- nn HEN came the
•^^ das made with the chief priests to betray ■■■ [first] day of
jfesus sends two of his disciples to prepare the passover. 403
unleavened bread, into their hands his innocent and Divine Mas- ^^^T/.
when the passover ter, on the fifth day of the week, hefore the ^|^''
pMAT, XXVl'^17''— ^^^"^"S ^^^^" Me^r^f day of unleavened bread L„ke
Mark XIV. 12—.] came^ in whkh^ according to the precept of the xxii.r
law, which had expressly limited the time of it,
the passover must be killed^ or the paschal lamb
be slain, in commemoration of the Israelites be-
8 And he sent ing preserved from the destroying angel, and
[two of his disci- delivered out of Egypt, Jesus determined to
jS'savin^tcoand ^eep the passover with his disciples. ^ And, 8
prepare us the pass- that he might in a due manner celebrate it with
over, that we v(\-;^y\}c\^Yi\^hesenttxvoofhisdisciples^Peterandyohny
13!..]^*'^^*^ ^^^' ^^'^^^ ^^^ P^^ce where he had spent the night
9 And they said before in retirement with them, and said. Go,
unto him. Where to Jerusalem, a7id prepare the passover for usy
wilt thou that we ^^^^ ^^ ^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ j- -^-j tosrether.
FMark, Sfo andj a j ^1 - i . i- ti 1
prepare [for thee to -^^" ^hey saidwito htm, J_.ora, we are ready to 9
eat the passover ?] perform the charge, and that we mav be under
[Mat. XXVI.— 17. ^o uncertainty as to the place, only desire thou
10 ^ And he said wouldst particularly tell us. Where, or at what
unto them, [Go into house, xvilt thou have lis go and prepare for thy
the city to such a eating the passover with us.
X;, 3""2e emereli ^"'^ ^' '"'^ ™'° '''^"'' ^ ^^'" S"'^ 5'°" a sign, 10
into the city, there which shall put the matter out of doubt : Go di-
shall a man meet rectlv into the city to such a one as I will point
you, bearing a pitch- q^^ {^ ..^^ . r^^^n behold, as soon as ever you
er 01 water; lollow / »« # • -m •
him into the house ^^^ entered into the city, a man will meet you m
where he entereth the street carrying a pitcher of water in his hand ;
in. [Mat.XXVI. ^^- JoUqxv him immediately into the house where he
~ll^And^[MARK, e^^ters; for I know it will be a place very fit
wheresoever he shall for our accommodation.** And wheresoever he 11
* The first day of unleavened bread catne.'] ^ A tnan nuill meet you , &c.] As Samuel,
There is no room to question that the having- anointed Saul, for the confirmation
time when Christ sent his disciples to of his faith gave him several predictions
prepare the passover was on the Thursday relating to some verj' contingent occur-
of the week in which he suffered ; and rences he was to meet with in his journey
though thefirst day of u7iieavened bread, most (see 1 Sam. x. 2 — 7), so our Lord seems
strictly so called, was ihe fifteenth day of by these predictions to have intended the
Nisan, and began with the evening that the same with regard to his disciples, and also
passover was eaten, yet it is not improba- to give them a most important hint that he
ble that the eva7igelists might sometimes foresaw all the particular circumstances
speak according to the usual way of reck- which weretobefal him at Jerusalem when
oning c/ajvy among other nations ; and so, as he went up thither for the next and last
the use of /eawn among them was to*cease time before his sufferings. The sending
by sunset at farthest, and they were oblig- them to Jerusalem in this manner seems
ed to eat their supper, which was the to intimate, that he did not go thitlier
chief meal, with unleavened cakes, it himself that morning; so that it is very
might naturally enough be called by this probable he spent most of the day in re-
nanie. tirement for meditation and prayer.
404 They find a room by hh direction^ and make ready there.
SECT, g'oes in^ you shall say to the master of the family^ go in] ye shall say
clxviii. We are come to thee with a message from Je- 'mtothep^oodmanof
— sus the Teacher ; and he says to thee by us, my ^^ ^^f '^^ .t^;
xxii.ll ^""^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^y near^^ and before I make my [My time is at hand,
last remove I will celebrate the passover at thy I will keep the pass-
house: xvhere then is the dininp; room f or what ""'f ^\ ^';>' \^oxxs^,-\
-,,,<-> - where is the guest-
convenient chamber hast thou to spare, where 1 chumber, where I
may come 2ir\d eat the passover rvith my disciples^ shall eat the pass-
and be secure from the interruption of anv oth- ^y^^\'^^i^^ "^^.™rl"
-^ 5 . , 1 • , .J7 , * pies? f Mat. XXVI.
12 er company I And upon this he will take you up _]^3 "- mark. XIV.
stairs, and shezv you a large upper room^ which 14 ]
will conveniently hold us all ; and vou will find 1^ And he shall
■..furnished with allproper utensils, andprepar- ^'^ZZtl^^i
edby all necessary circumstances of purification [and prepared ; 3
of every kind, so as to be, on the whole, in very there make ready
good order : there provide the imleavened ^^y "^^A ^^^^^
bread, the lamb, and the bitter herbs, and 7nake
all things ready for us against the time of our
coming ; for we shall be able to find the house
without any direction from you.^
Mark And after he had given these particular in- Mark XIV. 16.
xiv.16 structions to his two disciples, they xvent out ^"^ J^'^, disciples
r ^1 J • ^ \t -. ' 1 r , went forth, and came
irom thence, and came into the city, andjound ^^^^^ ^.j^g \;^^ and
the man carrying the water, whom they follow- found as he had said
ed into a house, where there was, just as he had ""^^ ^h^"^ '■ J*J>dtliey
said to them, a commodious dining room at lib- iSrd^^i^^^.'l Jj
erty, and well turnished : and as the master of made ready the pass-
the house, was free to let them have it, they did over. [M a t t h.
as Jesus had appointed the?7i, and made the pass- ^^}\ }\' ^^^'^
over ready against the time when he should ' '^
come to eat it.
1 7 And in the evening, xvhen the proper h our for 21<^ ^["l J" e!' wT'en
eating the passover was come, he ca;?!^ directly to the hour was come],
the house where his messengers were, and sat '^e cometh, \and sat
dovm to the table with all the twelve apostles down] with the
ji . ^ f ,. , -' p twelverLuKE,apos-
around nim, to taste (accordmg to the usage oi ties.] [Mat. XXVI.
^ My Unit is near7\ Every body knew this man's faith under that violent shock
that the time for eating the passover was it was soon to receive by his approaching
near ,- for that these words must be sup- sufferings,
posed to have a further view And I am
therefore ready to believe that the owner ^ We shall be able to find the house,
of this house, to whom onr Lord sent this &c.] The same prophetic gift which ena-
inessage by the name of the teacher^ might bled Christ to predict these circumstances
be a person who (though unknown to woukl, no doubt, guide him thither ; and
Peter and John) was in his heart at least a it is a beautiful modesty in tiie sacredhisto-
disciple of Christy and o«r Zor^ might give rian only to hint obliquely at it; but I
thisintimation, thatit was to be a time of apprehend it the part of a. paraphrast to
more than ordinary importance to him, set these particulars in a fuller and strong-
that it might be some secret support to er light.
He comes in the evenings and sits down with the twelve, 405
20. Luke XXII. those days) the unleavened bread, and the bit- sect.
14.] ter herbs before the lamb was served up.« clwiii.
John XIII. I. Now it is here to be observed, that before """■
Now before the he becran to eat the feast of the passover, as l'-^^
feast of the passover, cv ^, *i * i.- u l i ^"'- ^
when Jesus knew y^*^'* >t;/eTt; that hzs hour was co??ie when he
that his hour was should depart from this calamitous worlds in
come, that he should which he had sojourned for a while, to return
depart out of this ^ ^/ t) ^^ ^f ^j^^ jr^^ - y^j^j^ ^e orig-
world unto the Fa- . „ , , , ,. . , ^
ther, having- loved mally dwelt, he was solicitous to order every
his own, which were circumstance of his conduct in this last inter-
in the world, he course with his disciples, so as micjht most
loved them unto the ^ ^ „ ^ ^u • j\-r • i
gj^^^ enectualiy promote their edihcation and com-
fort, and make it clearly manifest that, having
always tenderly loved his oxvn that were in the
worlds he loved them in the most perfect man-
" ner, even to the end of his life,^ and would
decline nothing which might be for their ad-
vantage.
Luke XXII. 15. And^ to express the ferv^ency and strength Luke
And he s.iid unto of this affection, he said to them, as thev sat ^xii. 15
them, With desne I ^ .u u r i u^ • t
have desired to eat together, before supper was brought m, I as-
this passover with sure you that / have most earnestly desired to
4^ eat this passover with you, though I know it
« To taste the unleavened bread, &c.] I Christ also 'washed thejeet of his disciples :
must here entreat my reader, if he has an Then, after eating the passover, followed
opportunity, to consult AhisKvorth^s excel- another cup, which, after having delivered,
lent A^o?eonExod. xii 8, where he has col- to each a piece of bread, was the sacra-
lected from authentic Jewish viriters the tnental cup at this supper : Then, after
best account I have any where seen in so some pious and friendly discourse, the
little room of the various ceremonies with whole family, after having- drank al least a
which tlie passo'ver was eaten, by which fourth cup, sang- some psahns of praise :
the subsequent story is g-reatly illustrated, and so the solemnity ended. Agreeable
Among others, the following circumstan- to this is the account given in the Religious
ces should be recollected : That the mas- Ceremonies of all Nations, YoX. I. p. 215 — 217.
ter of the family began the feast with a ^ He loved them to the end.'\ I shall in
cup ofwijie, which, having solemnly blessed, the next section hint at my reason for agree-
that is, having adored the name of God ing with those critics who place the story
over it, he c/i^-ici^^/ among the guests (Luke of Christ's washing his disciples* feet at the
xxii. 17), and afterwards washed his beginningofthe/>a*c/2a/^z//)/)er, rather than
hands : Then the supper began with the a night or two before. At present, I
wileavefied bread and bitter herbs, which, would only observe, that this verse seems
when the master and the rest of the com- intended by John to introduce, not merely
pany had tasted, one of ihe younger per- the story which immediately follows it,
sons present, generally a child, asked the but the whole account of Christ's beha-
reason of what was peculiar in that feast viour to his friends in these last scenes of
(according to Exod. xii. 26), which intro- his life : and therefore, as he prefixes it to
duced the haggadah, that is, the shewing the first circumstance that he has men-
forth, or declaration of it. (In allusion to tioned of this passover, I apprehend it
which we read of shewing forth the Lord's proper to begin the whole story with it ;
death, 1 Cor. xi. 26.) Then the master especially since the words which I have
rose up and took another cup, and washed placed next after it are full of that love
his hands again, before the lamb was which he expressed to them even to the
tasted: and in this interval, I suppose, last.
405 Taking the cup before the passoveVy he divides it among them.
SECT, will be the last I shall celebrate with you, and you before I suffer.
clxviii. -vve shall rise from it but a few hours before I
am to suffer from mine enemies the most cruel
x^"l5 insults, and torments, which shall end in my
death ; yet such is my love to my people, and
such my desire to glorify my heavenly Father,
that no passover was ever so welcome to me as
16 this : For now I see the days of my hu- 16 For I say unto
miliation almost finished; and I say unto you. 5"°"' ^ ^^^ "°^ ^"7
_,, c ^i.- T -n ^ 1 u . :^ more eat thereof.
That after this / wzll not celebrate any other ^^^.^ -^^ j,g fulfilled
passover with you, nor eat of it any more^ till in the kingdom of
it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God^ or till the ^^d.
institutions of the gospel shall have perfected
those of the law, and the ordinances of both are
superseded by the more perfect enjoyments of
the heavenly world.
ir Arid then, having received the cup^ with '^'^ And he took
which it was usual tor them to begin the feast ^IT aS' S^,
he gave thanks to God for the redemption of Take this, and di-
Israel, in commemoration of which the pass- vide r> among your-
over was instituted, and for giving them this ^^^^^s-
opportunity of celebrating this holy banquet
together ; and then said^ Take this cup, and let
it go round, and divide [i?] among yourselves^
18 and bless the God of your fathers. And see 18 For I say unto
that you do it with a devotion suitable to the y°V 7^^ "«^^^;"^
,..•'.,,, . , . , , of the fruit of the
ttistmguished solemnity which you have now vine, until the kin?-
before you : for I say unto you^ That after dom of God shall
what passes this evening / will not drink any come.
more v/ith you of the fruit of the vine^ until the
kingdom of God come, and that complete and
spiritual redemption, which is typified by this
ordinance, shall be fulfilled and perfected.
IMPROVEMENT,
We may well assure ourselves, that the same Divine pene*
tration and prophetic discernment which enabled the blessed
Luke Jesus thus circumstantially lo foretell to his disciples those most
contingent occurrences which were to determine the place where
they should prepare the passover, would also open to him a pros-
pect of ail that was to follow. All the scenes that were to be
passed through on this fatal night, and the succeeding black and
bloody day, were, no doubt, attentively viewed : the agony of
the garden, the traiterous kiss of Judas, the cowardly fight of
all the other apostles, the insults of his seemingly victorious and
successful enemies, the clamorous accusations, the insolent
buffetings^ the scourges^ the thorns^ the ncdls^ the cross and all
xxu
10—13
Reflections on the fervency of the love of Christ* 407
that he was to endure upon it from the hand of God and men. sect.
Yet behold, with all these in his view, he goes on with a holy dxvifi.
alacrity, and this sim of righteousness rejoiceth as a champion to TZ
run his race ! (Psal. xix. 5.) Yea, when he is sitting down to
the paschal supper (though therein was exhibited, in a most
lively emblem, the bitterness of his own sufferings), he utters
these gracious and emphatical words. With desire I have desired
to eat this passover with you before I suffer.
So justly might it be said of him, as we see it is, that having John
loved his own, which zvere in the worlds he loved them to the end, xiii. 1
0 blessed Jesiis^ may the ardour, the courage, and the perma-
nency of our love to thee^ bear at least some little proportion to
that wherewith thou hast condescended to love us / May we
long, from time to time, to celebrate with thee that Christian
passover which thou hast ordained to succeed the Jewish, as the
memorial cf thy sacrifice ! Yea, may we long for the last solem- Luke
nity of this kind, which will ere long come, after which we shall xxii.
no more drink with thee of the fruit of the vine ^ till it befulfilledin ^^' ^^
the kingdom of God! In the mean time may we be cheered with
thy love, which is indeed far better than wine (Cant. i. 3) ; and,
thus supported with those reviving cordials which thv gospel
administers, may we keep ourselves in the love of God, and in the
patient expectation of thy final, most glorious, and welcome
appearance 1 (2 Thess. iii. 5 ; and Jude, ver. 21.)
SECT. CLXIX.
Christ rebukes the ambition which his disciples most unseasonably
expressed as they were sittijig down to supper, by washing their
feet, and adding several excellent admonitions to the exercise of
humility, immediately before the eating of the paschal lamb,
Luke XXII. 24—27. John XIII. 2— 3—17.
John XIII. 2.- JoHN XIII. 2.— se^ct^
A ND supper be- ATO W when our Lord had thus sat down to '
-TX uig ended,— i.V ^^^ ^^ passover with his disciples (as was j^j^jj
said before), supper being come^ and the antepast xiii.2
a Supper being co'>ne.'\ The reasons grounded ; and therefore cannot think it
broug-ht by Bishop Kidder (in his Demon- material to trouble the reader with a par-
stratiun of the Messiah-, part iii. chap. 3, p. ticiilai* detail of them. The chief reasons
60, 61), by Dr. Lightfuot ( Hor. Heb. on which determine me to the contrary opin-
Mat. xxvi. 6), and since by Dr. Whitby (in ion (besides some others, of which ag-ood
his Notes on this place), to prove that this summary is g-iven in Dr. Gujse^s valuable
supper was not the pastover, but another iS^ofe on this place) are these: such a dis-
supper at Bethany a nig-ht or two before, position of the story best suits several of
1 have briefly obviated in the paraphrase the circumstances of the paschal supper
or notes on the places on whica they are (particularly the conrenf /on about fUjOmcr/ry,
VOL. 2, 53
408 The disciples at supper contend who should he greatest.
SECT, or introduction to it having been dispatched, Luke XXII. 24.
c'-x. ,3 above ; Just in the •.nterval between that -J^^^^^ fj^
■~" and the serving up the paschal lamb, there 7vas ^j^-^.^^ „f tj^em
^^^ a most unseasonable contention among them^ should be accounted
24 as they sat at table with Jesus, which of them tl^e greatest.
should be accounted the greatest in that kingdom
of which he had been speaking, and which they
interpreted of a temporal dominion that should
succeed his approaching sufferings. (Compare
Mark ix. 34, and Luke ix. 46, p. 18.)
John [And] upon this, though Jesus knew that the John XIII. 3.
xiii. 3 Father, by the sure engagements of an immu- C^«^] }^V^^ ^^^^'
, , ' -^ , r • 1 ^ r inar that the Father
table covenant, had given the government ot j^^*'^ ^-^.^^^ ^^1 ^j^j,^^g
all things into his hands ^ and was just going into his hands, and
actually to invest him with all power both in that he was come
heaven and upon earth ; and that^ as he ca?ne ^^qq^ o > an
forth fro?n God as his Messenger to men, so he
was returning to God again; yet, conscious as he
was of so great a dignity, he was nevertheless
willing to give his disciples an example of the
deepest humility in this his last interview
and the i7iquiry about Judas, both which the feet of guests before than after supper,
must, on the other hypothesis, have been (2.) Because it is expressly said, in ver.
superseded) ; and the propriety of it is es- 1, to have been done before the fiassover ;
pecially evinced from John xiii. 38, where which, if the preceding reason be admit-
our Lord says to Peter, The cock shall not ted, determines the point. _ (3.) Because
crovi till thou hast denied me thrice ; which part of the discourse, which John men-
must be spoken the very night yesus ivas tions as happening after the feet ivere ivash-
ietrayedy and yet is so connected with this ed, is mentioned by the other evangelists as
story of washing the disciples\feet by ver. 21 passing at supper ,- nay, John himself, when
and ver. 31, that they cannot without great he speaks, in ver. 26. of Christ's dipping the
violence be separated : it is certain, John sop, and giving it to yudas after this, plain-
siii. 1, will have a peculiar energy accord- ly shews tliat supper ivas not ended. As
ing to this plan ; which therefore most the latter part of this 2d verse comes in
critics have followed. The reader will by way of pareiithesis, I have transposed
observe here that I have rendered S'lnrva that clause, and inserted it afterwards
yivofxi^a, supper being come, which is the in ver. 21, to introduce what relates to
sense in which the word is often used Judas in the next section ; a freedom which
elsewhere : thus John xxi. 4, tsr/iawc will, I hope, be easily excused.
yivo/mivn? is luhen morning vjas come ; Acts *> There was a contention am,ong them."] If
xii. 18, xvi. 35, n/uipug y6vofAiv»e^ when day the reasoning above be allowed, we must
liias come; and Acts xxi 50, a-iyt; yevofJLiv»c, certainly transpose Luke's account of this
when silence was inade: in all which places, contention about superiority ; for none can
and In many more that might easily be imagine it should follow immediately af-
coUected from the Greek writers, it would ter Christ had been giving them so affect-
be absurd to translate the word erded. ins^ a. lesson of humility. But Luke seems
Nay, Luke iv. 42, ytvofAivni nfxifMi signifies less exact in the order of this story than the
vo hen the day was coming on (Compare other evangelists ; and particularly relates
Mark i. 35, note^. Vol. I. p. 204.) It is in- what passed concerning the person that
deed an ambiguous term ; but the render- was to betray him after the Eucharist,
Jng above is here to be preferred, (1.) though botk Matthew and Mark placei
Becaus^e it was much more natural to wash before.
Jesus rises from supper^ and washes their feeU 409
4 He rlseth from with them before his passion : With this de- sect.
supper, and laid a- sign, and in order to shame them out of that *^^^^^'
and [ook^^aTowd: ambitious contention which he observed among —
and girded himself, them, m a more forcible manner than any ^Jj-^ 4
words alone could do, he riseth from supper ;^
and whereas it was only usual for the head of
the family at such a time to wash his own
hands, he lays aside his upper garynents^ and
taking a totvel^ tied it round hi?n like a kind of
5 After that he apron : And then pouring water into a \?ir^Q S
poureth water mto a exver^ or sort of cistern commonly used on these
waTh 'the disfi^.Vs'^ occasions, he began himself to wash the feet of
feet, and to wipe [/tw] disciples^ and to wipe \them\ after they
them with the towel were thus washed, with the long ends of the
"^irdeZ'^ ^'^ ^"^^ ^'"^^"^ ^^^^^ "^'^^ ^^'"^-^ ^^ ^^"^ ^ir^e-fl', which
hung down to his feet.
6 Then cometh he Then^ when he had done with those who sat 6
to Simon Peter : and nearest to him, he comes to Simon Peter ; and,
him!'' Lord, Tos^t offering to do the like for him, [Peter] was so
thou wash my feet? affected at his condescending to perform such
a mean office, that he says to him^ Lord^ dost
thou go about to wash my feet P It is a thou-
sand times fitter that I should wash thine ; nor
can I bear to see thee demean thyself thus,
7 Jesus answered Jesus answered and said to him^ Thou knowest 7
and said unto him, „^^ ^^^ ^^g design of tvhat I am doings but
knowest not* now ; ^^^^^ ^^^^^ know hereafter ; and as I shall pres-
but thou shalt know ently explain the meaning of this action, so the
hereafter. time will quickly come when many other things
in mine undertaking and conduct, much more
mysterious than this, shall be cleared up to
8 Peter s^th unto thee. Yet still Peter refused, 2XiA said to ^
him^ with more warmth than before, Lord,
whatever be the intent of the action, I cannot
suffer it by any means, and am determined
' He riseth from sttpptr."] As it is here ercit. on Luke xxii. 21), that a/?er?^e />^j«
asserted that Christ rose from supper^ we chal lamb they eat another distinct supper,
must allow that, in some sense, supper ivas and that this quashing happened in the in-
begwi, that is, as I suppose, the antepast terval between them. Though Vossius is
had been taken, which is mentioned by pleased to call this a very little lam,b (unut
the Jews as preceding the paschal lamb. Agniculus), I cannot but think (especially
("See Ainsiuorth's ?iote quoted above, note «, considering how early the eiues yean ia
p. 432.) They tell us that it was then usual Judea) that it might be big enough pleiUi-
for the master of the family to wash his fully to sup thirteen people ; and as all
hands ; and, if I am rightly informed, the which remained uneaten till morning was
Jews continue the custom still. This to be burnt (Exod. xii. 10), one cannot
seems a more natural manner of explain- suppose that our Lord would be inclined
ing the clause before us than to suppose, to muhiply dishes on this occasion, espec-
with Grotius, or Vossius f Harm. Evan, ially as the former part of the night was
lib. i. cap. 14, § l),or Dr. Edwards (Ex- to be spent in watching and prayer.
410 But Peter is unwilling he should wash his feet,
SECT, thou shah never wash my feet. But Jesus an- him. Thou shalt
cl-^ix. swered him, Alas, Peter, that was rashlv ^^^^^^ wash my feet.
— spoken ; for there is a sense in which, if I do ^Irr^XhSel":
3tiii. 8 '^^^ wash thee, thou hast no portion with me ; thou hast no part
intimating therebv, that if he were not cleansed with me.
from sin by his blood and Spirit, he could
never partake of the happiness of his people ;
and that, in the mean time, it became him to
9 submit in this instance to his direction. Upon 9 Simon Peter
which, Simon Peter ^ struck with so awful an saithuntohim,Lord,
admonition, immediately saits to him, with "ot^yfeet only, but
t rr ' 11- also my hands and
that eager altection so natural to his temper, ^y head.
Lord, if this washing is to be a token of my
interest in thee, I most gladly acquiesce in it,
and am heartily desirous that thou shouldst
wash, not my feet only, but also my. hands and
my head too ; for I desire that all my intellec-
tual and all my executive powers may be sanc-
tified by thy grace, and be entirely devoted to
thy service.
10 Then Jesus, willing to lay hold on a hint 10 Jesus saith to
which gave him an opportunity of pursuing so l^im. He that is
useful a thought, mys further to him. He that Zt'^t^ to' wash
is washed already, or that has just been bath- his'feet, but is clean
ing-^^ needs only to wash his feet, which may every whit : and ye
indeed easily be soiled by the shortest walk, are clean, but not all.
a7id when that is done, he is entirely clean ; as
if he should have said. The truly good man
needs not that deep repentance and universal
change which is absolutely necessary to others,
though he should, by renewed acts of penitence
and faith, be cleansing himself from smaller
pollutions, which are in some degree insepara-
ble from the infirmity of human nature : and,
in this sense, I know that you^ my apostles,
are clean ; but yet I must add. You are not all
11 so. i^or as he was acquainted with the secret 11 For he knew
dispositions of their hearts, so he knew xvho j^J^'^, should betray
would betray him (compare John vi. 64, Vol. he? ylTre^not'^afl
I. p. 457) ; and therefore he said, Tou are not clean.
all clean^ because he knew the heart of Judas
^ He that has been bathing."] This ren- was different from that in which they
dering of tlie word Kixa/uiv®' is confirmed bathed, the feet might be so soiled in walk-
by Eisner (Observ. Vol. I. p. 337, 338), ing- from one to the other as to make it nec-
and g-ives as it were a compendious para- essary immediately to wash them again.
/j/Wje upon it. Clarius has well observed « Tou are not all clean."] Some have
that, as the A7roi'Ul>ipiovy or room in which observed that Judas did not decline the
they dressed themselves after bathing, honour of hsivmg his feet washed by Christ,
He explains his design^ and cautions them against ambition. 41 1
was polluted with reigning sin, and was so far sect.
enslaved under the power of the devil as to clxix.
have consented to the perpetration of the vilest
wickedness. Jv!!"^
12 So after he had When therefore he had thus washed their feet^ ^^
washed their feet, a7id had taken his w^^tv garments^ ■^vid ^utihi^xn
gTrme'tVand" 'Z °^ ^^ *"« '^^'"" « '^c table again, and said to
set down agidn, he thein^ Do ijou know the meaning and design of
said unto them, -what I have now been doing to you in the form of j. ,
Know ye what I ^ servant ? And, to explain the matter, he said xxil^
have done to you ? , ^ , '. ^., r -i r r
Luke xxII. 25. ^^ them, 1 must agam remmd youof what I for- 25
And he said unto merly told you, but what you seem so ready to
them. The kings of forget (see Mat. XX. 25,' 26, and Mark x.'42,
cisl lordship ^over ^^3, p. 260), The kings of the Gentiles do indeed
them ; and they that lord it over the??: ; a?idthey that exercise the most
exercise authority magisterial and arbitrary authority upon them
TbelSctoTs! ''^^' '^^^^ ^ set of flatterers about them who encour-
age them in it, as an instance of true greatness of
mind, and give them the vain title o/'grand ben-
26 But ye shallnot efactors to nations and men.^ But you, my dis- 26
^e so : but he that is ciples, [shall] not [do] thus ; for you are to'shew
fet^liim be°"af ^the yourselves the friends ofthe world,notby gov-
younger; andhethat eming, but by serving : be not ambitious there-
is chief, as he that fore in contending for superiority, but let him
0 I seive. ^^^ ^^ eldest amojigyou be as humble and oblig-
ing as if he were the youngest and most depen-
dent of all ;e and he that presides over the rest
in any office of peculiar trust and influence, [let
him be] as humble and condescending as a ser-
27 For whether vant. Of this I have now been giving you an 27
instance, which surely you cannot quickly for-
get -.for which ofthe two i* naturally accounted
greater by a stranger who happens to come in,
though Peter did ; and have considered to the title of syg/jfs?*/, given to some of the
it as an instance of his pride. But if the Ptolemies and Seieucidx, or to the ambi-
discourse between Christ and Peter hap- guity of the i/eirew word o-'a^nj, which (as
pened before he came to Judas, it had Bezahasoberved) signifies both /)r/«ce*and
been indecent for Judas to renew an benefactors .• but the general sense given
objection which had jusl been thus over- in the /jaropAr^^e seems to me much more
ruled : and if Christ came to Judas be- probable, especially on comparing it with
fore Peter, he might be unwilling to be the the Syriac version, where there is no such
first to dispute the point, lest Christ ambiguity, though one would most of all
should confound him, by inquiring wheth- have expected it.
er he declined it from a consciousness ? Who is eldest among youy &c.] As
of any pecuUar unworthiness. Guilt nat- (jlu^oov is here opposed to vfa.7«/3(^, the
urally suggests such suspicions and pre- youngest, Irenderit e/c/e.yf, as it is rendered
cautions. Rom. ix. 12. See Gen. xxv. 23 ; 1 Sam.
* Have the title of benefactors.'] It is in- xvii. 14, Septuag. and compare 1 Kings ii.
deed possible that our Lord may here refer 22.
412 He gave them an example to do as he had done,
SECT, hethat sits at the table^ or he that stands BTidwaits is ^resLtevy he that
clxix. upon the guests ? Is it not evident that it must sittethatmeat.orhe
be he that'sitsat the table? But lam among you Jl'/VuT^^'!; It "''^
I.uke , ■ 1 1 u • "^ ^"^^ sitteth at
j^jj as one that waits on the rest ; and you nave just nieat ? but I am a-
27 now seen me putting on the form of a servant, mong you as he that
Luke
xxii.
f now seen me putting on the torm ot a servant,
and performing to you while you sat at the ta- s^^v^^^^-
ble one of the lowest offices of menial attendants,^
in the very garb and posture in which any of
John the least of them could appear. Ton call me m- John XIII 13.
xiii.13 deed your Teacher and Lord ; «;?^ therein you Recall me Master,
14 say well ; for \so'\ lam, and such authority have s"^ ^^l, for!" 1 a^
I received of my Father. If therefore I, who 14 If I then, your
am [z/owr] Zor<5^and Master,flf/^;^ whom you know ^ord and Master,
to be a divinely inspired Te^cA^r, have conde- ^^ ^^^'^^^t ^^Z
scended to so mean an office, and have thus wash' to wash one anoth-
er your feet, and in • all other instances have er's feet,
shewn my readiness in love to serve you, surely
you also ought to xvash one another'*s feet, and
should be ready to submit to all the humblest
15 offices of mutual friendship. For I have m this 15 For 1 have giv-
instance given you an example, that as I have en you an example,
done to you, you also should do on all proper oc- fh^,'," ^J;°f f^^ j"
16 casions to one another.' And to engage you 16 Verily, verily,
to the like humility^ Verily, verily, I say unto I say unto you, The
you, as I have formerly said (Luke vi. 48, and servant is not great-
^/r 1 csA \T \ X o/%^ A i^\ T^/ ^ • er than his Lord,
Mat. X. 24, Vol. I. p. 305, 415), The servant is neither he that is
not greater than his Lord, nor is the messenger sent greater than he
greater than he that sent him ; it will there- that sent him.
fore very ill become you to disdain any thing
1 7 which I have not disdained. These are plain 17 if ye know
instructions, but remember they are capable of
^ Performing one of the low^est offices, it for a standing ordinance of the gospel as
^c.3 This was so to a. proverb. See 1 eithGV daptisni or ihe breaking of bread. But
Sam. XXV. 41, and Grotius in loc. "Dv. Evans though some anciently conceived the prac-
well observes, (Christian Temper-, Vol. tice of it to be thus enjoined (see Dr.
I. p. 81) that our Lord chose this kind Caves'sFrimitive Christianity yhoo)ii\\.c\\^'^.
office, though not absolutely necessary in 14), and the Moravian churches still retain
itself, more strongly to impress the minds it ; yet as no such rite as this has ever
of his disciples, and to shew that they generally prevailed in the Christian world,
ought to regard, not only the necessary and as in many places and circumstances it
preservation, but the mutual comfort of would be an inconvenience rather tlian
each other. a kindness to do it for our friends, I can-
not think these words of oj<r Lordj so plain-
» I have given you an exatnple, &c.] ly capable of another sense, are to be inter-
Some have understood these words as or- preted with so much strictness. See Jtig-ii
daining this to be a continued rite among Dissert, de Fediiavio, he. Into what a
Christians ; and Barclay insists in his Apol- farce this is turned at Rome on some occa-
ogy, (p. 467 — 470) that this ceremony of sions may be seen in the Religious Ceremo-
flashing thejeet has as much to recommend nies of all Nations^ Vol. I. p. 417.
Refections on Christ'* s washing his disciples'* feeU 418
these things, happy being improved to the noblest practical pur- sect.
dreyeifyedothem. pQses ; and if mdetd you know these things^^^^^^'
and form a right conception of them, you are — "^
happy if you practise them : for nothing will "|^^|j"
conduce more to your honour and comfort than 17
an obedient regard to my instructions and ex-
ample, especially in all the instances of humility
and condescension ; but if you neglect to act
agreeably to them, your seeing them, and hear-
ing them, will be worse than in vain.
IMPROVEMENT.
What a mournful reflection is it that corrupt nature should
still prevail so far, even in the hearts of such pious men as the
apostles in the main were, that after so long a converse with
Christ they should still be so unlike him, and bring their eager Luke
contentions about superiority., in a state of temporal grandeur they ^^xii. 24.
were never to see, into the last hours they spent with their Mas-
ter, and even to one of the most holy and solemn ordinances of
religion ! Such are the vain dreams of ambition^ and with such
empty shadows does it amuse the deluded mind.
But let us turn our eyes to him whom we justly call our johu
Teacher and our Lord ; for surely, if any thing can effect a cure, xiii.
it must be actions and words like these. The great Heir of all 13, 14
things^ invested with universal dominion, and just returning to 3
his heavenly Father to undertake the administration of it : in
what a habit., in what an attitude., do we see him ! Whom would 4, 5
a stranger have taken for the lowest of the company, but him
who was high over all created nature ? Blessed Jesus^ it was
not so much any personal attachment to these thy servants, as a
regard to the edification of thy whole church, which engaged
thee to this astonishing action ; that all thy ministers., that all
thy people., in conformity to thy example.^ might learn a readiness 15
to serve each other in love !
But why are we so slow to receive this lesson ? And why is
our practice often so contrary to it ? Surely to cleanse us from
these dregs of pride and carnality we need in a spiritual sense 8
to be washed by him. Let us gladly submit to that xvashing.^ if
we desire to secure any part in hi?7i. Which of us in this view
may not see reason to cry out with Peter., Lord., not our feet only., 9
but also our hands and our head ? May our whole nature be thus
purified ! and, warmly emulous of conforming to so bright an 10
example., may we ever be maintaining a watchfulness over our
own spirits ; correcting the first appearances of irregularity, and
washing away every lightest stain which our feet may contract
in this various journey ! So shall we be great in the sight and Luke
favour of our Master j and, numbering ourselves among the ^^^- ^^-
414» He commends his disciples for their faithfulness to him»
SECT, least of his servants^ shall be distinguished by peculiar honours,
*^'^- in proportion to the degree in which we think ourselves most
" unworthy of them.
SECT. CLXX.
Christy while they are eating the paschal lamb^ declares that one
of his apostles should betray him^ and at length marks out Judas
as the person^ who upon this retires zvith a resentment which
confirmed him in that fatal purpose. Mat. XXVI. 21 — 25.
Mark XIV. 18—21. Luke XXII. 21—23, 28—- 30. John
XIII.— 2, 18—30
TTrr^.T . ^""^^ ^^"- ?^- . , Luke XXII 28.
HEN Jesus went on, as he was eatmgthe tte are thevwhich
passover, to instruct, admonish, and com- ^ have continued
777" fort his disciples, by a series of most wise and with me in ray temp-
Luke . ^i.,-r>,. 1 . tations :
sxii. pious discourse ; and said. Depend upon it,
you will find that humble and benevolent tem-
per which I have recommended to you the
28 way to the highest honours, if you have pa-
tience to wait the proper time ; for as ye are
they who have continued faithfully and affec-
tionately with me in all my trials and afflictions ;
29 So by a sacred and inviolable covenant / ap' 29 And I appoint
point unto you a kin^dom^ and solemnly en- ""^° >'°" ^ kingdoin,
ir ^ u . -^ as my Father hath
gage myself to bestow it upon you, even as my appointed unto me :
Father has appointed a kingdom unto me^ and
30 is quickly about to raise me to it. Now the 20 That ye may
exalted honours which I shall there receive are ^^^ ^"^ ^^^^"^ ^^ ^y
incomparably beyond those about which you ^'''''^'""'^'^'"^^°''''
seem so solicitous ; let me therefore awaken a
nobler ambition in your minds, while I assure
you that you maij expect to eat and drink at my
table in that my kingdom^ or to be treated as my
* I appoint n?:to you a kingdom.'] It is his Spirit suggested, and the confidence
well known that the word J^isOiQia-Bcn prop- witli which he has promised those blessings
erly signifies to covenant, or to btstoiu in which, as Mediator, it empowers him to
virtue of a covenant ; and therefore the /a*? bestow. It is therefore astonishing that
clause of this verse may probably refer to any should treat it as the creature of a
what divi?ies commonly call the coverianf of systematic brain. For the engagements
ref/em/>f/o?2, to which there are so many ref- in it on Christ's part, see Psal. xl. 6 — 9;
erences in scripture, and concerning the Heb. x. 6 — 9 ; Isa. Ixi 1 — 3 ; Luke iv. 18,
reality of which we could have no doubt 19 ; Is. 1. 5, 6. And for those on the part
if the references were not so express ; con- oi the Father, see Heb. x. 5 ; Isa. xi. 2, 3 ;
sidering, on the one hand, tlie great im- 1.8, 9; lii. 13, 15; liii. 10 — 12; Iv. 4, 5 ;
portance of that undertaking of our Lord's, xlix. 1 — 10 ; Luke ii. 31, 32 ; xxii. 29; 2
to which it reft rs ; and, on the other, the Cor. vi. 2 ; Rev. vii. 16, 17.
plain declarations oi those prophecies which
But intimates his knowledge that they are not all so* 415
gind sit on thrones, distinguished favourites and most intimate sect.
tribes"of \^sraer^^''^ friends ; yea, and my final and most trium- ^^
phant appearance, when I shall sit on the throne
of my glory, you may expect to be assessors xxii.
with me on that grand occasion, and to sit upon 30
thrones^ as I formerly promised you, (Mat. xix.
28) judging the txvelve tribes of Israel^ and
condemning the whole impenitent world for
their contempt of that gospel which you, as the
chief ministers of my kingdom, are to offer and
unfold to them.
John XIII 18. I But when I speak in this manner of your John
?^;t,":hlThavi fi"''! honour and happiness, I speak not of you ^-
chosen: but that the ^"•* i know the real character, and all the most ^^
scripture may be ful- secret views and transactions of those -whom I
filled, He that eat- have chosen ; and could loner ac:o have fixed a
eth bread with me, ^ c' c ^u ^ -.u j i
hath lift up his heel "^^^^ °* infamy on the traitor, and have put it
against me, out of his powder to execute his wicked purpose :
hut., as I chose him to be one of my compan-
ions, I leave him to go on, that the scripture
may be fulfilled., which says (Psal. xli. 9), " He
that eateth bread zvith me^ and has been nourish-
ed by my care and favour, hath lift up his
heel against me^ like an ungrateful brute that
kicks at the kind master who feeds him."<^
Such treatment David met with from those
whom he trusted ; and such I know that I am
to expect.
19 Now I tell you And this / tell y oil now., before it comes to 19
before It come, that j,^^o that when it comes to be accomplished,
when it IS come to-* , c c jl- r ^ i
pass, ye may believe V^^^ ^^1/ D^ SO tar from doubting of the truth
that I am he. of my mission upon that account, that, on the
contrary, you may more firmly believe that I
f> fudging the tnvelve tribes of Israel.'} <= j£g ^/j^j eateth bread "j^ith one, &c.3
The interpretation given of this promise When these words are so plainly to be
here (and before on Mat. xix. 28, sect, found, Psal. xli. 9, it seems very unnatural,
cxxxvii. p. 231) appears to me preferable with Mr. Jeffrey (in his Revievj^ p. 187), to
to that which refers it only, or chiefly to imagine tliey refer to Psal. Iv. 12, 13, be-
the povier which the apostles had in the cause something like the sense of them.
Christian churchy as the authorized ambas- occurs there. Nor is it necessary, with Mr,
sadors of Christ. It by no means implies Pierce, (Dissert, iii.) to suppose a trajection
that Paul and Barnabas, the njfco.yr/ejo/'fAe in these t-ivo ^er^yw, and render them,/
Ge/2f//e.y, shall be excluded from the honour speak not of you all ; I knoiv ivhom I have
of being fl^sewor.? with Christ in his king- chosen: but I tell you this beforehand, that
dom (compare 1 Cor. vi. 2, 3 ; Rev. ii. 26, Hiihen it shall come to pass that the scripture
27 ; iii. 21) ; but seems plainly to allude shall be fulfilled, " One that eateth of my
to the courts of judicature among the Jews, bread hath lift tip his heel against me,'* ye
where the inferior judges sat in a se^nicir- may beUei:e that I am he. I rather think,
cle round the chief judge, who had his seat with Brennius, that it is an accommodation;
in the middle point of it. Compare Rev. and that tiie sense and connection are to be
iv. 4; xxi. 14. explained accordinglv, as in the j&«raj&/ira,se.
VOL. 2, ^54 '
416 He tells them^ One at the table with him would betray him*
SECT, am [he\ that I told you I was even the true 20 Verily, verily,
^ Messiah. And, whatsoever therefore I shall He'ThatTeceiS
John s^^^^' ^^^ "0^ yo"^ 2:eal to carry on my cause ^yhomsoever I send,
xiii, be lessened, but stedfastly persist in your ad- receiveth me, and
20 herence to it, with a firm persuasion that I ^^ ^^**^ , receiveth
.,, ' . . -.»-.. Til me, receiveth him
Will support you m it ; lor in this view 1 look ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^
upon your interest as my own, and as I for-
merly declared, (Mat. x. 40, sect. Ixxvi. and
Luke X. 16, sect, xcvii.) so now / most aS'
suredly say unto you^ Whoever entertains and
shews regard to you, or any of my other 7}ieS'
sengers^ as coming in my name, entertains me ;'
andxvhoever entertains me, entertains him that
sent me ; as, on the other hand, when you or
they are slighted, the affront redounds to me
and to my Father.
21 Now zvhen Jesus had thus said, he made a 21 When Jesus
solemn pause. fThe demL as was observed be- ^^ ^^^^^ .f^i^ [—2
e I . 7 7 1 L- •! 1 • • The devil havine;
lore, havDig already, by his vile and pernicious ^^^^ ^^^ jj. ^^^^ y^l
insinuations, put it into the heart of yz^^«5 heart of Judas Iscar-
Iscariot, [the sonl, of Simon,^ to betray him into i«t, Simon's ^oh, to
tire hands of his murderous enemies.) And, [ifo'^bLd ^^i' ^^^^^^^^^^^
as our Lord well knew that Judas was then and [Mark, as they
watching for an opportunity to accomnlish his sat, and did eat,
horrid purpose, which he would execute that J-^-^^^.te^/ifi^^' ^"^
•1^7 u ^ J 1 J • J- •* 4. S'^i*^' Verily, verily,
very night, he was much troubled in spirit to i say unto you. That
think of so ungrateful and impious a design in one of you [Mark,
one so near him, and so much obliged to him ; w^^'ch eateth with
and, as they sat together, and xvere eating the ^^f^^^^ ^nrf^behSd,'
paschal supper, Jesus openly testified and said the hand.of him that
with a deep sigh. Verily, verily, I say unto you, betrayeth me, is
That, how incredible soever "the hint I just ^e.][MirxxVL
now gave you may seem, one of you xvho is 21. Mark XIV. IS
eating with me in this friendly and intimate Luke XXII. 21.
manner will quickly betray me to those that J®"^' XIIL— 2.]
thirst for my blood ; \_and'\ behold, the hand of
him that betrayeth ine is now with me on the table*
22 Then the disciples xvere exceedingly grieved 22Thenthedisci-
to hear of his being betrayed at all, and much P^^^^^Q^yi^'^anjj
more to be told that it should be by one of their lofkedonron anoth-
own number, while, no one being singled out
from the rest, the suspicion lay in common
among them ; and they looked stedfastly on
d The devil having already put it into the xxii. 3, p. 400 ; and that this clause of
fieart of Judas, &C.3 That Satan entered John xiii. 2, would be inserted here, was
into Judas before he went to the chief intimated in the close of «ofe% sect, clxix.
priests, and agreed to betray his Master to p. 407, where I accounted for this traV.S"
them, had been obacrved' before, Lut.e position >
He points out Judas as the man by g-hhi"- him a sop* 41 T
er.doubtlngofwhom each other for some time in sWence^ doubting' o/sect.
he spake: [L UK. and ^vhom he spake^und studious to observe in whose clxx.
S't'eret: countenance they might read any peculiay con- —
which ofthem it was fusion, which might look hke an indication ot ^.j.^^
that should do this gQ^t : and^ as they none of them knew where to 22
thin- ;] and^[be|an ^^ j^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^ile ^^rretch himself, they beg-an to
to^Tay '^ unto \\tm inquire among themselves, xvhich of them it could
[MARK,onebyone], be that rvas about to do this thing ; and, earnestly
Lord,isitI?]iMAT. desirous to be freed from the suspicion of such
xiv^^ \l' L^/ke heinous wickedness, they applied themselves to
XXli. 23.] Christ, and began every one of them to say to him,
one by one^ Lord, is it I that am this guilty
creature ?^ Thou knowest that my very heart
abhors the thought, and I hope I shall never be
capable of entertaining it.
23 Now there was Now one of his disciples, namely John, rvhom 23
leaning on Jesus' Jesiis loved with a peculiar tenderness, and hon-
bosom one of his ^^^^^ ^y\^\^ the most intimate friendship, sat
sus^loved.^ ^^"^ ^^^t ^i^^ ^^ ^^^ table, on his right hand ; and,
as they were all in a reclining posture, each
of them resting on his left elbow, so in the place
where John was seated he was leaning 07i the
24 Simon Peter bosom of Jesus. And as the question was al- 24
therefore beckoned niost gone round, and Jesus made no answer to
^? YT' /*^^k ^^ ^^ ^^^^ rather seemed to be swallowed up in
sSould be of whom mournful comemplation, Simon Peter therefore
he spake. looked upon John, and beckoned to him with a
motion of his head,^ by which he intimated his
desire that he should privately ask him who it
25 He then lying might be of zvhom he spake. He then, lying 25
onJesus'breast,saith ^^^^^^ closer on the breast of Jesus, that he might
unto him, Lord, who ^^^ ^^ question without being heard by the
rest of the company, secretly whispered and
26 Jesus answer- said to him. Lord, xvho is it P And Jesus an-
I'^sh^U '^iviV so"" ^"^v^fedhim with a low voice, It is he to xvhom I
when I have dipped shall give this sop, when I have dipped it. _ And 26
it. And when he xvheji he had dipped the sop in a thick kind of
had dipped the sop, gauce made of dates, raisins, and other ingredi-
t^^t^ ifof ents beaten together, and properly diluted/ /,.
Simon. gave it to Judas Iscariot, [the so?ij oj ^imon^
« To say to him, one by one. Lord, is it /.?] ^ Beckoned to him with a motion of his
I look on this as a strong proof that head.] This is certainly the import of the
the facts mentioned John xiii. 23—26, did word vivu, which might more exactly be
not happen a night or two before ; for if rendered nodded.
Christ had then privately marked out Ju- g In a thick kind of sauce made of dates,
das to John and Peter as the traitor, the &c.] The Jews still retain such a sauce,
information must surely have reached the which tliey call charoseth, made of such
vest of the company by this time. kind of ingredients, about the consistence
418 He afterwards reveals the traitor to them alL
SECT, putting it towards that part of the dish which
clxx. was nearest him, and directing it towards him.
— - — Upon which Judas put forth his hand to take it; Mat. XXVI. 23.
xxvi ^^'^^ while he was just in this posture, others ^"^ he answered
23 continuing the same question to Jesus, he an^ ^if t onTof'^S^e
szvered and said to them^ [/^ is'\ one of the tivehe^ twelve], He that
\eveii\ he that now dippeth his hand with me in d'ppeth his hand
the dih^ this very person Ml betray >ne.^T^Z::t:It;.
^24- And let him not vamly hope that I shall tray me. [Mark
exert my miraculous power to rescue myself xiV. 20]
from the hands of mine enemies, after he ^^ T^® ,^°" ^^
has delivered me to them and secured to him- eth"asTt is^ writfe^n
self the wages of unrighteousness ; for the [Luke, and deter^
So7i of man. great and powerful as he will final-
ly appear, is indeed going to sufferings and
death,^ as it is xvritten in the scriptures, [and^
determined in the divine counsels, concerning
him :^ but as those prophecies and counsels have
no influence to destroy the free agency of the
of moHar,\.Q represent the day in which k As it is determined."] As tliis passage iB
their forefathers wrought while they were not liable to the ambiguities which some
under bondage to the Egyptians. See have apprehended in Acts. ii. 23, and iv.
£uxt. Synag. Jud cap. 18, and the Eelig- 28 (which yet seem, on the whole, to be
ions Ceremonies of all Nations, Vol. I. p. j&ara//e/ to it in their most natural construe-
215. tion), I look upon it as an evident proofj
that those things are in the language of
^> He that dippeth his hand ivith ine in the scripture said to be deterniined,or decreed (or
dish."] Some very ingenious persons imag- exactly bounded and marked out by God, as
ine that Christ by this phrase only declares the word eept^o) most naturally signifies),
3t was one who sat on the same side of the which he sees will in fact happen, in con-
table with him, and so eat out of the saTne sequence of his volitions, without any ne-
dish ; and, if it were so, there might seem cessitating agency ; as well as those events
a gradation in the discovery not observa- of which he is properly the author (and, as
ble on any other interpretation. But (not Bcza well expresses it, ^i sequitur Deum,
to insist upon it) that the lamb, which was emendate sane loquitur, we need not fear
to be roasted whole, Exod. xii. 9, was also falling into any improprietyof speech when
to be served up in one dish, I cannot but we use the language which God has
conclude that, if this had been oz<r Lord^s tSLU^];it)l sa.y, ivithout any necessitating agency,
meaning, on his saying here (as Mark re- because I apprehend that this text, among
lates it), in the same breath, u? m Tm many others, must entirely overthrow the
S'ceS'iK^y one of the twelve, he would have scheme which Mr. Colliber (in his Inquiry
added «/? sk tcov ifji.Q<i.7r]oij(.ivm, one of those into the Divine existence, ip. 97 — 102) has so
that dip, rather than o ifj.QdiTflofji.iv®', which laboriously endeavoured to establish ; and
plainly signifies the very person that dippeth. which the author o^the Persian Letters froTti
Paris (Letter Ivi) so confidently asserts,
• The Son of man is indeed going. "^ As we "That where God forsees an event, he
often, in common speech, say a person is always determines to render it necessary,
goiiig or gone, to intimate that he is dying and so to suspend the moral agency and
or dead, so Eisner shews (Observ. Vol. I. p. accountableness of the creature concerned
119) that the word u;T«t>si has the ambigu- in it." Were this the case, nothing could
ity. ^ Compare Josh, xxiii. 14 ; and Psal. be more unjust (on the principles of these
:xxxix. 13. The repetition of that title of authors) than to iox&\.^Vi punishments to be
the Son of man, which is twice used here in inflicted for such actions ; which is plainly
the same verse, has a peculiar energy and the case here, and indeed in most other
dignity, not commoiily observed. ' places where evil actions are foretold.
Judas IS told^ That what he did he should do quickly^ 419
mined of him : but persons concerned in his death, so there will sect.
wo unto that man by ^g ^ ^^^^ terrible xuo to that man by ruhom the ^Ixx.
mauTs betme^'d : k ^on of man is so perfidiously Z»e?ra^eV, and who "J^
had been ^ood for presumes to set a price on his royal and sacred ^^^(
thatman,ifhehadnot blood : it had been well for that man if he had 04
bee^i born. £Mark ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ , £^^ ^ ^p^^^^ ^^j ^^^^ ^^^^^_ -
XXII. 22.] f*^il vengeance awaits him, which will make the
immortality of his being his everlasting curse.
25 Then Judas Then Judas^ who xvas indeed the person that 25
wl)ich betrayed him, betrayed him ^ answered m some confusion, lest
Master^ is iTi ?^^He ^7 ^^^ silence he should seem to confess his
said unto him. Thou guilt, and said ^ Master^ is it /that shall do this
has said. thing, and to whom thou referrest in these se-
vere words ? And he said to Imriy Thou hast
said \j'ight'] ; thou art the very person, and I
will conceal it no longer.^
John- XIII. 27. -And after he was thus expressly marked out, John
And after the sop, not only by the sop which Jesus gave him,™ but xiii.27'
Satan entered into jg^ y^ ^j^^ answer which he had returned to
him.Then said Jesus . . ^ . „ ,. ,. . ,
unto him. That thou his question, batan enter eel into nim with greater
doest, do quickly, violence, and stirred up in his bosom such in-
dignation and rage at the disgrace he had met
with, that he could bear the place no longer ;
but prepared abruptly to leave it before the
table was dismissed. Then Jesus said to him^
What you are going to do^ do quickly ; farther
intimating to him his perfect knowledge of the
appointment he had made with the chief priests
and elders, and admonishing him, as it were,
not to lose the opportunity by overstaying his
28 Nownoman at time. But the reference being thus particu- 28
the table knew for i^y to what none of the company but himself
Sis^unto him! was privy to, no man at the table blew what was
his meaning, or for what purpose he spake this
29 For some of to him. For some [of them] thought^ because 29
them thought, be- Judcis had the keeping of the common purse^ on
b:rthat' Jesu^'had -hich they were to subsist during their stay at
said unto him. Buy Jerusalem, that it was as if Jesus had said to
hiiriy Take the first opportunity to buy those
» Thou hast said right.'] This is plainly Works, p. 101, 102), that Judas was en -
the import of the ori^nza/ phrase ; It is as couraged by Christ* s giving him the sop to
thou hast spoken. (See Mat. xxvi. 63 — 65; hope that Christ would, after all, provide
Mark xiv. 61, 62 ; Luke xxii. 70 ; John xviii. for his own safety, and admit him into fa-
37.) ThuSf Now you say sotnethingy s'l^u- vour again. Christ's words above ex-
iles among us, Tou speak right. pressly cut off all such hope ; and I believe
every reader will judge the common ac-
•" After the sop."] It seems very unnatu- count given of the connection much moi'e
ral to apprehend, with Dr. Reynolds (in his probable.
420 yudas goes away to execute his purpose,
SECT, sacrifices, and other things which zve shall need those things that we
^^^^'^^ for the feast tomorrow, and on the following [hTfrast^-^'^oTthS
days;" or that perhaps he intended he -s-^ow/^a' he should give some -
xiii.29 ^^'^^ something to the poor ^ which Christ used thing to the pooi'.
to do, though their stock was so small ; but
always did it in a very private manner, which
made it the more probable that he should only
give such an oblique hint of that intention. Of
this they thought, rather than of any bad de-
sign of Judas ; for they did not imagine that,
if he was to prove the traitor, his wickedness
could immediately take place ; or that he was
so utterly abandoned as to go away to accom-
plish it with those awful words of his Master
sounding, as it were, in his ears.
30 But Ae was capable of committing the crime, SO He then hav^
even with this aggravation ; and therefore hav- ing received the sop,
ing, as was said, received the sop^ he immediately ^^^^ and"^it^^^was
ivent out without any farther reply : arid as it niglit.
was nighty which was the time he had ap-
pointed to meet those who were consulting the
death of Jesus, under the covert of it he went
to them, and fulfilled his engagements, in a
few hours after, by delivering his Master into
their hands.
IMPROVEMENT.
Luke Who would not gladly continue with Christ in the strictest
xxii.28 fidelity, amidst all the trials which can arise, when he observes
how liberally he repays his servants, and how graciously he seems
to relish his own honours the more, in proportion to the degree
29, 30 in which those honours are shared with them ; appointing them
a glorious kingdom^ and erecting thrones for each of them ?
And surely, though the apostles of the Lamb are to have their
n Whichxve shall need for the feast.'] This passover^ may signify the offerings attend-
is one of the passages which has led Gro- ing the ivhole feast, and particularly those
tins and other considerable critics to con- presented on the frst day of unleavened
elude that our Lord kept the passcver at bread; which is certainly the sense of the
least one day sooner than the rest of the word elsewhere. (See Deut. xvi. 2 ; and
Jews. The controversy is too large to be 2 Chron. xxxv. 7 — 9.) And if this be ad-
eritically discussed here : I content my- mitted, it will obviate the most plausible
self with referring to Dr. Whitby's excel- argument for Grotius* opinion, which is
lent Dissertation on the subject, (in his that taken from John xviii. 28. Others
Appendix to Mark xiv.) only observing, grounded on John xiii. 1, 2; xix. 14; and
that the supposition of Christ's anticipat- Mat. xxvi. 5 ; are obviated in the para-
ing the day appointed by the law, is so phrase or notes on those places, as the at«
improbable, that I think it more reason- tentive reader will easily perceive,
able to suppose that the word/ea^?, or
Reflections on the hardness of the traitor*s heart* 42t
peculiar dignity in the great day of his triumph, there is a sense sect.
in which he will perform to every one that overcometh^ that yet clxx.
more condescending promise, / -will grant him to sit down with *
me on ?ny throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with
my Father on his throne, (Rev. iii. 21.) Let our souls in that
confidence be strengthened to all the labours and sufferings to
which he may call us forth.
It is a melancholy reflection, that there should be any one in
this select company, to whom this endearing promise did not
belong ; especially one who, having eaten of Chrisfs bread, John
should, in such a sense and degree as Judas, lift up his heel ^^^' 19
against him. Deliver us, 0 Lord, from any share in that guilt !
We are treated as thy friends ; we are set at thy table : let us
not ungratefully ^ick against thee, while the ox knoweth his owner y
and the ass his master"^ s crib I (Isa. i. 3.)
If w^e would not do it, let us ht jealous over ourselves with a
godly jealousy, Happy are they whose hearts witness to their
sincerity in the presence of him that searches them, and can
cheerfully say, Lord, is it I P Let them say it humbly too j lest j^^^
the infirmity of nature prevail upon them beyond their present xxvi.22
purpose or apprehension, and lead them on to do that, the very
thought of which they would now abhor.
How artfully must Judas have conducted himself, when on Mark
such an intimation no particular suspicion appears to have fallen xiv. 19
on him ! But how vain is that artifice, be it ever so refined,
which, while it preserves a character in the sight of men, cannot Mat.
in the least degree impose upon Christ I The day will come xxvi.
when he will lay open the false and ungrateful hypocrite, in a 23,25
more overwhelming manner than that in which he here exposed 24
Judas ; and, whatever advantage he may have gained, either by
professing religion, or by betraying it, he will undoubtedly find
that it had been good for him that he had never been born.
One would have imagined that an admonition like this, which
laid bare the secrets of his heart, and warned him so plainly and
faithfully of his danger, might have wrought some remorse in
his heart, or at least have proved some impediment to the im-
mediate execution of his design : but, being now given up by
the righteous judgment of God to the influence of Satan, and john
the lust of his own depraved mind, he is exasperated, rather xiii. 27
than reclaimed by it ; and immediately goes forth, under the 30
covert of the night, to hasten the accomplishment of that work
of darkness, the consequences of which had been so awfully rep-
resented. 0 Lord, let thy grace, and thy love, do that for us
which thy terrors alone cannot do ! Let our hearts be melted by
that nobler principle, and taught to abhor every thing which
would displease thee ! Oh, let them flow forth into such work-
ings of compassion to the afflicted as engaged the blessed Jesus :29
422 yesus declares that he should soon be glorified,
Sect, to relieve the poor out of his own little stock ; and into those
clxx. sentiments of candour which would not permit the apostles^ even
'^-"^ after this admonition, to imagine Judas altogether so bad as in*
deed he was, but led them to put the mildest construction on
their Master's ambiguous address to him ! Such may our inis'
takes be, wherever we do mistake ; the errors of a charity^
which would not by excessive rigor injure the vilest sinner, and
much less the least and weakest of God's servants !
SECT. CLXXr.
Christy having exhorted his disciples to mutual love^ forexvarns
thein of their approaching trial^ and foretells Peter'' s fall^ irvL'
mediately before the eucharist, Luke XXII. 31 — 34. John
XIII. 31, to the end.
, John XIII. 31. ^ John XIII.Sl.
SECT. TT was observed m the precedmg section npHEREFORE
clxxi. X how Judas, being marked out both by -■■ when he was
Christ's actions and his words, quitted the |?"^ out Jesus said
Tohn 1 • • r 1 r • 7 Now IS the Son ot
xiii 31 P^^^^ ^^ a mixture oi rage and contusion : xvhen man glorified, and
therefore he was thus gone out^^ Jesus said to God is glorified in
the rest of his disciples as they sat at the table ^^"^*
with him. Now is the Son of man just on the
point of being glorified far more remarkably
than ever ; and God in a most illustrious man-
ner is to be glorified in him, by the signal and
extraordinary circumstances of his abasement
32 and exaltation. And you may assure your- 32 If God be glo-
selves, that if God be glorified in him, God xvill ^jfi^jl in him, God
also glorify him^ in and with himself in such a h, himsdf ^ZhLu
degree as shall in the most convincing manner straightway glorify
declare his intimate relation to him ; and the him.
time will presently come when he will emi-
nently glorify him : for the Son of man is very
shortly to enter on the honours of his celestial
and universal kingdom, and in the mean time
some rays of Divine glory shall shine through
all that cloud of ignominy, reproach, and dis- '
tress, which shall surround him.
a When therefore he voas gone out.'] The Christ would have commanded him to
reader will observe that, if the former rea- drini of the cup, as the blood shed for him.
soning relating to the order of this part of Jor the remission of his sins, when he haA
the story be just, Judas certainly <ii'e7jf out just before been declaring in effect that
before the eucharist was instituted. And his sins should never be forgiven*
indeed one canjiot reasonably suppose
He commands his disciples to love one another, 423
S3 Little children. My A^^xlittle children^ whom I love even with sect.
yet a little while I parental tenderness, and whom my heart pities c'^^^-
am with you : \e * , „ ^ . , , •' . . ^ , ^ .
shall seek me ; and ^^^der all your trials and sorrows, it is yet but
as I said unto tlie a very little while longer that / am to continue x,ii.33
Jews, Whither I ^o, ^^'^/^ yQ^ . a few hours more will part us : and
my presence and converse ; but, as I said to the
yews, that whither I go, ye cannot come (John
vii. 34 ; and viii. 21, p. 52, 67) ; so now I say
to you. Ye cannot as yet come to the place
34 A new com- whither I am going. But observe my parting 34
mandment I give ^yords, and let them be written on your very
unto you. That ve , ' p ^ • • 7 u
love one another; as "^^^ts ; tor Igive it you as a new commandment^
I have loved you, and press you by new motives and a new ex-
that ye also love one ample to ^duty which hitherto, alas, has been
ler. ^^^ little regarded ; and from henceforth would
have you to consider it as confirmed by a new
sanction, and to keep it ever fresh in your mem-
ories ; That ye love one another with a most
sincere and ardent affection, such as mankind
have never known before ; yea, I would now
enjoin you, even as I have loved you, that ye aU
so would love one another, with a friendship
which may carry you through such difficulties
and sufferings as I am going to endure for you
-o5 By this shall all all. This will be the most acceptable and the ^^5
most ornamental token of your relation to me ;
and I recommend it to you, as the noblest
badge of your profession -.^ for by this shall all
^ A 7ievj commandment 1} I apprehend cause among those that should call them-
■this expression signifies much more than selves his church. (Clarke's Sennons,
merely a renenxed cotiuyiand. (Compare Vol. III. p. 297.) Raphelius (Amwt. ex
1 John ii. 7, 8 ; and 2 John ver. 5.) It Xen. p. 137—139) has the best note I ever
geems a strong and lively intimation that saw on the passage, tliough I think it
the engagements to inutual love, peculiar hardly reaches the full spirit of it ; in
to the Christian dispensation, are so singu- which he shews that Xenophon calls tlie
lar, and so cogent, that all other men, ladies of Lycurgus KHyoltt^ci vc/uoh 'cery nc^js
when compared with its votaries, may lanxsy several hundred years after they
seem uninstructed in the school of friend- were made ; because, though they had
ship, and Jesus may appear, as it were, been commended by other nations, they
the first professor of that Divine science, had not been practised by them. Perhap.<5
yamblicus fVit. Pythag. cap. 33) seems our Lord may here insinuate a reflection,
very injuriously to have preferred the not only on that /^arfv j/>/r/^ which prevaiU
Pythagoreans to all other men on that ac- ed so much in the Jews, but likewise on
count ; but it may be observed, that both the emulations and contentions among the
Aeand^w^rt/j/wi-, like many moderns, seem apostles themselves, which viutual love
to have had very little regard to truth would easily have cured. In this sense
when falsehood might cast a slur on it is still a wew cointnandment to us, who
Christianity, Dr. Clarke well observes generally act as if we had not yet got time
that our Lord seems to have laid this pe- to learn, or even to read it.
culiar stress on charity, as foi'eseeingthat '"- The noblest badge of your profession.^
general corruption and destruction of true It is well known that the founders of new
Christianity, which the want of it would societies appoint some peculiar ornament,
yoL. 2. 65
434 On Peter^s conjidence, Jems foretells his fall,
SECT, men knoxv that you are my disciples indeed, ifva^n know that ye
clsxi. they see you have that lively and generous love are my disciples,'if
*rj^ for each other which nothing but my gospel can another. ^^^ °"^ ^^
xiii.oS ^^ sufficient to inspire.
35 On this Jesus paused, that they might have 36 Simon Peter
an opportunity to reflect seriously on the im- said unto him, Lord,
portant charge he had given them And Sijnon jtu^Jni^^^ldhi!;,;
Feter^ touched with what he had said of his whither 1 go, thou
being ready to go whither they could not come, canst not follow me
said to him. Lord, permit us to inquire, whither ""^ ' ^^^ *^^°^ "-^^^^
, ' . 2^ .^ 7 , • T 11 loliow me after-
art thou going ? Jesus answered hiyn^ 1 tell wards.
thee, Peter, Whither I am going thou canst not
diY telly follow me nozv ; for thou art intended
for service in my church for many future years :
hut let it suffice thee, that thou shaltfollow me
afterwards in the same way,^ and dwWl perpet-
37 ually with me. Peter said to hiin, in a transport 37 Peter said unto
of eager and tender affection, Lord, why cannot liim. Lord, why can-
I follow thee 7101U P Whatever difficulties and "^^ }, ^'^ii"^ }^'^^
,-' 1 • 1 1 r "ow ? 1 will lay down
dangers may be m the way, the prospect of ^y ^fg for ^j^y ^r^^^^
them does not discourage me ; for Irvill most
willingly /(^z/ dozun my life for thy sake^ and had
much rather die than part with thee.
38 'QMt Jesus ansxvered him. Wilt thou indeed 38— Jesus answer-
so readily lay doxvn thy life for my sake P Alas, ^^ '»i"^» Wilt thou
thou knowest not thine own weakness, or thou J^^ ^^k "?!ll^ ^'^^ ^""'^
wouldst never talk thus confidently.
Luke ^;2<3^ M^ Xcrfl^ added with great earnestness, LtTKEXXlI.31—
^'^"' and said, 0 Simon, Simon, I must tell thee, that And the Lord said,
^^ an hour of terrible trial is just at hand, which ^'VTc .^'T!l 1^"
.„ 1 1 1 1 "^ 1 hold, Satan hath de-
wiU press harder than thou art aware on thee, sired to have you,
and on all thy companions here : for behold, that he may s'lhyou
Satan, as in the case of Job (Job ii. 4, 5), has ^^ '^^^^^ •
requested of God a permission [to assault] you
all by furious and violent temptations, that he
may toss you up and down, and sift [you] like
zvheat in a sieve. (Compare Amos ix. 9.)
32 But /, foreseeing the danger to which thou, 32 But I have
Peter, wilt peculiarly be exposed, have gra-
ciously prevented thee with the tokens of my
sigTii or mode of living, by which their fol- fied in his command to Peter after his re-
lowers may be known from others. This surrection, when he ordered him tofoltow
seems to be here alluded to. hitn ; (John xxi. 18, 19, sect, cci.) namely,
that Peter should die oti the cross for his
^ Thoushahfollo'wme qftenuards.'] lam sake; which ancient history assures us
ready to think our Lord here obliqiiely that he did. See Euseb. Hist. Eccles. li^-
hints at what he afterwards, farther signjl- iii. cap. 1.
Before cock croxvhig he would deny him thrice. 425
prayed for thee, that friendly care, and have prayed to my Father sect.
thy faith fail not ; r^f. f/^^^ ^/^^f hg would communicate to thee <^'^^^-
and when thou art'' , i- c ^\ ^ .l r • , —^
cnnverted,strengili. such stipphes of grace that thy faith may not
en thy brethren. Utterly y^?/, and sink under the violent shock it ^xii
is to receive : and let me now exhort thee, that 32
when thou art returned I'rom those wanderings,
into which I know thou wilt fall, to the paths
of wisdom and duty,^ thou wouldst be sure to
make it thine immediate care to strengthen thy
brethren ; and do thine utmost, all the remain-
der of thy days, to engage all over whom thou
hast an}' influence, to a steady adherence to my
cause, in the midst of the greatest difllcuities/
-33 And he said And such was still the confidence that Peter 33
unto him, Lord, I j^^j Qf j^jg Q^y^ stedfastness and zeal, that ha
am ready to 0-0 With -7 ^ ,• -.i 1 1
thee, both into pris- ^^^"' ^^ '^^''^ v^\v!\ renewed eagerness and
on, and to death. warmth, Lord^ what I said but now is the de-
liberate sentiment and resolution of my heart :
lead me therefore whither thou pleasest : for /
am ready to go with thee^ both into prison^ and to
death itself, and whatsoever I may suffer by
continuing with thee, none of the most cruel of
thine enemies shall ever be able to part us.
34 And he said, But Jesus, that /2^ might convince him of 34,
[Venly, verily, I say j^jg weakness, and prevent his ever trusting in
the cock shall not ^^^ ^^^'^ heart again, said to him, Peter ^ I know
crow this day, be- the sincerity of thine intention, yet / most
assuredly say unto thee^ It shall not be the time
oi cock crowing today ^^ before thou shalt be so
terrified at the faces of these enemies whom
* When thou art returned^ &.C.] Ka/ ov tlie strain of his epistles shews his long
^oli iTriTfi-^ctgy g-i)pi^ov Tn? itJ'iKcpiic (TH. lean- and affectionate remembrance of this sol-
not think the authorities which the learned eran charge. Many passages of the Jirst
Eisner produces fObserv. Vol. I. p. 27G, arc peculiarly intended to animate his
277) sufficient to induce us, with Sir Christian brethren to a courageous adher-
Norton Knatchbull, to translate these ence to Christ amidst the greatest dan-
words. Do thou, sovie time or other y con- gcrs,l Pet. i. 6,7; ii. 19,20 ;iii. 14 — 18 ; iv.
vert and strengthen thy brethren. For the 12 — 19; v. 8,9,10; and the ^ecowc^ has several
signification of iTri^fi^fuv, see Acts ix. 35 ; cautions to guard them against the seduc-
xi. 21; xiv. 15. tions of error, in some instances more to be
^Make it thine immediate care, &c.] dreaded than the terrors of the severest
I can see no objection against taking the persecution. 2 Pet. i. 10, 12 ; ii. 1, 2, 20,
charge in this comprehensive sense ; and 21 ; iii. 2, 17.
as I question not but Peter, after he had g It shall not be the time of cock croviing
nvept his full so bitterly, as we know he did, today'] A careful perusal of sect, clxxxi.
applied himself to rally his dispersed compared with this, will shew why I have
^refAre/z, and to prevent their fleeing from not here brought in the account which
Jerusalem, till the third day was over, in Matthew and Mark have given us of
the morning of which he was up betimes, Christ's admonitions to Peter and his
and early at the sepulchre of our Lord, brethren on this head ; which appear to
(See Johiixx. 2, 3,sect. cxciv.) So indeed be the renewal of this some hours after
426 Reflections on Christ's care of his disciples.
sE^T. thou now deftest, that thou shalt thrice deny that fore that tliou shalt
^ [^ thoii so much as knowest me^ and shalt solemnly thrice deny that
Luke ^^sclaim all regard to me. (Compare Mat. f^\ ^vn^'^aT'
xxU. xxvi. 34, and Mark xiv. 30, sect, clxxxi.) ^^^^"^ XIII.-08.3
34
IMPROVEMENT.
'^^^ Alas, how ready are we to forget ourselves ; and how much
22 safer are we in C/zrw?',? hands than in our own ! How frequently
do we resohe\\\i^ Peter ^ and in how many instances do we fall
51 like him ! We see the malice of Satan^ and how eagerly he de^
sired to try the apostles, and even to sift them as xvheat : we see
also the gracious care of our Redeemer^ who, foreseeing the dan-
ger of his servants, laid in an unsought remedy, to which they
respectively owed their security or their recovery.
^2 — ^^t us rejoice that the great enemy is under such restraints,
and can have no power against us, unless by permission from
above. Let us rejoice that Christ is a constant and invariable
Friend to his people ; and still appears as an Advocate with the
Father^ and as a tender faithful Shepherd, watching over them
for good, while Satan is seeking to devour them. (1 Pet. v. 8.)
If at any time that adversary get an advanUige over us, let us
endeavour in the strength of Divin6 grace an immediate recov-
-^32 ery ; and when restored, let us exert ourselves to strengthen our
brethren : for surely it is most reasonable that we, who are sur-
rounded with such various, and such sensible infirmities, should
have compassion on the ignorant y and on them that are out of the
way. (Heb. v. 2.)
John In this instance, as in all others, let us be mindful of the
^34 ^^^"S charge, the nexv commandment of our dear Lord; and let
us shew upon all occasions this distinguishing badge of our rela-
tion to him, even our love to each other. So will our profession
31 be adorned, and the Son of man be farther glorified, by the con-
^ duct of his servants on earth : so shall he at length glorify us
So with himself and after a short absence call us Xo follow him into
those regions of perfect love which must of course be the seats
of everlasting joy.
In the mean time, send down, O gracious Immanuel, thy Spir*
It of love on all thy followers ; that we may no longer glory in
As It is plain from thence and the event, known those vigilant animals, on any little
that the cock actually creiu before Peter's disturbance, often crow at midnight^ or be-
third deniaty we must certainly take the fore it ; though they do not come from
words of Luke and John, as in this 'version, their roost till about three in the morningy
for the common time of coci crowing, which which was usually called the cock crowing.
probably did not come till after the cock (Mark xiii. 35.) See Dr. Whitbfs Note
which Peter heard had crowed the second on IVlat. xxvi. 34.
time, and perhaps oftener. For it is well
Christy after supper, institutes the eucharist, 427
the little distinctions of this or that j&cr^z/, but may shexv we are sect.
Christians by this resplendent ensign of our order ! May we clxxi.
bind it on our shoulders as a mark of honour, and wear it as a "^^
crown upon our heads ; that the spirit of hatred, reproach, and ^^^ *^"
persecution may vanish like an unwholesome mist before the
sun, and it may again be universally said, as of old, Behold^ how
these Christians love one another I Amen.
SECT. CLXXII.
Christ, at the conchision of the passover, institutes the eucharist.
Mat. XXVI. 26—30. Mark XIV. 22—26. Luke XXII.
19, 20.
Mat. XXVI. 26. Mat. XXVI. 26.
AN D as they O UCH was the admonition that Christ gave sect.
were eating, ^ ^^ Peter, and such was his discourse with *^^^-''^^-
Jesus took bread, i • -,• . , , -i ^i ^ .
[Luke, and gave ^^^^ disciples whde they were at supper: and ^^^
thanks,] and blessed now, as theij were eating, or just as they had fin- xxvi!
ity and brake z>, and ished, the paschal supper,* Jesus took a cake o/'26
gave «^ to tie 'sci- ^^-^^^ . and having in a solemn manner p-ivea
pies, and saiOiTake, ^- , ^ ' ^ ^it-i »»» , r- -,
thanks to his heavenly Father, and blessed \zt\,
that is, having implored the Divine blessing on
it, and on the ordinance then to be instituted,
that it might in all succeeding ages tend to the
edification and comfort of his people ;^ he brake
the bread into several pieces, and gave some of
[i^] to each of the disciples present, and saidy
« Just as they had finished the paschal prayer that the Divine blessing might ac-
snpper.J Maimonides and other rabbies tonipany fAe ^reatZ. And it is so very plain
tell us that it was a rule among the Jews, from 1 Cor. x. 16, that the apostles taught
at the end of the supper, to take a piece of Christians to bless the cup, that I cannot but
la7nh for the last thing they eat that night, wonder that one of the most accurate and
(See Ainsxjorthi as quoted before, note', penetrating writers of our age should
p. 405.) If this custom was as old as scruple to allow that Christ blessed the
Christ's time, it would make this action so sacramental elements. The same word is
much the more remarkable. It would used in Mat. xiv. 19 ; Mark vi. 41 ; viii.
plainly shew that the (^rf adhere distributed 7; and Luke ix. 16; where it is certain
was a very distinct thing f/om the meal they an extraordinary blessing attended the bread
had been making together ; and might be, and Jishes in answer to his prayers. (See
in the first opening of the action, a kind of also Mark x. 16; Luke ii. 34; and Gen.
symbolical intimation that the yeiuish pass- ii. 3, Septuag.J It would indeed be absurd
over was to give way to another and nobler to interpret this of his conferring a virtue
diwie institution. on bread so set apart, to work as a charm,
either on men's bodies or souls ; but I hope
'' Blessed it.'j It is not expressly said few Christians are so ill instructed as to
in the original that Christ blessed it, that imagine this to be the case in the eucharist, -
is, the bread (nor indeed that he brake it J ; and all wise and faithful viinisters will, no
but it is very reasonable to imagine that doubt, be solicitous to preserve them from
this thanksgiving was attended with a so wild and mischievous a notion.
428
He distributes bread and wine as his body and blood.
SECT. Take this bread, and eat it with reverence and
clxxii. thankfulness ; for this is my body^ that is, it is
the sensible sign and representation of my
xxvi. ^^ody,*^ -which is freely give?i^ and is speedily to
' 26 ^^ broken, bruised, wounded, and even slaugh-
tered for you. Do this hereafter, in your
assemblies for religious worship, in a pious and
affectionate commemoration ofme^ that you may
keep up the memory of my dying love, may
openly profess your dependance on my death,
and impress your hearts with a becoming sense
of it. (Compare 1 Cor. xi. 24.)
27 And in like manner^ after they had supped^ he
also took the cup^ that is, another cup different
from that which he had before divided among
them (Luke xxii. If, p. 406) ,• and -when he
had given thanks to his heavenly Father, and
implored his blessing upon it, as a solemn
eat ; this is my body,
[Luke, which is
g-iven for you : this
do in remembrance
of me ] [M ARK
XIV. 22. Luke
XXIL 19-3
2r And [Luke,
likewise also ] he
took the cup,[LuKE,
after supper,] and
gave thanks, and
"^ This is my body."] When I consider
that (as a thousand writers have observed)
on the same foundation on which the Pa-
pists arg-ue for transubstantiation from tliese
words, they mig-ht prove, from Ezek. v.
1 — 5, that the prophet's hair was the city
of Jerusalem ; from John x. 9, and xv. 1,
that Christ was literally a door and a vine ;
and from Mat. xxvi. 27, 28, and 1 Cor.
xi. 25, that the cup was his blood, and that
Christ commanded his disciples to drink
and swallow ?/?e cup; I cannot but be aston-
ished at the inference they would deduce
from hence. Had Ireneus or Epiplianius
reported such a thing- of any sect o{' ancient
heretics now extinct, one would have been
so candid to human nature as to suppose
the historian misinformed. As it is, one'
is almost tempted to suspect it to be the
effect of arrogance rather than error ; and
to consider it as a mere insolent attempt
to shew the world, in the strongest in-
stance they could invent, what monstrous
thing's the clergy should dure to say,
which the wretched laity should not dare
to contradict ; nay, which they should be
farced to pretend they believed. In this
view the thought is admirable, and worthy
tlie most malicious wit that ever lorded it
ever the heritage of God. But it may de-
serve some serious reflection, whether it
be not an instance of infatuation, to which
God has given them up, tliat it may be a
plain mark to all that will use common
sense, of tlie grossest error in a church
which claims infallibility ; and may not be
intended by Providence as a kind of anti-
dote against the rest of its poison.
'^ Jfter they had supped, he also took the
cup.'] A learned divine of the establish-
ment, who has favoured me with many
sheets of accurate remarks on this work
(which were of so great use to me in cor»
recting it for the second edition as to de-
mand my public acknowledgments), has
objected to the supposition here made of
its being another cup, which I have assert-
ed in the paraphrase. But, with all due
deference to his penetration (which is in-
deed very great), I must beg leave to ob-
serve, that it still appears most probable to
me that it was as I there represent it ; not
merely because Luke mentions a cup taken
before tlie bread (Luke xxii. If, p. 406),
but because in the passage before us (ver.
20) he adds to that the mention of a cup
after it. It is well known the Jews used
several cups of wine at the passover, and
one of them with the antep st, at the very
beginning of the feast. (See note ^ on
Mark xiv. 17, p. 405 ) I know not how
far so accurate a writer as St. Luke might
farther intimate this distinction by using
the word S'i'^cifju^io^ (ver, 17) with respect
to tlie first cup, which strictly expresses
receiving it from the hand of another, prob-
ably of the servant who waited at the
table ; whereas fx^vm (taking) is the
word used ver. 19, of which 'woloiov here
in ver. 20 is governed ; which might have
been equally proper, if the cup stood on
the table before him, as the bread USqH in
the eucharist probably did.
His blood is shed for the forgiveness of sins* 42^.^
^ave it to them, say- sacramental sign, he gave \it\ to them^ and said ^ sect.
in^, Drink ye all of J)yijik ye all of it^ that is, of the wine which it dxxii,
dUnkont.]'[^ARK contains : «;2^ accordingly they all drank ^om^ —
XIV. 23. Luke of it. For^ said he to them^ as he dehvered it into ^^'^:
XXII. 20—.] their hands. This cup of wine is a representation oq
28 For [he said of ^^^^/^^^[^^,^„] of Ma? blood which is the great "^
unto them, J This , ■^' n i ^ r n • •. ir*.u i c
[Luke, cup] is my basis of the new covenant^ \_or\ is itselr the sealot
blood of the ^e\v the new covenaiit^^ estM'ishtd in 777y bloody xvhich
Testament [in my fy shed for ifOit, [and] for many more, as the great
rLttltrl-ou to ransom to be paid/.r tUe forgiveness of. in.;' re-
for many, 'for the ceive it therefore with a firm resolution to com-
remission of sins, ply with the engagements of that covenant, and
L^KE^'xxiI^— 2o!]' ^^^^^ ^ cheerful hope of its invaluable blessings :
and do this, as often as ye drink it, in a thank-
ful commemoration of me, and with a proper
care to distinguish between this and a common
meal, appropriating what you do in this ordi-
nance entirely to a religious purpose. (Com-
29 But [verily] I pare 1 Cor. xi. 25.) A?2d then our Lord 29
repeated what he had said as they were sit-
ting down to supper (Luke xxii. 18, p. 406),
*= The seal of the «ew covenant.'] It were by no means worthy ; and which
seems very evident that when the sacra- they cannot at all the better deserve for
mental cup here, and in ICor. xi. 25, is call- that sanction which the papal authority has
ed the ne^ covenant, it must signify the seal given to one of them, though it seems there-
of it ; just as when circumcision 'is called by to have been preferred to the original.
God's covenant. Gen. xvii. 10, and it is there ^ In my blood which is shed^as the great
said, ver. 13, My covenant shall be in your r&nsom tohepa\df or theforgiveness of sins.]
Jiesh, we must understand the seal of it : I apprehend this ordinance of the eucharist
and if by the seal of the covenant be meant, to have so plain a reference to the atone-
as I here explain it, and as most take it, vient or satisfaction of Christ, and to do so
•• an appointed token of our accepting that solemn an honour to that fundamental doc-
covenant, and of God's favour to us on fr/?re off Ae^o^j&e/, that I cannot but believe
supposition of the sincerity of that accept- that while this sacred institution continues
ance ;" it is so plain that the eucharist, as in the church (as it will undoubtedly do
well as baptism is such a seal, that they to the end of the world) it will be impos-
who disapprove the word denv not the slble to root f/mf c/ocfriHC out of the minds
thing. (See the Plain Account of the Lord's of plain humble Christians by all the little
Supper, p. 168, 169 ) I have rendered the artifices of such forced and unnatural crit-
word cr/si9«x«, covenant, rather than testa- icisvis as those are by which it lias been
inent or vjill, because it is evidently the attacked. Unprejudiced and honest sim-
more usual signification of the word ; and plicity will always see the analogy this or-
because the old covenant, to which the ne%v dinance has to eating thefesh of the San of
is opposed, cdnnot with anv propriety be God, and drinking^ his blood ,- and will be
called a testament, with reference to the taught by it to feed on him as the lamb
death of any testator wliich is the idea chief- that vcas slain by the gracious appointment
ly insisted on bv those who would retain of God to take avoay the sins of the viorld.
our common version here. And, by the The enemies of this heart reviving truth
wav, it appears on this principle that the might as well hope to pierce through a coat
title of our Bible is improperly and ob- of mail with a straw as to reach such a
scurely rendered, by a piece of complai- truth, defended by such an ordinance as
sanceto the old Latlnuersione, of which they Uiis, by any of their trifling sophistries.
4oO l^heij close the ordhiance with singing a hyynn,
SECT. Verily y Isayunto yoii^ That from this time I will s^yxmioyow, I will
clxxii. drink no more of this produce^ of the vine,^ until ^^"^^^f^ \i^''l^t
"""^ that day when I shall drink it new xvith you in fruit of the vine, un-
^'^^ the kingdom of God my Father : that is, till, be- til that day when I
29 ing risen from the dead, I have received my me- <^""^ \"^k^ T^^
diatorial kingdom, and we shall share together of [God] my Father!
in much nobler entertainments than earth can [Mark XIV. 25.]
afford, even in its highest religious solemnities,
which shall then be happily superseded.
30 ^?z<i w/zeTZ, according to the. usual custom at 50 And when they
the close of the passover, theii hadsmi^c an hymn ^^^ sung an hymn,
r • ^oj **u 1 • ^4.1,, they went out unto
of praise to God at the conclusion ot the eu- t^e mount of Olives.
charist,^ and had passed some remaining time [Mahk XIV. 26.]^
in those discourses, and in that prayer which
will be the subject of the following sections,
they xvent out to the mount of Olives ; where our
Lord had determined to spend some time in
devotion, though he knew that Judas and his
enemies would come thither to seize him.
IMPROVEMENT.
Mat. Let us now review, with most thankful acknowledgment,
xxvi. this gracious legacy of our dying Redeemer^ this reviving and
2S nourishing ordinance^ which he instituted for the benefit of his
church the same night in which he was betrayed, (l Cor. xi. 23.)
So tenderly did his love for them prevail when his heart was
full of his own sorrows ! May we always consider to what pur-
poses this holy rite was ordained ; and as we shall see the wis-
dom of the appointment, so we shall also be both awakened to
attend to it, and assisted in that attendance !
Luke It is the memorial of the death of Christy by which we repre-
xxii.i9 sent it to others, and to ourselves. May we be ever ready to
g limit drink no more of this produce of the cxvlii . some of which psalms might be us-
■p//2e.] This may seem an intimation, that ed by our Lordzt the close of the eucharist^
though Christ drank %vith them after his re- as very suitable to this occasion ; though
surrection (Acts x. 41), he did not make it is uncertain whether (as Grotius and
use of <uj?«e. Perhaps their poverty miglit some others think) it might not be some
not allow them often to drink it ; and we other hymn, more closely adapted to the
do not find that he was ever present at any celebration of the eucharist. I thought it
feast; at least we are sure he never cele- proper here to conclude the story of the
brated another passover with them. Nor passover, and to mention their going out,
does it appear that he partook of the eu- though that did not immediately follow on
charist with them, or ever administered their singing the hyinn. Some such little
it, but at this time of its institution. anticipations seem to me an advantage
rather than an impropriety in any i^anrionj,
^ ^n/zywin of praise to God.] The Aymn especially when attended with % para-
that was usually sung by the Jews at the phrase, or notes, and divided into such
tassoveris what they call the Hallel, which short sections as those must be which »re
began at Psal cxiii. and ended with Psal. intended for the use offamilins:
Reflections on the institution of the euchanst. 431
give this most regular and acceptable token, that xve are not sect.
ashamed to fght under the banner of a crucified Redeemer ! It clxxiL
is also the seal of the nexv covenant in his blood. Let us adore '
the grace that formed and ratified that everlasting covenant^ so ^^^
well ordered in all things^ and so sure. (2 Sam. xxiii. 5.) And
whenever we approach to this sealing ordinance may we renew
our consent to the demands of that covenant^ and our expecta-
tion of those blessings which are conveyed by it ! a consent and
expectation ?,o well suited to the circumstance of its being ratified
by the blood of Jesus, Thus may every attendance nourish our Mark
souls in grace, and ripen them for glory ; that at length all may ^^^' ^^
be fulfilled and perfected in the kingdom of God.
In the mean time may God, by the influences of his Spirit,
give to all professing Christians right notions of this ordinance^
and a due regard for it ; that, on the one hand, none may, un-
der the specious pretence of honouring it, live in the habitual
neglect of so plain and important a duty ; and that, on the
other, it may never be profanely invaded by those who have no
concern about the blessings of that covenant it ratifies, and im-
piously prostilute it to those secular views, above which it was
intended to raise them ! And may none that honour the great
Author of it encourage such an abuse, lest they seem to lay the
very cross of Christ as the threshold to the temple of those vari-
ous idols to which ambitious and interested men are bowing
down their souls !
SECT. CLXXIII.
Christy having warned his apostles of the danger to which theij
would be exposed^ comforts them with the views of future hap-
piness, and with the assurance of his own gracious presence^
and that of his Father^ in the way to it, Luke XXII. 35 — 38.
John XIV. 1—14.
Luke XXII. 35. LuKE XXII. 35.
A NDhesaidun- ^ I ^HOUGH we mentioned Christ's goingout s^^^-
itnt ou^^t^wiir ^° ^^^ mount of Olives, after he had insti- ^J^'*
ouTpii/se%mlJ^iip,' ^^^^^ ^^^ eucharist, it is very material to ob- Luke
serve, that before he quitted the guest cham- xxii.35
ber in which he had supped, he entertained his
disciples with some large and aflfectionate dis-
courses, and put up an excellent prayer with
them, which we shall now relate. And, to in-
troduce these discourses, he said to them. When
I sent you, my apostles, out on your important
embassy some time ago, without either purse to
VOL. 2. 56
433 Christ xuarns his disciples of approaching danger.
SECT, supply you with money, or scrip to take pro- and shoes, lackefl
clxxiii. visions with you, or shoes besides those on your y^ any thing ? And
— feet (Mat. x. 9, 10, Vol. I. p. 409), did you they said. Nothing,
xxii^ 7ffl«f any thing necessary for the support of
' 35 life ? And they said^ No, Lord, we very well
remember that the care of Providence over us
was such that we wanted nothing ; but wherev-
er we came we found the hearts of strangers
opened even with surprising freedom to assist
and relieve us.
36 Then he said to them^ This was indeed the ^^ Then said he
case in your former mission ; hut now you must ""^o them. But now
expect much harder usage than before, and will leVm^^'tTand
be exposed to greater sufferings and dangers in likewise his scrip :
the prosecution of your ministry ; and there- and he that hath no
fore kt htm that has a purse take [if], and aho a fr^ament'Td buy
scrips if he has one ; and let him that has no one.
stvordht ready even to sell his garment^ and buy
one with the price of it : so long a journey, and
so sharp a conflict, is before you, that you had
37 need be well armed and furnished for it. For I 37 For I say unto
assure you^ That my enemies are now about to you, That this that
apprehend me as a malefactor, and, after all the |f ^^'^"^" r kV^^
, *^' , T 1 1 \ c \ ij "^e accomphshed m
love that I have shewn to an ungratetul world, ^^e, And he was
this remarkable prophecy which is written con- reckoned among the
cerning me (Isa. liii. 12), must yet be accom- transgressors : for
plished in me^ " And he was numbered with the -^^ melSve^an^end'
transgressors ;" for indeed all the things which
are written concerniiig me in the scripture proph-
ecies must quickly have an end^ and receive their
accomplishment in my sufferings and death.
Now you may easily guess at the reception you
are like to meet with when you come to preach
in the name and authority of one who has suf-
fered as a malefactor, and yet demands faith
and obedience as an almighty Saviour.
38 And they said^ Lord^ behold here are two swords ^B And they said,
that we are furnished with already,^ which we Lord, behold, here
are resolved in case of any violent assault, to ^^L^a^Zotem.ft
use in thy defence. And he said to them^ it is is enough.
enough for weapons of this sort : my chief in-
tent is to direct you to another kind of defence,
even that which arises from piety and faith.''
^ Jlere are tivo s%\iords.'] Probably (as them against robbers. It afterwards ap-
"Mv. Cradock conjectures, in his ^<nr7Monj', pears that one of them was Peter's. See
part ii.p. 209) some of the apostles brought John xviii. 10, sect clxxxiii.
these swords along with them, in their ^ My chief intent is to direct you to
journey from Galilee and Pejrca, to defend another kind of defence, ^c} This is
The prospect of their Juture happiness should comfort them. 433
John XIV. 1 Let Let not your heart therefore be troubled^ though sect.
not \o\xv heart be I ^m going to leave vou in a world where you clxxiii.
troubled: ye believe ^^^ ^-j^gl ^^ become an helpless prey to 7—
in God ; believe also *y ^ J • l r " • John
in me. the rage and power of your enemies : believe in ^-^ ^
God^ the almighty Guardian of his faithful ser-
vants, who has made such glorious promises to
prosper and succeed the cause in which you are
engaged ; and believe also in me, as the promis-
ed Messiah, who, whether present or absent in
body, shall always be mindful of your concerns,
as well as ever able to help you.<^
2 In my Father's And, to establish your faith and comfort, ac- 2
house are many man- custom yourselves often to look forward to the
t'i woddhrrJcf heavenly world, as those who are well assured
that in 77iy Father s house, from whence I came,
and whither I am going to take up my resi-
dence, there are inany 7nansions ;^ and it is
really a spacious and glorious abode, where
there will be ample room to receive you, and
every thing to accommodate you in the most
delightful manner : and indeed if'it were not
so, as I know you have still acted with regard
to the happiness of a future world, though too
much mingled with inferior views, Izvould be-
fore this time hcwe told you so expressly, and
not have permitted you to impose upon your-
selves by an airy dream i^ much less would I
strongly Intimated by his sajing, Two the vast number of persons lodged tliere.
s-uiords were enough ; for they could not be Mjv*/ sigiiifies cfiiet and continued abodes^
sufficient to arm eleven men. and therefore seems happily expressed by
*= Believe in God, believe also in me.'] our English word ma7isio}is ; the etymol-
Tli^iudi iiz Tcv Gesv, x*/ e/? ifjn 'uriri-vili- ogy and exact import of which is just the
These words are so very ambiguous that same.
(as Erasmus 6bserves)they may be render- « And if not-, 1 ivoidd have told you."] Hein-
ed as here ,- or as in our English translation ; sius's version of these words seems much
or Ye believe in God, and ye believe in me ; or less natural : he would connect and render
Believe in God, and ye believe in me ; and them [5/ Si iah, uttcv av ufAiv, ^cfiuzfAxi, c^J'c.J
different commentators have taken them in as if our Lord had said, " Hud it not been so,
all these very different senses. But it ap- I voould ha.\e spoken in another manner,
pears most natural to render TrtTivfn ahke and have told you, I am going to prepare a
in both places ; and it is certain an exhor- place for you ; but now I have no reason to
tation \.o faith in God, and in Christ, would say that, the place being already prepar-
be very seasonable, considering how weak ed." But it is hard to say w^hat sense can
and defective their faith was. (See ver 9.) be made of ver. 3 on this interpretation.
The transition from the passage in Luke to That the pious Jews considered all the
this in John appears so easy, placing the glories of the Messiah's kingdom, as inU'O-
paragraphs in this order, that I wonder no ductory to the happiness of a future state
har77ionizer should have observed it before, of eternal glory, appears from a variety of
^Ininy Father's house are inaiiytnansiom,'] scriptures; and indeed it is difficult to say
Mr. Le Moyne thinks Christ alludes to how they could think otherwise, consider-
the various apartments in the temple^ and ing how much tliis hud been insisted on ; or
434 He xvas going to prepare a place fo r them,
SECT, have said so much as I have done to confirm you : I goto prepare
clxxiii. that expectation : but as it is in itself a glorious a place for you.
reality, so I ayn now goings not only to receive
J.° 2 ^^y ^^^^ reward, but to prepare a place for you
there ;*^ or to make room for your coming
thither, and to dispose every thing for your
most honourable and comfortable reception.
3 A)id iflxhws go and prepare a place for you^ you ^ And if I go and
may depend upon it that this preparation shall ^o^PY wllUome t!
not be in vain, but that /tf?*// certainly act so gain, and receive
consistent a part as to come again^ and receive you unto myself, that
you to myself;^ that, as we are now united in '^^^^^.^ ^ f^* therey^
^ J r'li' J r 1 ma-y oe also,
so dear a iriendship, you also, alter a short sep-
aration, viay be where lam, and may dwell for
4 ever with me. And surely I may say in the 4 And wliltlier I
general, after all the instructions I have given K^ y® ^'j'ow, andtUe
you, that you know xvhither I am going ; and you ^^^ ^^ "°^^'
kjiow the way that leads thither, and by which
you may safely follow me ; which I exhort you
therefore that you would resolutely keep.
5 But such was still the expectation that his ^ Thomas saith
disciples had of his erecting a temporal king- unto him. Lord, we
dom, that Thomas, upon hearing this, says to
Jiim, Lordy thou hast never yet informed us of
how they could have been good and pious, moit holy, was the first act performed in it
had not this been their chief aim. Com- when it was opened. (Exod. xxix. 36, 37.)
pare Mat. iii. 12 ; v. 8, 12 ; vi. 20 ; vii. 21 ; And an ato7iement for the whole tabernacle,
xiii. 43 ; xix. 16 ; xxii. 30 ; Luke xiv. 14 ; as polluted by the access of sinners to it,
xvi. 9 ; John iii. 15, 36 ; vi. 54, 68; xi. was to be repeated annually. Lev. xvi. 16.
24 — 27. Itmay nothowever be improper to observe,
*/ am going to prepare a place Jor you.'} that the word to^t©' is often translated
When the glory of heaven is spoken of as room (Luke ii 7 ; xiv. 10, 22 ; 1 Cor. xiv.
prepared before the foundation of the ivorld 16) ; and thus the signification here may
(Mat. xxv. 34), this only refers to the Di- be, thatChrist went to heaven tomakeroom>
mine purpose ; but as that was founded in for thetrij or to remove those things out of
Chriit^s mediatorial undertaking (Eph. i. 4 the way which obstructed their entrance.
— 6), it might properly be said that, when This must at least be included ; though
Christ went into heaven as ourZr/^APr/ei?, the word is] ot/u.A(rAi may perhaps express
to present (as it were) his own blood be- still more.
fore the Father on our account, and as our g Iivlll come agaiut &c.J This com,ing
Forerunner to take possession of it, he did ultimately refers to Christ's solemn ap-
thereby prepare a place for us ; which the pearance at the last day to receive all his
apostle expresses (Heb. ix. 23, 24) by his servants to glory ; yet (as was hinted be^
purifying or consecrating the hea'venly places fore, in note ^ on Luke xii. 40. p. 117) it is a
in which we are to dwell, which would beautiful circumstance that the death of
have been considered aspollutedhy the en- every particular believer, considering the
trance ot such sinful Creatures into them ; universal power and providence of Christ
as the tabernacle when jiev) made was, by (Rev. i. 18), may be regarded as Christ*s
having passed through the hands of sin- coming to fetch him home ; whereas Sa-
ners^ on which account an atonement for tan is spoken of as having naturally the
ihe altar itself, which was considered as poxi^er of death, Heb. ii. 14.
Christ IS the Way^ the Triithy and the Life, 43 a
know not whither the place, and we knozv not so much as whither sect.
thou goest, and how tfiQ^ rirt ^oin^^ and how then can we possibly clxxiii.
can we know the ^^^^.^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^.^^^^ , y^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^.^^^^ j^
6 Jesus saith unto have already intimated to you I am going to ^^^^g
him, I am the Way, the Father ; and did you but consider this,
and the Truth, and ^.^^^ ^^.^^^ij ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ j ^^ mvstU the Way,
the Lite: no man ',,rr. i i l t - r ■ "^ ^ t
Cometh unto the Fa- ^^" ^he 1 rutn^ and the Lije ;^ that 1 am to
ther but by me. guide, instruct, and animate my followers in
their passage to eternal glory, and that their
progress will be sure and vigorous in propor-
tion to the steadiness of their faith in me, and
the constancy of their regards to me : and this
indeed is the true and only way you can take ;
for no man cometh to the knowledge or enjoy-
ment of the Father^ to whom I am returning,
but by means of me^ whose proper office it is to
introduce sinful creatures to his presence and
7 If ye had known favour. If therefore, you had knoxvn me 7
me, ye should have ariffht, iwu zvouid siirtly have knoxvn my Father
known my Father / ^v • i i • • . .•
also : and from ^^•^^^ "^ whose glory my mmistrations so evi-
henceforth ye know dently centre j a?id such indeed are the discov-
him, and have seen eries that I have made of him, and such the
tnanifestations of the Divine perfections which
you have seen in me, that in effect it may be
said that from henceforth you know him^ aiid
have as it were already seen hhn,
8 Philip saith unto Then Philips one of the apostles, hearings
him. Lord, shew us tJ^gg^ words, says to him. with a pious ardour
the Father, and it , . i. iT ^ r / i i i
sufRceth us. becommg his character, Lord^ do but shexu us
the Father^ and bring us to the sight and enjoy-
ment of him,i and it is happiness enough for
us ; we desire no more, and resign every other
9 Jesus saithunto hope in comparison of this. Jesus says to 9
him. Have I been so /^2??2, Have I been tvith you then so lonsr a time^
lonff time witli you, j , '^ . r -v
^ •' and conversed among you in so tamiliar a man-
ner for successive years, a?id hast thou not yet
^' We knoHu not ivhither thou art going.'] portant truth ; but it does not determine to
It is probable Thomas might think that what degree he must be explicitly i?wivn,
Christ intended to remove to some splen- in order to receive saving benefits by him.
did palace on earth, to set up his court • Lord, shew us the Father.] The'expli-
there for a while, before he received his cation given in the paraphrase seems to me
people to the celestial glory. a more probable sense than that in which
» / a7n the luay, &.C.] Our Lord had so Mr. Fleming understands it ; as if Philip
lately delivered the same sentiment in had said, ♦' Let us have a vision of the
language much like this (John x. 9, p. Father in a corporeal form, to testify the
206), that it might well have been expect- necessity of thy removal from us." (See
ed they should have understood him now. Fleming^ s Christology,Vo\. IL p. 202.) I
^ If you had known me , you vjould have cannot apprehend that the ^/o^f/e^ thought
knoiinm^ Father (Uso."} This is a mostim- the Father visible.
436 He is in the Father, and the Father in him,
SECT, known me^ Philip P if thou hadst well consider- and yet hast thmi
clxxiii. ed who I am, thou mightest have better under- '^^]^''^j^^'' ^ll ^ath
stood what I have now been saying ; for he ^^^^ ^g^ jjath seen
•^^'^"g that has seen me^ has in effect seen the Father, the Father ; and
^''* as I am the brightness of his glory, and the howsayesuhou jAe«,
express image or his person (rleb. 1. 3) :
And how [then] dost thou sat/, after all that has
passed between us, Shew us the Father P
10 F>ost thou not then believe, though I have 10 Bellevest thou
before affirmed it so expressly (John x. 38, p. Jf^J^f ^^^the ?a!
214), that I [am'] in the Father, and the Father t^gj. j^ ^^e ? The
is in me^ by so intimate an union as to warrant words that I speak
such language as this ?"^ The words which I ^^^^ you, ^/Pf^^
, ° r • .J.' ' !-• I- T J- not of myself: but
Speak to you trom time to time, in which 1 dis- ^j^^ Father that
cover and inculcate this important truth, / dwelleth in me, he
speak not merely oj myself; but it is really the doth the works.
Father who dwells in me that gives me my in-
structions thus to speak ; and it is he that
operates together with me, and performs the
miraculous works that you have so often seen,
which are sufficient to demonstrate the truth of
this assertion, mysterious as it is, and incredi-
11 ble as it might otherwise seem. Believe me ii Believe me that
therefore in what I have said, that I [ain] thus I am in the Father,
in the Father, and the Father is in me; or, if ^J^e'^.^^'or^else^'be'
what you have so long known of my general y^^^^ ^e for the very
character and veracity will not engage you to works' sake.
take it merely on my single testimony, at least
believe me on account of those works in which
you have so frequently btheld the Father act-
ing with me, and which indeed afford so ob-
vious an argument of it, that one might
imagine the sight of a few of them might con-
vince one that was before a stranger to me.
12 And yet verily, verily, I say unto you. That jg Verily, verily,
you shall have, if possible, a yet stronger I say unto you. He
evidence than what you have already received ; ^l^^^ beheveth on
for he that believes in me,^ that is, many of
my disciples in these early ages, and each of
you in particular, shall receive such an abun-
dant communication of the Spirit, that the
»" I am in the Father t and the Father is in of the Godhead bodily. See Dr. Scott''s
me.] It is remarkable that Philo, speaking Christian Life, Vol. III. p. 559, note 2.
of the Logos, has this expression, that he
is 'wxlp®' OIK®' £v u, S'lxilailAh the Father's " Re that believes in we.] It is most
house in which he dxvells ; which is nearly evident, in fact, that though this promise
parallel to what the apostle says of Christ, be expressed in such indefinite language.
Col. ii. 9, that in him dwells all the fullness it must be limited as in the paraphrase.
Whatever they ask in his name Christ will do it. ^'f
me, the works that miraculous xvorks which I perform^ he shall per* sect.
I do, shall he doy^^^ ^i^q , y^^^ works in some respect greater clxxia.
to'^rh Than^TesI f^an these shall he perform ; becmi.^e I go to my — '
shall he do ; because /'flMfr, who has thought fit to reserve the ^.^, ^g
l£^ unto my Father, most amazing gifts of the Spirit to honour my
return into glory ; in consequence of which you
shall be enabled to speak with all foreign
tongues, to give the Spirit by the imposition of
your hands, and to propagate the gospel with
such amazing success, as to make more con-
verts in one day than I have done in the whole
course of my ministry.
13 And whatsoev. ^^^' '^^ ^ ^^^^^d, you may depend upon it, 13
er ye shall ask in my that whatsoever you shall ask in my naine^ under
name, that will I do, the influence of that Spirit, and subservient to
brlorifiedln'the ^^^ SJ^^at end of your life and ministry ,° Iruill
Son. ^ * certainly do it^ that so the Father may still be
glorified in the Son ; who, when he is ascended
up to heaven, will from thence be able to hear
and answer prayer, and even in his most exalt-
ed state will continue to act with that faithful
regard to his Father's honour which he has
shewn in his humiliation on earth. And in 14
14 If ye shall ask this confidence I repeat it again, for the en-
any thing- in my couragement of your faith and hope, that I will
name, I will do it. ^^ ^^ affectionate and constant a Friend to you
in heaven as I have ever been upon earth ; and
if you shall ask any thing in my name, I will not
hil to do [itl.
IMPROVEMENT.
As we see in the beginning of this section that care of Christ Luke
over his servants which may engage us cheerfully to trust him for „^^"^.
providential supplies, when employed in his work, so we see in "^ *
the remainder of this, and in the following discourses, the most
aff'ectionate discoveries of the very heart of our blessed jRedee??ier,
overflowing in every sentence with the kindest concern, not only
for the safety but the comfort of his people. We see a lively
image of that tenderness with which he will another day wipe
away all tears from their eyes, (Rev. vii. 17.) Surely when he
uttered these words he was also solicitous that our hearts might
not be troubled ; and therefore has provided a noble cordial, the John
strength of which shall continue to the remotest ages, txtu faith xiv. 1
° Whatsoever ye shall ask in my namey conclusion of the verse plainly implies it ;
under the influence, ^c] As reason in for it was only by the grant of such peti-
general requires some such limitation as tions tliat the Father could beglorifedin the
is here given in the paraphrase, so the Son.
438 Refections 07i the benefits xue have by Christ,
SECT, tn his Father^ and in him. Oh may that blessed principle be
clxxiii. confirmed by what we have now been reading !
""■^ Let us observe with what a holy familiarity our Lord speaks of
the regions of glory ; not, as his servants do, like one dazzled
and overwhelmed with the brightness of the idea ; but as accus-
ver. 2 tomed and familiarized to it by his high birth.P In my Father'* s
house are many mansions ; (delightful and reviving thought !)
and many inhabitants in them, who we hope through grace will
be our companions there, and every one of them increase and
multiply the joy.
It was not for the apostles alone that Christ went to prepare a
place : he is entered into heaven as our Forerunner (Heb. vi. 20) j
and we, if we are believers indeed, may be said, by virtue of our
union with him, to sit together in heavenly places in him. (Eph,
John ii, 5,) Let us continually be tending thither, in more afFection-
2^^' ate desires, and more ardent pursuits. We know the zuay ; we
' hear the truth ; oh may we also feel the life ! By Christy as the
true and living way^ may we co?ne to the Father ; that we may
have eternal life^ in knowing him, the only true God^ and Jesus
9 Christ whom he has sent ! (John xvii. 3.) In Christ may we
see him., and have our eyes and our hearts open to those beams
of the Divine glory which are reflectedyri^m the face of his only
begotten Son^ who is full of grace and truth ! (John i. 14.) Has
he been thus discovered to us, as our Father^ and our God^ let it
8 sujice us. Let it diffuse a sacred and lasting pleasure over our
souls, though other desirable objects may be veiled or removed ;
and engage us to maintain a contmu^lfe Hows hip with the Father^
andxvith his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John i. 3.)
To this we are invited by every declaration of his readiness ta
15, 14 hear and answer oxxr prayers : and though those miraculous poxV'
ers of the Spirit 2iYt ceased, whereby the apostles were enabled to
equal, or even to exceed^ the works of theirMaster, yet as we have
12 so many important errands to the throne of grace^ in which the
glory oiP God and the salvation of our souls is concerned, let us
come with a holy boldness to it, in dependance on Jesus, that
great High Priest over the house of God, who is passed into the
P With what a holy familiarity our Lord (Compare Rom. viii. 18, 19 ; 1 Cor. ii. 9 ;
speaks of the regions of glory, l3'c.'] This xv. 50, i^ seq. 2 Cor. iv. 17, 18 ; v. 1—9 ;
is the remark of the pious archbishop of xii. 2—4 ; and 1 John iii. 2.) But Christ
Cambrajy in his incomparable Dialogues on speaks of it with a familiar ease and free-
Eloqiience (which may God put it into the dom ; just as ?i prince-, who had been edu-
hearts of our /?reac/iers often and attentive- cated in a splendid court, would speak
ly to read) ; and is much illustrated by with ease of many magnificent things, at
observing how the apostles, when describ- the sudden view of which a peasant would
ingthe heavenly state, employ the most be swallowed up in astonishment, and
pompous and energetic language, and would find himself greatly embarrassed
seem indeed to labour for words, and to be in an attempt to explain them to his equals
almost dazzled with the lustre and op- at home,
pressed with the weight of the subject.
Christ promises the Spirit' as a Comforter* 439
heavens^ and amidst all the grandeur of that exalted state regards sect.
his humble followers on earth, and ever appears under the char- clxxm.
acter of their Advocate and their Friend* "*~"
SECT. CLXXIV.
Christ proceeds in his discourse with his disciples^ recommending a
regard to his commandments as the best proof of their love to hwi^
promising his Spirit^ and declaring his readiness to meet his ap'
proaching sufferings, John XIV. 15, to the CJid.
John XIV. 15. JOHN XIV. 15.
TF ye love me, /^UR Lord went on with his discourse to sect.
Ikeep my com- V^his apostles on this solemn occasion, and ^^^^^\
men n. observing the lively flow of their affection to john
him in this tender conjuncture of circumstances, xiv. 15
he added. If you do indeed love me^ express that
love by a constant care to keep my command-^
ments ; for that will be a surer test, and more
acceptable expression of yourregard to me, than
all your trouble and concern at parting with me.
16 And I will pray A7id thus you may depend on the correspond- 16
the Father, and he g^t expressions of mv friendship to you :* and
er'cfmfoner^that particularly that / will ask the Father, and he
he may abide with Will give you another Comforter^ that he may
you for ever ; more than supply the want of my bodily pres-
ence, and abide zuith you^ not for a season only,
17 Even the Spirit as I have done, buty^r ever ; [Even] the bless- 17
of truth, whom the gj Spirit of truth and grace, rvhofJi the world
cdve, because ^It c«72«<3? possibly receive as a Comforter, because
seethhimnot,neith- it neither sees hi?n nor hiows him; being alto-
ei- knoweth him ; gether destitute of his sanctifying influences,
and refusing to admit his testimony to me : but
ye know him in some measure, even now, by his
3 Thus you may depend on the corves- this being" a consolatory discourse^ I chose
pondent expressions of my friendship to to use the former, as our translators have
you.] The connection may possibly inti- done. Toland says it is by no contempt-
mate that they might hope for an abun- ible criticism that the Mahometans (in-
dant degree of the Spirits communication, stead of isrApctKXiflov) read lunpiKKvloVi that
in proportion to the pre valency of their /o<De is, the illustrious, which answers to Ma-
to Christ. hommed in the Arabic language ; and
^ ITe will give you another CoTnforter.'] It so urge this us ^ prophecy oi' hiTn. fTol.
is well known that the word .zrAe^a.Khnl®' Nazaren. p. 13.) Yet he would prob-
may signify a comforter, an ad-cocate, or a ably have thouglit this criticistn very
tjionitor; and it is evident the blessed i'/r/rzf contemptible in any bat the enemies ef
S'ustained each of these characters : but Christianitj,
VOL. 2, 57
440 He that hath his commands^ and keeps them^
SECT, powerful operations in you, and by you ; for but ye know him, for
clxxiv. he already divells with you in part, and shall ^e ^w*?^^^*^ ^^^
-— ^ quickly be more abundantly in you, by a much ^^JJ; ^^ ^ I e m
ampler communication both of his gifts and
graces.
John Encourage yourselves therefore with the 18 1 will not leave
xiv. 18 pleasinjr expectation, and be assured that I will y^" comfortless ; I
^ 1 1 ^ J I'l r -1 fu 1 1 will come to you.
not leave you neglected, like a lamily or helpless
orphans^ who have no friend or guardian sur-
viving f but I will come to youhy my spiritual
presence, and visit you by the most valuable
19 tokens of my constant care. For it is but yet a 19 Yet a little
little zvhile, mdthe world seeth me no more^ as it while, and the world
has done for some time past, though it knows ^utVeTe^ me'^^^be-
ine not ; hut after I have done conversing with cause I live, ye shali
the world, I will appear again to you, and you live also.
shall see me in such a manner as to feel the
blessed effects of my distinguishing regard to
you ; for because I live^ you also shall live^ by
means of those divine influences you shall de-
rive from me, to cherish the workings of grace
in your hearts, and to train you up to a grow-
ing meetness for sharing with me in eternal life.
20 (Compare 2 Cor. iv. 10, 11.) And in that day, 20 At Uiat day ye
when I fulfil this promise to you, you shall ex- shall know that I am
perimentally knoxu, by the most evident and re- y" ^^^ ^^| ^^^ ^^^^
viving tokens, that /[am] indeed in my Father, you.
and that you also are in 7ne, and I in you, by a
21 most intimate and inseparable union. But this 21 He that hath
will only be the privilege of such as evidence my commandments,
their love to me by an obedience to my word ; ^^^.^^^X^, '^^^^
for he that has ?7iy coinmandments discovered to ^^ . and he that lov-
him, and diligently keeps them, he it is that lov- eth me, shall be lov-
eth me ; but none besides have any title to this fd«(,";y ^^^^^^» and
, . ^ ^u I will love him, and
character, whatever specious pretences they ^jjj manifest my-
may make to it : ajid he that thus shews that self tobim.
he loveth me, shall be loved by my Father, and I
-will also love him, and in a most condescending
and endearing manner will 7nanifest myself to
him,
22 Judas was very much surprised at this ; not 22 Judas saith un-
Judas Iscariot; for he, as it was said before, was
gone out before our Lord began this discourse ;
(chap. xiii. ai, sect, clxxi.) and had he
« I 'Will not leave you orphans.'] Eisner priety a father, is elegantly and tenderly
justly observes that the case of those who expressed by this word cg<j)atv«?. (Com-
have lost the presence and patronage of pare 1 Thess. ii. 17, Gr.J See £lsne^,
sDmc dear friend, tliough not in strict pro- Ol/serv, Vol. I. p. 341.
the Father and Christ will love him, and come to hm» 441
td him, (not Isca- been there, he was always too much on his sbct.
riot,) Lord, how is guard to have dropped any hint of his view to c^xxiv.
Lnlff.f Hw^'tifT.n^ Christ's temporal kingdom j^ but another apos- 77-
manitest thyselt un- i o ' n 1 ti i Jol"^
to us, and not unto tie of that name, who was also called 1 had- ^^^ ^2
the world? deus and Lebheus, the son of Alpheus, and
the brother of James (see 7iote ^ on Mark iii.
18, Vol. I. p. 295), a near relation to our Lord
himself:^ this Judas, upon hearing Christ ex-
press himself in such a way, sai/,s to hhn. Lord,
hoxv is it that thou xvilt manifest thyself to us,
and not to the world f Dost thou not then in-
tend to make a public appearance, which will
be obvious to the eyes of all ?
23 Jesus answered Jesus ansxvered and said to htm. As to that, 2^
and said unto him, j^ ^^ sufficient to tell you, that, as I said
If a man love me, he - r ^ /■ ^.\ rr • It
will keep my words: betore (ver. 21), If any man smcerely love me,
and my Father will he xuill in an humble and obedient manner keep
love him, and we ^^d observe my word; and if he shall be found
will come unto him, ^j i<, ^, •, ^ ^^ ^' u„„*„
and make our abode ^o do SO, my Father, who at all times has a ten-
vtiWi him. der regard to my honour and interest, xvill un-
doubtedly love hi?n ; and we zvill both of us
C07ne to him, by the favourable tokens of our
presence, and will 7nake [ourl constant abode
with him : you are therefore to understand
■what I said of manifesting myself to him that
loves me, not of any corporeal and sensible
appearance, but of such a spiritual and intimate
correspondence as the invisible Father of glory
and grace maintains with his people through
24 Hethatloveth me. But, on the contrary, he that does not 24i
me not, keepeth not really love me, does not observe and keep my
^ Was always too much on his guard, of the author seemed to be transformed.
life.'] It is observable, that Judas Iscariot « A near relation to our Lord himself.]
was so finished a hypocrite, that we never His father Alpheus seems to have been
find him saying one word of Christ^s tern- the same with Cleopas ; for as Judas and
poral kingdom, though probably the hope James were the sons of Alpheus (Luke
of preferment and gain in it was the chief vi. 15, 16), so James is elsewhere said to
consideration which engaged him to fol- be the son of Mary (Mat. xxvii. 56 ; and
low our Lord. Let the reader indulge me Mark xv. 40), who was the ivife ofCleopast
while I tell him, that he owes this remark and sister to the mother of our Lord (John
to that incomparable person, the late rev- xix. 25); Judas is therefore numbered
erend Mr. David Some, of Harborough ; with James, atid Joses, and Simony among
and let him join with me in lamenting the the brethren or near kinsmen of our Lord
fatal modesty which engaged him with (Mat. xiii. 35, and Mark vi. 3) ; and, being
his dying breath to consign to the flames so nearly related to Jesusy he might think
those writings which (unfinished as some himself peculiarly concerned to inquire
of them might have appeared) would into the meaning of an assertion which
probably have been the means of spread- seemed inconsistent with the prospect of
ing among thousands that spirit of wisdom, a temporal kingdom, in which, perhaps^ he
piety, and love, into which the whole soul expected some eminent office.
442 The Comforter would come and teach them all thmgs,
SECT, words with any constancy and resolution ; and my sayings : andthe
clxxiv. therefore must expect no such spiritual and >vo^d ^In^^l^ ye hcRr,,
____ ^ 1 \ r 1 . J • -1 IS not mine, but ine
John ^^^^"^^ benefits, whatever outward privileges Father's wliich scot
xiv. 24 ^^ ^^y ^".i°y • s^^ ^^ ^^ therefore, that you me.
diligently hearken an^ attend to what I say;
for the word which you hear me speak is not
originally or merely m'lne^ hut it is \the rvord^
of the Father that sent ?ne^ who has particularly
given it in charge to me, that I should thus in-
sist upon practical and universal holiness, as
one great end of my appearance.
25 And accordingly you know, that I have 25 These things
strongly insisted upon it as such ; and these ^^^^'^ ^ spoken unio
things I have spoken to you again and again, ent\viuA?ouf ^^
"Ufhile I continued personally present with you :
26 But when the Comforter^ that I have promised 26 But the Com-
you, is come; \even'\ the Holit Spirit, xvhom^'^^'^^'^y '^'^'"'^ '\^^^
ii. T? *u f/ J . •// J ■ Holy Ghost, whom
the Father after my departure will send in my ^^^ \^^^^^^ ^^^u .^^^
name^ to act as the great Agent in my cause, in my name, he shall
and to negotiate the affairs of my kingdom ; teach you all things,
he shall teach you all things which' it is neces- f'^ ^^'^"^ ^^i '^' Y
r ^ . ^ J . J /» IT t*^ your remem-
sary lor you to know, and remind you of a//brance, whatsoever
things which I have said to you, that you may I have said unto you;
not only recollect them in the fullest manner
for your own instruction, but be able to record
them for the edification of my church in suc-
2/ ceeding ages. In the mean time, as I am 27 Peace I leave
now departincr from you, peace Heave with you ^^^^ ^'°" ' "^^ P^^^*
1 " J Li • r 1 '^ 1 srive unto you . no
as my legacy ; and, as a blessing of the great- ^s the world giveth,
est moment and importance to you, my peace /give I unto you. Let
vrive unto you ; such a peace as none but I can "^t your heart be
impart, a peace with God and yourselves, as [[^tLfraid.'''^"'^"^
well as with your fellowcreatures, which will
be the spring of solid and lasting happiness :
and it is not as the world often gives and wish-
es peace, in an empty form of ineffectual, and
often, perhaps, unmeaning compliment, that /
give it unto you ; but, as I most sincerely wish
it, I will most certainly secure it to you. Let
not your heart therefore he trouhled at the
thoughts of my departure, neither let it he
afraid of what may befall you when I am gone ;
lor 1 will help you to possess your souls in
quietness and peace, and will establish it upon
the firmest basis.
2.8 You need not then to be discouraged at the sep- 28 Ye have heard
aration that will now be made between us ; for how I said unto you,
as you have heard how /have said to you, that
J go away J so also you have been informed of
ace
not
They should rejoice that he was goi7ig to the Father. 44-5
I go away, and come my intention in it, and'kno'w that I have added, sect.
again unto you. If \ y^^\\\ come [again] to you : and surely if you ^^^^^"^^
wouirrtjoi^e; be' ^^^^^ '"^ ^^^^^ ^ ^^^^^ ^"^ ^^^'^^"^1 affection, it —
cause I said I go would allay your sorrows in the mean time, ^iv.
unto the Father : and, howsoever you might have a mournful 28
^'/^ t"^^th^^^I^^ ^^ sense of your own loss, you xvould rejoice on
my account, because J said ^ I go to the Father ;
for my Father^ whose servant I am as Media-
tor, is in this respect o-rt-a^^r than me^ and con-
sequently it must be my honour and happiness
to be in a state of greater nearness to him than
29 And now I the present world will admit. And noru I have 29
have told you before told you this, that I have been discoursing to
it come to pass, that yQ^ (>Qj^(>gj.j^jj^g j^^y ^^^^ removal, my return
pass, ye might be- ^^ ^^^ Father, and the descent of the Spirit
lieve. upon you, before it C07nes to pass ; that zvhen it
does come to pass ^ you may more firmly believe^
not only on account of the extraordinary nature
of the events themselves, but also on account
of their exact and evident correspondence with
these predictions of mine/
30 Hereafter I It will be your wisdom the rather to observe 30
will not talk mucli and review these things, as I ahall not hereafter
with you : for the \^^yr^ xivciQ to discourse much more with you
prmce of this world- , , /• o , . r 1 - ^
Cometh, and hath about them ; jor batan, the prince oj this apos-
nothing in me. tate worlds is coming to encounter me, and is
raising a storm against me which will quickly
separate us : nevertheless^ I have this comfort,
that he has nothing in me^ no guilt of mine to
give him power over me, nor any inward cor-
ol But that the ruption to take part with his temptation. But 31
world may know he is permitted thus to attack me, and I con^
that I love the Fa- tentedly submit to my approaching sufferings.
Father gave me ^^^^ ^^^ world may see and knoxv^ on the most
commandment, even substantial evidence, that I love the Father so
sol do. Arise, let vvell, as to refuse nothing whereby his glory
us go ence, ^^^^ ^^ advanced ; and even as the Father has
commanded me ^ so I do^ how painful or expen-
sive soever that obedience may be. And
therefore, that we may be prepared for this
hour of temptation that is coming upon us,
arise^ let us go from hence^ and retire to a place
* Ton may more firmly believe, not only ing from them is the greatest that cau
on account, ^c.] It is very judiciously possibly be conceived,
observed by Dr. Jenkin (in his excellent g Arise, let us go hence.'] See note '■, in
Defence of Christianity), that when mirac- the next section. That km sometimes sig-
idous events are also the accomplishment nifies though, or nevertheless, as I have ren-
o^ prophecies f the degree of evidence aris- dered it ver. 30, see note ' on John xvii. 25,
sect, clxxx.
444 Refections on the regard of Christ to such as love htmr
SECT, where we may more conveniently attend our
c XXIV. (jevotions ; and where I may be ready, when
Tohn ^y c^^^l enemies shall come to apprehend me,
xiv.31 to yield myself into their hands, and to submit
to what my Father has appointed for me.
IMPROVEMENT.
John Surely, if we are not entirely strangers to the Divine life,
15^ 21 ^^ cannot read such discourses as these without feeling some
' warm emotions of love to Christ: and if indeed we feel them,
let us consider how they are to be expressed. Our Lord directs
us to do it in the most solid and the most acceptable manner,
by a constant care to keep his commandments ; and sure such com"
mandments as his cannot be grievous to a soul that truly loves
him. (1 John v. 3.) The more we live in the practice of them,
16, 17 the more cheerfully may we expect the abundant communica-
tions of his Spirit to animate and strengthen us.
18 If we are Christians indeed, let us not, in any circumstance of
life, look on ourselves as helpless and abandoned orphans. Hu-
man friends may forsake us ; but Christ will come to us : he will
2l> 23 manifest himself to the eye of faith, though to the eye of sense
he is invisible ; and his heavenly Father rvill love us^ and watch
over us for good : yea, he will come and dwell in the obedient
soul by the gracious tokens of his intimate and inseparable
presence. And do we any of us experience this ? We have
surely reason to say that by way of admiration which the apostle
22 said by way of inquiry, Lord^ how and whence is it that thou
wilt manifest thyself to us, and not to the world / What have we
done to deserve these gracious and distinguishing manifesta-
tions ! Nay, how much have we done to forfeit them ! even
more than many, from whom they are withheld !
27 With unutterable joy let us review this rich legacy of our
dying Lord : peace I leave with you ; my peace I give unto you.
Lord, evermore give us this peace with God, and with our own
consciences ! for if thou wilt give quietness^ who can make trouble f
(Job xxxiv. 29.) How serenely may we then pass through the
most turbulent scenes of life, when all is quiet and harmonious
v/ithin ! Thou hast made peace through the blood of thy cross (Col.
i. 20) ; may we preserve the precious purchase and inestimable
gift inviolate,till it issue in everlasting peace ! In this let our hearts
be encouraged ; in this let them rejoice ; and not in our own hap-
piness alone, but also in that of our now glorified and exalted
28 Redeemer. As the members of his body, we ought certainly to
maintain a pleasing sympathy with our Head, and to triumph in
his honour and felicity as our own. If we love Christy we should
Christ represents himself as the true Vine- 445
rejoice^ because he is g-one to the Father. And the same con- sect.
sideration may in its degree comfort us when our pious friends cl^xiv.
are removed : if we love them with a rational and generous ■
friendship, and are not too much influenced by selfish affections
under that specious name, our joy for their exaltation will greatly
temper the sorrozu which our loss must give us.
Our Lord uttered these words in the near views of a grievous
assault from the prince of this world, who is the prince of dark- ver.30
ness ; but there was no corruption in him to take part with the
enemy. Too much, alas, does he find in us to abet his temp-
tations : let us earnestly pray that the grace of Christ may be
suficientfor us ; and that as his love to the Father engaged him
to go through this painful conflict with the tempter, his love to us 31
may make us partakers of his victory. In his name let us set up
our banners i and the powers of hell shall flee before us.
SECT. CLXXV.
Christ represents himself under the emblem of a vine, and exhorts
his disciples to faith and persevering obedience. John XV.
1—11.
SECT.
clxxv.
John XV. 1. JOHN XV. 1.
I A M the true OOME accident occasioning a little delay be-
vine, and my O fQj-g ^.j^gy ^gf^ ^j^g guest chamber, in which
they had eaten the passover, our Lord im- ,^^
proved the precious moments in addressing his ^v. 1,
disciples to the following purpose : * lam, said
he, the true and most excellent vine^ by its
* Some accident occasioning a little de- might leave room for tliis ; for any one
lay, ^c] This may be gathered from the who will make the trial will find that these
conclusion of the foregoing cAa/?fer, where three chapters may be deliberately read
our Lord had said, Arise^ let us go hence : over in a quarter of an hour, and there-
for it seems very unreasonable to imagine fore might be spoken in that small inter-
that our Lord would address so important val of time.
a discourse as this to eleven persons, as ^ The true and most excellent vine.} So
they were walking, especially in the streets the true light (John i. 9), and the true bread
of Jerusalem, at this public time ; much (chap. vi. 32), evidently signifies. (See
less would he pour out so solemn a prayer Baphel. Annot. ex Xeu. p. 141.) His hav-
as that in chap. xvii. in such a circum- ing lately drank with his disciples of the
stance ; yet John xviii. 1 (sect, clxxxi.) fruit of the vine, and having afterwards de-
strongly implies that all that follows be- clared that he would drink no more of it tilt
tween this and that happened before he he drank it nevj in the kingdom of God (M^vk.
•went forth from Jerusalem. I conclude, xiv. 25, page 430), might possibly occasion
therefore, that all this passed before they Christ's alluding to it. (See Grotius, i*
quitted the house where the passover was locj Or perhaps they might now be
eaten, though they probably rose from the standing near a window, or in some court
table as soon as those words. Arise, let us by the side of the house, where the sight
go hence, were spoken. A short delay of a vine might suggest this bQauUtal
446 M biranch can hear fruit but by abiding in hinu
SKCT. union with whom my church is nourished ; an^/Father is the hus*
clxxv. yny Father is the husbandman, who has planted landman.
' this vine, and by whom it is cultivated, that it
^yJ^J may produce delightful clusters for his service.
' 2 And every branch that is in me by an external 2 Every branch in
profession, T^/zkA yet is found to be a barren J^J^-JJ^^^^J'^^^^^^^^^
branch, and bears no fruit, he taketh quite away ; way : and every
that is, he cuts it off in his righteous judgment, branch that beareth
and entirely separates it from me : but every ^^^^^* Jj^ Sm ^^brinff
[^branchl zvhich brings forth fruit, he purgeth, fo^th more fruit,
that is, he prunes and dresses it, and, on the
whole, exercises such wise and kind discipline
towards it(though that discipline may sometimes
seem severe), as may best answer the great end
of its production, that it may bring forth yet
more fruit, than which there can be nothing
more desirable.*^
3 And thus it is with you ; for wory the traitor 3 Now ye aM
is gone out I may affirm, without the exception clean, through the
that I made before, (compare John xiii. 10, 11, ^^^n unto /ovl!"'
sect, clxxi.) that you are all thus purged, in
such a manner as to be clean, by means of the
•word ivhich I have spoken to you, whose sancti-
fying influence has operated on your hearts.
4 Continue therefore in me, by the renewed exer- 4 Abide in me,
cise of humble faith and love ; and I will be in and I in you. As the
you, to nourish and supply you, as from a liv- ^/^rontsXxc:;'
mg root, with every necessary grace : tor as, it abide in the vine j
in the natural world, the branch cannot bear no more can ye, ex-
fruit of itself, but must presently wither, unless ^ept ye abide in me.
it continue in a state of union with the vine, and
be nourished by sap from thence ; so neither
can you be able to produce the fruits of genuine
and acceptable obedience, unless you continue
in me, and have the life of grace maintained
within you by a vital union with me.
5 I repeat it again, as a matter of the utmost 5 1 am the vine,
moment, That lam the vine, and ye [are] the Y^ are the branches.
branches, in the sense I have already explained.
cjmile. (Compare Psal. cxxviii. 3.) That important thought, viz- that one of the no-
circumstance was, no doubt, common in blest rewards God can bestow on former
Judea, which abounded with the finest acts of obedience, is to make the soul yet
grapes. See Gen. xUx. 11, 12 ; Numb, more holy, and fit for farther and more
xiii. 23 ; and Deut. viii. 8. eminent service, though it should be by
"= That it may bring forth more frttit.'] such painful afflictions as resemble the
This strongly suggests a very sublime and pruning of a vine.
The fruitless branch shall be burned in the f re, 447
He that abldeth in Ife therefore that abides in me by such an inti- sect.
the' same\rin'^e^I "^^^^ ^"^ ^^^^^ union, and in whom also /abide clxxv.
fonh muchfruitffor ^V the operations of my Holy Spirit in him, he,
without me ye can and he only, briyigeth forth much fruit, to the ^^^\
do nothinij. honour of his profession, and the comfort of his
own soul : but the glory of it is still to be re-
ferred to me ; for separate from me you can do
nothing, though you stand in the foremost rank
of my followers, and have already made some
6 If a man abide considerable attainments. And if any one that 6
not in me, he is cast calls himself my disciple does not maintain such
lorth as a branch, i^ •' ^vV^i i -j^ ,.,
and is withered ; ^ regard to me, as that he may be said to abide
and men gather in me,^ he is rejected and cast out with disdain
them, and cast Me7/i and abhorrence, o* o fruitless branch lopped off
they Ire burned.^"'^ ^^°^ ^^^ ^^"^' ^^^^y consequence is presently
zvithered ; and as [men'] gather up such dry
sticks, and throw them into the fire, and there
they are burnt, as a worthless kind of wood fit
for nothing but fuel (see Ezek. xv. 2 — 4), so
in like manner such will be the end of those un-
happy creatures ; they shall be gathered as fit
fuel for Divine wrath, and their external rela-
tion to me will not preserve them from ever-
lasting burnings.
7 If ye abide in But as for you, my faithful servants, I assure 7
me, and my words a- you, for your encourae:ement, that, if you sttd-
bide m you, ye shall i ? l-j- j ^ i ^u *! •
ask what ye will *^stly abide in me, and take care that m conse-
and it shall be done quence of it my words abide in you, so that you
unto you. maintain a suitable regard to all my instruc-
tions, promises, and commands, this blessed
union will entitle you to such signal degrees of
the Divine favour, that you shall ask in prayer
whatsoever ye will, and, if it be upon the whole
subservient to your own happiness, and to the
8 Herein is my public good, it shall be done for you* And let 8
Father glorified.that \^ therefore be your care to make the suitable
}e earmuci tm , j-g^-m-pg of gratitude and obedience ; {or in this
is my Father most eminently glorified, thatyou^
my apostles, bring forth much fruit, by exerting
yourselves to the utmost for the propagation of
my gospel in the world, and endeavouring to
enforce your instructions by the holiness of
your lives : and in this likewise you shall ap-
* If any one does not abide in we.] It (ver. 2) so plainly signifies ma^ivg an ex-
is strange that any should think this text ternal profession of C/imtianitjf, wUetber
a conclusive argument against the doc- vain or sincere,
trine of perseverance ,- when to be in Christ
VOL. 2. 58
4^8 Reflections vn abiding' in Christ the true Vine,
SECT, pear to all to be my true disciples^ and to act so shall ye be my
clxxv. worthy of your character and relation to me. disciples.
jqJ^^ And it is surely with the highest reason I 9 As the Father
XV. 9 would enc:aG:e vou to make this your aim ; be- J?^^*^ ^ov^^ me, so
^,^ -nTj , J r 1 r 1 ^^^'6 I loved you :
cause as the rather has loved me^ so nave ialso continue ye in my
loved you^ with the most constant and invaria- love.
ble affection : conti?iue therefore i?i my love^ and
always be solicitous so to behave, as may, on
your part, maintain the friendship inviolate.
10 And if you diligently and constantly keep my lo If ye keep my
commandments^ then you will assuredly continue commandments, ye
in my love ; even as I have always kept my f '^^^^ ^^^^^ '" ""^
„ , "^ , - - •' . ^. .V love ; even as I have
Jtatlier s commandments^ and so continue in his kept my Father's
love ; for this is the most solid evidence of it, commandments, and
which I give to my Father, and require from ^^^^^ ^" ^^^ ^°^^'
you.
1 1 These things I have spoken to you,not to grieve 11 These things
you by any intimation that I suspect the sincer- l^^ve I spoken unto
ity of your regards to me ; but that you may LTght remain i'/ou^;
be so tortihed and animated against the temp- and that your joy
tations of life, that my joy and complacency in might be full.
you., as my faithful friends, might still continue;
and [that] your joy in me 7nay be maintained in
Its full height, and may greatly increase ; as it
certainly will, in proportion to the advancement
of your resolution and zeal in my service.
IMPHOVEMENT.
ver. 1 How desirable it is that we may learn from this discourse to
regard Christ., at all times, as the spiritual Head^ from whom
life and vigour are to be derived to all his people ! Let us by the
exercise of an unfeigned faith abide in him as the true Vine ; as
4) 5 being always sensible that without him we can do nothing ; and
that, if we are in him only by an external profession, we are not
6 only in danger of being cut off^ and taken away., but shall in the
2 end he cast into the fire. May we rather be purged and pruned,
though it should be with the most painful dispensations of Provi-
8 dence ; if by this means our fruitfulness may be promoted to the
glory of God and to the benefit of the world ! May his word ope-
3 rate daily upon us, to cleanse us from remaining pollutions ! and
if we thus desire to be clea?i, let us take heed to our way, accord^
ing to the tenor of that zvord, (Psal. cxix. 9.)
7 We see our encouragement to pray ; let us take it from Christy
and not be dismayed, nor yield to unbelieving suspicions. As
9 the Fathe?' has loved Christ, so does he also love his people. Let
us preserve and cultivate this sacred friendship ; and, whatever
Christ again commands his disciples to love one another, 449
it ntay cost u&^et us endeavour to continue his love^ and to sect.
avoid whatever would forfeit it ; making it above all things our ^ixxv.
care to keep his commandments. Christ always observing those \ "^
of his heavenly Father^ cannot but always and invariably con- ^ ' '
tinue the object of his love and delight : may our conduct be such 1 1
as that he may see reason to rejoice in ns ; and then xve shall
also have the surest foundation for a sublime and solid jo?/.
SECT. CLXXVI.
Christ renexvshis exhortation to mutual love ^ and declares the Jeius
inexcusable in their unbelief, John XV. 12, to the end.
John XV. 12. JOHN XV. 12.
THIS is m> com- /^UR Lord, in order to impress the princi- sect.
mandment, that \J pks of mutual friendship and benevolence clxxvi.
Zt^t^^:2 -the minds of his disciples in the mostpow- —
ertul manner, recommended it to them at large ^v. 12
on this tender occasion, and proceeded in his
discourse to the following purpose : This is in
a peculiar manner 77iy commandmeiit to you,
which, by all the obligations you are under to
me, I charge and conjure you to observe, That
ye all do most cordially and constantly love one
another ; even^ if it be possible, with as great
an ardour as that with which I have loved you ;
so as to be ready to sacrifice your lives for each
other, as I expose and resign mine for you.
(Compare John xiii. 34; and 1 John iii. 16.)
13 Greater love And surely I can give no more solid and im- 13
liath no man than poj-t^nt evidence of my affection to you ; for no
this, that a man lay ^ , • r i • i i •
down his life for his ^'^^'i '^^^ ^ver manitested, or can mdeed im-
friends. agme, greater and more disinterested love than
thisy that a man should be willing not only on
some sudden alarm to hazard, but on the cool-
est deliberation to submit to lay down his life
yor the preservation and happiness oi his friends.
14 Ye are my Now as I am about to give you this grand 14
friends, if ye do demonstration of my love, so 1 assure you, that
whatsoever I com- , , ,/ i , i ■ %
mandyou. you are^ and shall be acknowledged as my
friends^ and shall certainly share in the bless-
ings of my death and life, if you practically
acknowledge my authority, and are so influ-
enced by my love as to do xuhatsoever I com-
15 Henceforth I mandyou. I do not any longer call you servants, 15
call you not ser- thoucrh I have sometimes used the phrase, and
rants; for the ser- r i u -^ • • *
lormerly have seen it necessary m some points
450 He did not deal with them as servdnts^ but as friends,
SECT, to treat you with reserve ; for the servant is vant knoweth not
clxxvi. t It i tQ ti^ secrets of his master, and know^ what his lord doth :
-— 1 • 1 1 , , • ; J j\t a / X T out I have called
eth not particularly what hts lord aotri .-^ but 1 yo^ fnends ; for all
XV 15 ^^'^^ ^o^ ^^y i" words called you my friends^ things that I have
(Luke xii. 4," sect, cxi.) but on the whole have j^f^'^'^g''^^^^ ^^^^^'^
treated you as such ; for all things that I have yj^ioyov!^ ^ ^^^^
heard^ and received in charge /row my Father^
J have, so far as was convenient, declared to
you ^ in the most condescending and endearing
manner, as you very well know.
16 Remember that you have not first chose?! yne^ 16 Ye have not
but I by my sovereign and effectual grace have chosen roe, but I
chosen you to the honourable office of my apos- '-- ^^^^^ ^2]
ties and ambassadors ; a;?^/?^?;^ appointed and that ye should go
ordained you, that you should go and publish and bring forth fruit,
what vou have heard from me to all the world, ^^^ /^"' >'^.^^ ^'}^'\
. . ■' ^• r ^ ^ • i i should remain : that
ana be so qualified and assisted, that you may ^vhatsoever ye s]\all
bear abundant yVz/z? in the most distant coun- ask of the Father in
tries, andlthat"] the blessed effect of z/owr fruit ""^ ^^"^^' ^^ ^^^
£flVC it, VOU
should continue even to the remotest genera- °
tions :<^ yea, I have also raised you to such a
happy circumstance, and made you so emi-
nently the favourites of heaven, that, as I late-
ly told you (ver. 7), xvhatever you shall ask the
Father in my name, he may perform it for you ;
and you may certainly depend upon it he will
give it you.
15^ But then again I would remind you, that 17 These things
if you would continue thus the objects of these ^ command you, that
his gracious regards, you must carefully prac- >^ ^""''^ ""^^ *''^^^^'''
tise your duty to each otlier as well as to him ;
for these things I command you, that ye love one
* I do not any longer call you servants ; for and signify that he had done it so far as
the servant hio^eth not, &c.] Mr. LocJ^e (in tiias convenient.
his Reasonableness of Christianity, fp. 105) ' That you should go and bear fruity &c.]
refers this to the caution with which our This was a security to them that they
Lord had spoken of his being the Messiah ; should be preserved fi-om immediate dan-
some instances of which have been already gers, and that their life should be guarded
pointed out. See note ' on John iv. 26, by Providence till some considerable ser-
Vol. I. page 173. vices had been accomplished by their
^All thi?igs that I have heard from my Path- means. When our Lord adds, that your fruit
er I have declared to you.'] Our Lord had, no shoidd continue, he may allude to the custom
doubt, the fullest view of the scheme of of keeping rich and generous au/«ej a great
redemption undertaken by him ; but the many years, so that in some cases (which
apostles 7iot being yet able to bear ma)iy things, was especially applicable to the sweet
(compare chap. xvi. 12, sect, clxxvii.) eastern voinesj they might prove a cordial
especially relating to the calling of the Gen- to those who were unborn when the grapes
tiles, and the abolition of the Mosaic lavi, he were produced. In this view there is a
wisely deferred the discovery of them : beautiful propriety in the representation,
(go that these words must be taken with which I hope will be particularly felt
the limitation mentioned in the paraphrase^ when these reviving chapters are read.
The rvorld rvould hate them^ as it hated him, 451
another ; and this you should the rather do, as sect.
vou will be the mark of common hatred and clxxvu
18 If the world 'persecution. Yet if you find the -world hate ""^
hate you, ye know ^^^ injure xiou^ you have no reason to be of- jTy \^
to \ tL'?jw.^" funded or surprised at this ; for you know, that
mild and benevolent as my conduct has al\va\ s
been, yet it has hated me your Chief and Lord,<*
before It discharged its venom and malignity on
19 If ye w&re of you. Indeed if you were like the rest of the 19
the world, the world ^^;q;./^^ and vour doctrines and practice were
would love his own :f^^^^^^^ ^^ -^^ customs and maxims, the
but because ye are , c \c u
not of the world, but world IS SO generally under tne power ot selhsh
I have chosen you prejudices, that it undoubtedly would love its
out of the world, ' ^^^ misrht expect much better treat-
therefore the world ' < ,o, ^,.. ^ ,
hateth you. mentfrom it :^ but becauseims is not your char-
acter, and you are not thus of the world, but I
have chosen you out of the world, not only to
separate from, but to oppose its vices and enor-
mities, and even to be leaders in that holy and
necessary opposition, it is no wonder that upoJi
this account the world hateth you, though the
cause in which you are engaged be indeed so
honourable, and your lives so useful and
beneficent.
20 Remember the Remember, and recollect upon this occasion, 20
word that I said unto the word which I spake to yoit some time ago
not' JeaterthaThis ^^^^^' ^' ^"^ ' ^"^ ^^^^ ^'^* "^^^^ ^^^ ^^'^^^^ ^
lord^^lf ^they^have have but lately repeated (John xiii. 16), The
persecutedme, they servant is not greater than his lord, nor the mes-
senger greater than him that sent him : 7ythere-
fore they have persecuted me, and Providence
d It has hated vie your Chief .'] The words sition ; and that the passages in scripture
in the original, (iy-i ^§a^:v v^m fxitxiTi^Kiv J relating to persecution are not so peculiar
wliich we render, It hated me before it hat- to \.\\e. first ages, or to Christians living in
ed you, may (as Dr. Lardner well observes) idolatrous countries, as some have supposed,
be more I'iterally rendered. It hated me Would to God, the malignity to be found
your Chief: which makes the expression in some of us against our brethren, did not
more lively and exactly parallel to Mat. x. too plainly illustrate this remark ! Men
24, 25, sect. Ixxv. (See Lard. Credib. part will probably experience the truth of it,
i. Vol. II. p. 693.) Thus m <nrg£o7©' «/x< in proportion to the degeneracy of those
s>-5t) (1 Tim. i. 15) is well translated, of around them, and to the vigor and reso-
ii'/iow lam chief lution with which they bear their testimo-
ny against prevailing errors and vices. Yet
« If you ivere of the ivorld, the loorld would it is certain, that the imprudence and big-
love its oww.] This seems to me a strong otry of some ver)' good men has sometimes
intimation, that even in nations which pro- made matters worse than they would
fess Christianity, if trhe religion fall, as it otherwise have been, and perhaps has irri-
very possibly may, to a very low ebb, they tated the vices of their enemies, so as in
that exert themselves remarkably for the part to have been accessary to their o\vn
revival of it, must, on the very principle damage, and the much greater mischief
here laid down, expect hatred and oppo- of those that have injured them.
452 The yews were inexcusable in their hatred of hinu
SECT, has permitted them to do it, you may reason- will also persecute
clxxvi. bly conclude they xvHl also persecute you, and y«^; if ^^fV ^jve
^ . , ^ 1 • •-- 1 u kept my saying, they
cannot justly complam it you have your share ^jJi ^^%^ ^^^% ^^g^.
XV.20 of sufferings ; and if you have seen that they
have generally kept my sayings, I will give you
2t \e2ive to suppose they will also keep yours,^ But 21 But all these
when you see, as you very quickly will, not only things will they do
my doctrine rejected, but my person assaulted, "ameWke,beca,Se
abused, and murdered, it must be a sensible they know not him
warning to you to prepare for the like usage ; that sent me.
and all these things they will in fact do to you
for my name^s sake, because they do not know
him that sent me ; for their ignorance of that
God to whom they boast so near a relation
does indeed lie at the bottom of all their oppo-
22 sition to me. And a dreadful account they 22 If I had not
will have to give for it ; for if I had not coine come, and spoken
and spoken thus plainly to them, they would com- not^had^Tn: butnow-
paratively have had no sin ;^ but now they have they have no cloak
no excuse or prettncc for their sin, but, being for their sin.
committed against so clear and strong a light,
it stands exposed in its most odious colours :
23 Yea, it appears rebellion against God, as well 23 He that hateth
as ingratitude to me ; for he that hateth and ^^^^^^^^^^^^ "^^ ^^^^'-
opposeth me^ hateth and opposeth my Father
also, whose confmission I bear ;^ and this is
what they have done, after all reasonable
methods have been taken for their conviction.
24 If I had wrought no miracle at all, nay, 24 If I had not
if J had not done amon^ them such extra- ^^neamongthem the
•^ ,. 7 '^F J' J works which none
ordmary works as no other man ever did, ^^j^^j, ^^^ j-j^ ^^^^
not even their prophets, or Moses himself,
^ If they ha'ce kept my say'mgs, &c.j lam \h& re.ason of things, that sin may be im-
surprised that such a multitude of learned puted to those who have no revelation, that
commentators, and among the rest Gataker it is most evident this is only a hebraism; as
and Knatchbull, should contend that th^e/v wlien, according to the pathetic manner
■Koyov should here be understood of observ- of speaking, especially in use among the
ing a person^s discourse with a malignant eastern nations, that is said to be nothing at
design to carp at it. (See Wolfius, in loc.J all which, viMien compared with something
TlatgJi'jM^e/v has indeed that sense, Mark iii. else, is inconsiderably small. See Psal.
2 ; Luke vi. 7 ; xiv. 1 ; xx. 20. But no xxxix. 5 ; Isa. xl. 17 ; 1 Cor. i. 28; iii. 7 ;
certain argument can be drawn from and compare John ix. 41.
hence, especially considering how con-
stantly the phrase before us is taken in a '^ Hateth m,y Father also.'} How much It
good sense, for an obedient regard, in this is to be wished that those who make light
very discourse, in which it often occurs, of Christ, while they pretend a great ven-
See John xiv. 15, 21, 23; xv. 10; xvii.6. eration for the Father, would seriously at-
g They nvoidd have had no sin."] It is so tend to this weighty admonition, lest haply
evident from the viord of God (see Rom. i. they be found even to fight against God !
20, 21 ; and ii. 12—15), as well as from (Acts v. 39.)
The Spirit,, when he comes, xvUl testify of him. 45,3
had not had sin: but theif had not had ^ny degree o( sin, comparable sect.
now they have botJi ^q that which they are now under : but now, ^xxvi.
seen,andhatethboth *u u ' \ j\ • • i -
me and my Father. ^^ they have rejected my superior miracles,
which they have seen with their own eyes, at ^r^, 24
the same time that they own the evidence of
those which Moses wrought, of which they
have heard only by distant report, they mani-
fest such an obstinate perverseness of temper,
that I may truly say, they ha'oe both seen, and
hated both me and my Father ; and God him-
self will justly resent and punish it, as an in-
25 But this Cometh dignity that shews their enmity to him. But 25
fo/>«r..,that the word [^^^^ ^V all permitted], that the word which is
might be fulfilled .^, . fl . , -" . , . , ,
that is written in ^^^tten in their law, or m their sacred volume,
their law, They ha- concerning David (Psal. xxxv. 19), might
ted me without a eminently be fulfilled in me, as many ancient
^^"^^' prophecies foretold that it should, " Surely
they have hated me without a causeJ''''^
26 But when the But when the Comforter is come, whom,, as I 26
whl^r j..':rd t°W you (chap xiv. 26), I-wilU^on\y send to
unto you from the youjrom the rather, [evenj the opint oj truth.
Father, even the Spi- zvho proceeds from the Father, and is to reside
nt of truth, which j^ j^y church, he shall bear a convincincr testis
proceedeth from the "^ ^ ^ • i- i. x- n
Father, he shall tes- ^^^V ^^ me, to Vindicate my character from all
tify of me. the infamy they are maliciously attempting to
27 And ye also throw upon it. And you also, weak as you 27
shall bear witness, ^ow appear, shall by his powerful assistance
because ye have , rr 7 j • • ^ a-
been with me from ^^^^ ^ courageous and convincing testimony to
the beginning'. me, because you have been with me from the be-
ginning of my ministry, and therefore are the
best qualified to give an account of my whole
conduct ; which the better it is known, the
more it will justify my cause, and expose the
wickedness of those that rise up against me.
IMPROVEMENT.
The Son of God condescends to speak under the character ver. 15
of a Friend ; and with what humble gratitude should we attend
' They have hated me vokhout a caxise.'\ less, that the enemies of the Messiah
It appears to me very evident that Psal. should hate hmi ivithout a cause was ex-
XXXV. cannot be, strictly speaking-, a pressly foretold (Isa. liii. 3 — 9; Dan. ix
prophecy concerning the Messiah, especially 26 ; and Zech. xii. 10) ; not to mention
from ver. 13, 14, which represent a per- the argument arising from comparing all
son incapable of helping others in their the places in which his innocence and holi-
sickness, otherwise than by fasting and ness are described, with those which refer
prayer ; whereas Christ (and, so far as we to his sufferings. So that I apprehend the
can find, he alone) had a power of%uorking turn given in the paraphrase sufficiently
miracles vihenever he pleased. Neverthe- justified.
454 Reflections on the toorWs hatred of Christy &c.
SECT, to his words ! He lays aside the majesty of a sovereign to as«
clxxvi. sume this more tender relation ; and surely our overflowing
^~~ hearts must inquire, blessed Jesus^ what shall we do to express
?er. 14 the friendship on our side ? Let us observe what he has here
declared, Te are my friends indeed, if ye do whatever I command
you. Lord, we will run the xvay of these thy commandments^
when on this noblest principle thou shah enlarge our hearts !
(Psal. cxix. 32.)
12,13 He has loved us with an unexampled affection, which has ap-
proved its^U stronger than death ; and, in return, he requires us
to love one another. How gracious a command I How merciful
to our fellowcreatures and to ourselves, who should infallibly
feel the benefit of the practice of it, both in the delight insepara-
ble from benevolent affections, and in the circulation of kind
and friendly offices, which, degenerate as human nature is, few
are so abandoned as not to endeavour to repay ! Who would
not imagine that the whole world should feel and obey the
18,25 charm ? And yet, instead of this, behold, they hate Christy and
his stYV2knlsforhis sake^ though without a cause, and against the
strongest engagements. Miserable creatures ! who by a neces-
23,24 sary consequence, whatever they may fondly imagine, hate the
Father also, and stand daily and hourly exposed to all the dread-
ful terrors of an almighty enem^^.
19,20 Let us not wonder if the world hate us; nor greatly regard if
it injure us. We are not of the world, nor is the servant greater
than his Lord : but surely the opposition which the gospel brings
along with it is nothing when compared with those blessings
which it entails on all who faithfully embrace it. Were the suf-
ferings and difficulties a thousand times greater than they are,
we ought to esteem the Pearl of price, the most happy purchase
at any rate ; and to be daily returning our most thankful ac-
knowledgments, that Christ sent forth his apostles^ qualified with
such a knowledge of himself, and assisted by such power from
26 his Spirit, appointing them to go and bring forth fruit, even fruit
which should remain to the remotest ages. Through his guar-
dian care it still remains in the world : Oh may it flourish more
abundantly among us ! and may its efllicacy on our hearts and
lives be more apparent ! And may Divine Grace convince those
who now reject and oppose it, that in the midst of such various
22 evidence of his having come and spoken to them, they have no
cloak for their sin ! but, with whatever fond excuses they may
amuse themselves and others, it will quickly appear, that the
bed is too short to stretch themselves on it, and the covering too
narrow to wrap themselves in. (Isat xxviii* 20.)
Christ warns his disciples to expect persecution* ^SS
SECT. CLXXVII.
Christ warns his disciples of the sufferings they must expect^ and
labours to reconcile them to the thoughts of his remove^ as what
would on the whole be advantageous to them^ as the occasion of
sending the Spirit^ which would be so great a support to them arid
their cause, John XVI. 1 — 15.
John XVI. 1. JOHN XVI. 1.
>-pHESE things /^ HRISTfartheradded in his discourse to sect.
ul^Tou/thS'^ve ^^is disciples, These things I have spoken to !!!-*
should not be offend- ?/^^' concerning the opposition which you are to John
ed. expect from the world, and the proportionable xvi. 1
supports you will receive from the Spirit, that
when the storm arises, you may not be offended
and discouraged, and much less be drawn to
renounce your profession, in order to avoid the
you out if the syna' '^^'"g^'-- ''^'"'V '''''" mdeed.excommunicate, or 2
gogues : yea, the c«5^ you vut of the synagogues ; yea^ that is not
time Cometh, that all, for the hour is shortly comings that whoso-
7o^u? win 'think^hl^t "''"'* ^'^^'^^ ^^"'' *^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^' 'f''' ^"""^
he doth God service. cLCceptablel service to God :^ to so mad a rage
* Whosoever killeth you."] As the lovser which their power, infringed as it was,
kinds of exco7mnunicatio7i among the ]ews could not give: in reference to which
were attended only with separation f ton this highest sente7ice of excoinmunicationwsiSi
aynrt^o^ueiyorjA//!), and from family converse in the decline of their state called Anathe-
(Luke vi. 22), or, incases of greater guilt, ma Maranatliay or a sentence which the
with confiscation of goods a.x\d forfeiture of Lord ivould remarkably come to execute,
all their substance (Ezra x. 8), the highest though they themselves could not carry it
izWofitwas a capital offence (Lev. xx\ii. into effect. St. Paul therefore, with a
29) ; the execution of which, when regu- peculiar beauty and propriety (but never,
larly pronounced, was indeed an act of so far as I can find, fully explained), ap-
duty and obedience to God, while they had plies it to a cnme not capable of con vie -
the poiver of life and death in their hands : tion before any human judges ; even the
but after it was wrested from them some loant of a sincere love to Christ, though un-
might perhaps think it an act of very ac- der a Christian profession. See 1 Cor.
ceptable piety and zeal to attempt such ex- xvi. 22.
ecutions-, though at the hazard of their own ^ Shall think that he offers \_an acceptable"^
lives (of which the forty canspiratorsSigaxnst service to God."] The words KAlpuitv to-poo--
Paul do therefore so boldly avow a design, <ff§«v tw Qiu might (as Abp. Leighton ob-
even to the high priest, as if it were meri- serves) be rendered, offers an oblation or
torious rather than criminal ; Acts xxiii. sacrifice to God. This intimates, as that
14, 15). And to such sort of facts these excellent man glosses on the text (Serin.
words of our Lord may peculiai'ly relate, xvii. p. 302), that ** the servants of Christ
Permit me to digress so far as to add, that should be considered, not only as sheep Jar
I apprehend, in other cases, after they the slaughter-, but as sheepfor the.altar too.'*
were thus disarmed of the pouter oflfe and The rage of persecuting enemies, and, be-
death, they had (as I may elsewhere prove) yond all comparison, the murders commit-
a dependance upon the interposition ofProv- ted hy papal cruelty in the name of the Lord,
idence to add that efficacy to their censures in their hecatombs of 'whoU burnt offerings
VOL. 2. 59
456 They lamented his goings hut it was for their advantage,
SECT, shall their zeal, arise, and so thick is the dark-
clxxvii. ness with which their minds are veiled. And 3Andthesething«
"TJ^ all these cruel things they xvill do unto you, be- ^'^^^ ^Jj^X ^^ ""^o
xvi. 3 cause they have not known either the Father, or \^^^ noTknown\he
me ; which if they had done, instead of injuring Father, nor me.
me,' and exercising such inhumanities towards
you, my apostles, they would have received us
with the greatest pleasure and thankfulness.
4 But I have spoken these things plainly to you, 4But these things
and forewarned you of them, that when the ^ ^^^'^ told 30U, that
season coraes in which they shall happen, you ^^'^enthe time shall
7 , T^ , 7 *^ n 1 ^ 1 come, ye ma)' re-
may remember that 1 told you of them ; and so member that I told
may turn what has so discouraging an aspect you of them. And
into a further confirmation of your faith. And ^^^^l^^^^^\ ^ ^^f^
I did not indeed say these things to you from the beg-mning,^ because
beginning of my ministry, because I was then I was with you.
xvith you, and could easily suggest proper in-
structions and consolations, as new circumstan-
5 ces of difficulty arose : 5z/?7zoiy I speak them, 5 But now I go
because / am departincr from you for a while, "^5" ^^y ^° ^^9™ ^^'^^
1 • ^ / • *; X ^ • ^ ^T_ sent me, and none
and ^m goi7ig azvay to htm that sent me mtothe of ^^q^ asketh me,
world ; and yet none of you asketh 7ne, Whither Whithergoestthou?
dost thou go f nor is concerned to make those
inquiries about that better world where we are
to dwell together, which surely might well be-
6 come you in such a circumstance. But because 6 But because I
I have spoken these things unto you, and talked have said these
of leaving vou for a time, your natural affec- things unto you, sor-
^. 1 u' xi 11 7 row hath filled your
tions nave been greatly moved, and sorrow has heart.
filled and pierced ijour very hearts, so that you
seem almost stupified with it.
7 But I tell you the exact truth of the case, when 7 Nevertheless, I
I say that it is on the whole advantageous to you, ^^^\ >'°^ the truth ;
as well as proper for me, that I should go away, V^ ^hlT^JZ
considering the agreement made between the for if I go not awayl
Father and me in the counsel of peace between the Comforter will
us 'Jor if I do not go away, and appear in heav- JJ^t^f^'i "de^'art"' I
en under the character of the great High Priest, vvill ^send han^ujito
the Comforter xvill not come to you, since the you.
gift of the Spirit is the fruit of my purchase,
and is appointed to be consequent upon my be-
ing glorified ; (John vii. 39, sect, ci.) but xvhen
I go from hence, I xvill not fail to send him to g ^^^^ ^^^^^ |^g js
S you. And xuhen he co?nes, he will Sihundantly come, he will re-
(if I may be allowed an expression which will resent the murder of his children upon
falls so far short of the dreadful truth), too his altar, the day v:hen he makes iriquisition
justly illustrate the remark. But how God for blood will declare.
The Spirit will convince of sin, righteousness, and jiidgmcJit. 457
prove the world of display the efficacy of his grace, not only in sect.
sin,andofrighteous- ^|^g comlbrts he will give you under all vour ^^^^^'^'
ne^ss, and ofj^^g- ^^.^,,1,1^5^ but in the wonderful success with j^im
which he will enable you to carry on my cause; xvi. 8
and will effectually coJivince the world, by your
ministry,^ of sin, and of righteousness, and of
9 or s\n, because judgment. He will convince the world of9
they believe not on ^hat aggravated sin which they are guilty of,
"^^ ' because they do not believe in me ; to the truth
of whose mission he w^ill bear an unanswerable
testimony by his enlightening influences and
10 Of righteous- miraculous operations. He will convince 10
ness, because I go ^hem of mv righteousness and innocencv ; be-
7e s"-e m^t mo?:1 ^"'"-^ it will evidently appear that / goto my
Father, and am accepted ot him, when I send
the Spirit from him in so glorious a manner
(compare Acts ii. ZS, and Rom. i. 4) ; and
that my righteousness may therefore be relied
on for the justification and acceptance of my
people, since you see me 7io more appearing
among vou in the form of a servant, but are as-
sured that, having finished what I was to do
on earth, I am taken up to heaven, and receiv-
11 Of judgment, ed into glory. AndhQ will convince them ofW
because the prince ^y being invested With the power of executing
ofthis world is judg.^-^^^^^^^^. because tlie prince of this -world, the
great head of the apostacy, is now as it were
already ^^(^^ez/ and condemned, and shall then
be triumphed over in a very remarkable man-
ner, w^hen his oracles are silenced, and he is
cast out from many persons, and countries too,
which he before possessed. (Compare John
xii. 31, sect, cxlviii.) And Satan being thus
divested of his power, my gospel shall be
propagated through the world, and a full proof
at length be given of my sovereign authority,
in mv coming to execute judgment upon all
ungodly sinners.
12 I have 5'et many / ka^ie yet many other things to say to you, 12
things to say unto ^^j^|^ relation to matters of considerable mo-
ra;-ttVnor"''ment in the settlement of my church ; but I
wave them at present, because I know that z/ow
are not able to bear [theni] nozu, and are not yet
e He Kvill co7wlnce the ivorid.'l So the and Jam. ii 9. For the illustration of this,
word iXiy^it properly signifies Compare and the following verses, see Arclibish-
John viii. 9, 46 ; 1 Cor. xiv. 24 ; Tit. i. 9 j op Tillotson's Works, Vol. III. p. 287—239.
458 He mill take of the things of Christy and shew to them.
SECT, prepared to receive them.*^ But xvhen he^ 13 Howbelt, -when
clxxvii. [eveTi] the Spirit of truth, is come, 2LCCorei\r\^to^^* '^^'f Spirit of
-, S ^ -TV* i_ r '^uf 1 truth, is come, he
John the promise I have given you, he, as atailhtul ^-^^^ ^^-^^ y^^ i„to
xvi. 13 Guide, will lead you i?ito ail necessary truth : all truth : for he
for he zvill not exceed his commission, and, shall not speak of
like a careless or unfaithful messenger, speak io^ver h'e shall hear!
merely of himself; but, like a wise and good that shall he speak ;
Ambassador, whatsoever he shall hear and re- and he will shew
ceive in charge, [that] will he speak; and /^^ you things to come.
will shew you things to come, as far as may be
necessary to prepare and qualify you for the
great work you shall be called to ; and will.ac-
quaint you with future events, the prediction
of which, as delivered by you, may be a last-
ly ing testimony to the truth of my gospel. And 14 He shall glorify
he shall indeed s'lorifu me in the most signal "^^ '- for he shall re-
r I -11 i I r ' r *i ceive of mine, and
manner ; Jor he will take oj mine, or ot those g^^^^^ gjj^^y i|. ^^^^^
doctrines which relate to me, and those bene- you.
fits which I procure and bestow, and will re-
veal and shew [zV] to you in the most clear and
15 attractive light. And indeed all things xvhat- 15 All things that
soever the Father hath are mine; and therefore, the Father hath are
to express the whole system of evangelical ;^^"that'hrshan tike
truth, I said unto you, that he will take of mine, of mine, and shall
and will shew [z7] to you ; since whatsoever he shew it unto you.
reveals to you in the name of God maybe call-
ed mine, as all truth proceeds from me, and
all real goodness is my cause and interest in
the world.
IMPROVEMENT.
v^r 2 How great is the ignorance and folly of them that persecute
their brethren in the name of the Lord, and kill his dear children
3 under the pretence of offering him^ an acceptable sacrifice !
Thus were the apostles treated by those that knew not the God
for whom they professed all this burning zeal. Let us bless
God that we are providentially sheltered from those effects of it
■which might otherwise bear so hard upon us : and let us dili-
gently watch over our hearts, that no irregular affections may
work there, and no uncharitable sentiments be harboured.
^ But you are not able to bear them now.] the disciples, till their remaining preju-
Those other things to which our Lord refers dices were removed. However, the pru-
ynight probably relate to the abrogation of dence of Christ in this respect is an excels
the ceremonial laiu, to the doctrine ofjusti- lent pattern for oninisters ; and we had
fication byfaith, the rejection of the Jews, need to pray earnestly for the instructions
the calling of the Gentiles, and the like ; and assistances of the Spirit of God, that
which might have given some offence to we may neither forget nor abuse it.
Refections on the ends for which the Spirit should be sent. 459
When, like the apostles^ our hearts are filled xvith sorrow^ let us sect.
be cautious that they may not be stupifed by it, so that any call ^^^^^"'
of duty should pass unheard, or any opportunity of religious ad- verse
vancement unimproved ; and let us not be indolent in our in- 5, 6
quiries into the meaning of those dispensations which we do not
understand ; but seriously consider whether we are not sorrow-
ful for that which is indeed designed for our advantage^ and in 7
the issue will be matter of rejoicing' to us.
We hear to what purposes the Comforter was sent. His com-^
ing was designed in a peculiar manner for the advantage of the
apostles ; and was of greater service to them than the continuance
oi Christ'' s presence with them in the body would have been, not
only to support and comfort them under all their trials^ but to ac-
quaint them with all necessary truths and fully to instruct them
in the mysteries of godliness. And he came also for the convic- 8
tion of an apostate world ; for the important errand he was sent
upon was to awaken men's minds, and to convince them of their
own guilt, and of Chrisfs righteousness^ and of that a.\vfu\ judg- 9, 10, 11
ment which should be executed on the most inveterate of his en-
emi'es. Let us often think of the force of the Spirit^s testimony
to the truth of Christianity^ and endeavour to understand it in all
Its extent. Let us bless God that the gospel, and the character
of his Son, were thus vindicated ; and rejoice in the views of
that complete conquest, to which Satan is already adjudged. In 13
the mean time let us earnestly pray that the influences of the
Holy Spirit may be communicated to us in such a manner that
Christ may be glorified in us, and we in him ; and that the things 14, 15
of Christ may be taken^ and shezvn to us by that Spirit; for it can
only be done by means of his influence and operations.
SECT. CLXXVin.
Our Lord concludes his disccurse xvith assuring his disciples that
his separation from them would not be final^ but that he would
still act in their favour as their Guardian^ and make them finally
victorious. John XVI. 16, to the end*
John XVI. 16. JoHN XVI. 16.
A^e"shaUnit see O^^ ^^^^ continued and concluded this sect.
me : and againf^a ^^ excellent discourse to his apostles in words clxxviiL
little while and ye to the following purpose : It is yet but a little TT
while, and you shall not see ??ie any more con- x\i. 16
versing with you upon earth, as I have hitherto
done : and yet again, for your encouragement
and comfort, I assure you that it is but a little
while \on^Gr,and you shall see me again, on terms
460 Christ tells them, In a little time they should not see hh)u
SECT, of much greater advantage, because I go to the shall see me, be-
clxxvm. pather ; plainly intimating thereby that he «^^"se i go to the
John would be so mindful of their interest with the ^^^^^^•
xvi. 16 Father, as ere long to bring them to an eternal
abode with him.*
17 But their thoughts were so taken up about 1/ Then said jome
other things, and they had still such expecta- of his disciples a-
tions of his establishing an earthly kingdom, whft is this'^thtt he
that, notwithstanding what he now had said was saith untous/ahtUe
far from being obscure, they did not at first pen- while and ye shall
etrate into the meaning of it : [some] of his dis- "'^^ see.me : and, a.
cipks therefore said one to another. What is this f J' e^iiV^eJ^e •
that he says to us ^ A httle while and ye shall and Because I go to
not see me ; and again^ a little while and ye shall ^he Father \
see me ; and why does he add, Because I go to
18 the Father P^ They said therefore among them-
selves. What is this little while of which he 18 They said there-
.79 , x/L.» ''i foi'e. What IS this
speaks ^ we know not xvhat he says, and cannot that he saith, A lit-
apprehend what he means by it. tie while ? we cannot
19 Now Jesus, as the secret workings of their ^^^^ ^''^^'^ ^^ ^^^^'^-
hearts were open to his view, "inero that ^,^,::,^:T:T:1^.
they were desirous to ask him for some farther ous to ask him, and
^Intimating — he would bring them to made in them. It is indeed difficult to
an eternal abode, ^c] As this sense is imagine what could perplex them, unless
evidently much more important, so it ap- it were that they suspected the words,
pears to me more natural and easy than A little while and ye shall not see me ; and
that of Mons. Le Clerc, who understands again, a little while and ye shall see me, kc.
it as if Christ had said, ''Though I am might intimate that after he had ^owe ?o Me
quickly to disappear from you, and be Father, and made a short stay there, he
lodged in the grave, I shall soon come would come again, and settle an earthly
again, and make you another visit of some kingdom, ; and they might desire an expli-
length, before I return to heaven by my cation in this view. Accordingly, after
ascension." His going to the FatJier was no having told them that, though they were
proof of this, though it strongly proved his sorrowful, he would come and see them
ability to introduce tliem to the heavenly again after his resurrection (ver. 20, 22),
world. I apprehend that the whole Joy and would introduce them to a stale of
•which Christ's resurrection and ascension, as comfortable converse with God hy prayer t
connected with each other, gave them, is and a joy of which none should deprive them,
referred to in the following discourse, (ver. 23 — 27), he adds (ver. 28), that he
■which therefore is so paraphrased as to in- was quickly leaving the world, to go and re-
clude all that is pertinent and material in side with the Father, from, whom he came ;
the explication above. thereby gently intimating that no tetnporal
reign was to be expected. And if we sup-
^ What is this that he says, &c.] There pose him thus to have glanced obliquely at
are so many passages in the precedingparts the most secret sentiments of their hearts,
of this discourse which relate to Christ's it will account for that confession of hi*
going to his Father (chap. xiv. 2, 12, 28 ; omniscience which immediately follows
XV. 26 ; xvi. 10), that it is a strange in- this 28th verse (ver. 29, 30) ; the reason
stance of the dullness of the apostles that of which would not appear merely from
they did not understand him here. Per- his discovery that they doubted about some-
haps it is recorded on purpose to shew thing which their countenances and whis=
iiFliat an alteration the Spirit afterwards pers might shew.
But he would see them again, and their hearts should rejoice, 46^1
said unto them. Do explication of what he had been saving, and sect.
ye inquire among ^.^^ that they were afraid of being upbraided c|^^^^
SrAmUe whUe^or the slowness of their apprehensions ; and john
and ye shall not see therefore kindly prevented their confusion, and xvi. 19
me : and again, a fiaid to them^ Do you inquire of one another con-
little while and y^ ceminp^ this which I said, A little while and ye shall
shall see me ? "^ . ;• , ,-, i , ;»
7iot see me ; and again, a Little xvhile and ye shall
see me? Surely, if you reflect a little, it cannot
be very difficult to understand the meaning of
20 Verily, verily, I that. Verily, verily^ I say unto you, that ye shall 20
say unto you, that shortly zt'ee/?a;2^/<7m^72? for a while, on account of
fament, Tu? the "^^ being taken away from you,*= and in the mean
world shall rejoice : time the XV or Id shall rejoice, as if it had prevail-
and ye shall be sor- ed against me ; and you shall be sorrowful at
into joy. to comtort you m that mterval oi distress, that
your sorrow shall quickly be turned into joy,
21 A woman, when Just as a zvoman, zvhen she is in labour, has great 21
she is m travail, anxiety and sorrow, because her hour of distress
hath sorrow, be- , -^ . 7 x /. i. t j ,
cause her hour is ^"^ agony zs c.07ne ; but when she has brought
come : but as soow forth a child, she forgets the pangs she endured,
as she is delivered and remembereth [A^r] tribulation no inore, for
memberelh'no'more>^ ^^'^^i « '"^^^ " ^^^? ^""^^ ^^^ ^^'^''^^^ ^"^ added
the anguish, for joy ^o ^er family for its future honour and support,
that a man is born in- And SO it is, that you indeed have sorrow now, 22
*^"io^ world. jj^ expectation of the melancholy scene which
22 And ye now . ^ 1 • 1 -^ mi 1 •
therefore have sor- ^^ approaching ; and it Will Very much increase
row : but I will see your trouble to see me in a few hours more
you agam, and your torn away from you with inhuman violence,
a^d^m-V/no mlii .^^"S ^s a malefactor on the cross, and buried
taketh from you. J^ the grave : but when ^our hopes are at the
lowest ebb, / xvill quickly see you again, after
my resurrection, and your hearts shall rejoice ;
and afterwards, though I am absent from you
in the body, yet I will fill you with such conso-
lation by my Spirit, that 720 one shall, by
any means whatever, deprive you of your joy,
which shall sweetly mingle itself even with
your heaviest afflictions.^
^ly shall iveep and lament, he.'] What- press much more than the abstine7ice of
tever immediate reference this may have to tlie one day he lay in the grave, supposing
the sorro^vs of the apostles, immediately on (which is very possible) they had then but
the death of Christ, before his resurrection, little relish to their food. See Vol. I. p.
I question not but it includes all their sub- 391.
sequent afflictions in the days (f fasting, ^ No one shall deprive you of your joy.'\
ivhen the^ bridegroom was taken away from As this promise will be for ever accom-
?/ie7u as it is elsewhere expressed in a par- plished to all Christ's faithful servants,
ailel phrase (Mat. is. 15) ; which must ex- so it is observable how the apostle Paul, in •
462 tVhatever they ask in his name the Father will give it.
SECT. And in that day^ when I have sent the Com- 23 And in that
^]^^^ forter, you shall not inquire any thing of me,« <iay ye shall ask me
Joan nor be puzzled with much greater difficulties ||°^ Tf ay^'unto * y ou,"
xvi. 23 than those which I have been explaining ; but whatsoever ye shall
Divine illuminations shall be poured in upon ask the Father in
you in the richest abundance, and with it the J^.^'i^'^oi. ^^ ^^'^^
spiHt of earnest and successful prayer ; for
verily^ verily^ I say unto you^ and repeat the
important assurance which I before gave you
(chap. xiv. 13, 14, and xv. 16), That xvhatso'
ever ye shall ask the Father in my name^ he will
24 give [itl you. Hitherto ye have not been used 24 Hitherto have
to regard me under the character of a Media- ye asked nothing- in
tor between God and man, and therefore have "^y "^7"^= ^^^ .^"d
, , , . . ' , , , . ye shall receive,
asked nothing in my name ; but then, havmg that your joy may be
received a fuller revelation of the doctrine of full,
my intercession, you may come with a cheer-
ful boldness to the throne of grace, and freely
ask whatever shall be necessary for you ; and
depend upon it you shall receive such a liberal
supply, that, in the midst of all your temporal
discouragements, your joy in God may still be
maintained in itsyj J/ height.
25 These weighty and important things I have 25 These thingg
often spoken to you in the obscurity oi parables, have I spoken unto
which have appeared dark and mysterious to J^^^ t\me^^To^meth
you ; but the hour or time is coming when I will when I shall no
speak no more to you in parables or dark sayings, more speak unto
but I xvill tell you what relates to the Father yj^'^'y^.^'^''''^''^^^^'^^
• , n J . ; • c 1-1 shall shew you
-With all openness and plainness ot speech, plainly of the Father.
26 In that day you shall ask in my name, and shall 26 At that day ye
present your supplications to the Father with ^^^^^ ^^^ , ^", ^V
* -^ I 1 J ^ c 1 J name : and I say
an express acknowledgment of your depend- not unto you, that I
ance upon me for the success of your petitions ; will pray the Father
and I do not merely say to you, that I will ^^^ y^^ '•
ask the Father on your account, and plead with
him for the acceptance of your prayers, though
his more abundant afflictions, attests his Yet I confess the former is sometimes,
experience of its truth, when he says. As used almost in the same sense with the
sorrcmfulf yet alii}ays rejoicing (2 Cor vi. latter (see Mat. xvi. 1) ; and the word
10); and mentions his share in the joy o/ seems to have the same ambiguity with
Christians as a most important and sacred demand in English. The argument some
oath. (1 Cor. xv. 31.) have drawn from hence against j&rqyzw^ to
« Toil shall not iftquire afiy thing of me.'] Christ, on the preceding criticism, has no
We render it a.?/^ ,• but I thought it proper appearance of weight; and did epcelxa
to make some distinction between ipalAa, signify to pray, would prove (if it proved
which properly signifies to wia/^e a/zz/zi^z^Vy, any thing) that Paul lived, and Stephen
and AfliCi, which is to present a request, died, in a very unwarrantable) and per-
(See Uv. Calamy on the Trinity, t^, 15^.) haps an idolatrous practice.
He came from the Father^ and Is returning to him. 463
27 For the Father you may assure yourselves that I shall always sect.
himself loveth you, be ready to do it; But I represent it not to you ^^ff]^!!
because ye have lov- -^^ ^ ^ ^ view, as if every favour were obtained john
ed me, and have be- , . ' ^ , -^ , , . J. "
lieved that I came and as it were extorted, merely by my impor- xvi. 27
out from God. tunity, from one who has himself no regard for
your happiness ; for^ on the contrary, I assure
you, that the Father himself most tendtrly Icves
you, and therefore will be ready to grant your
requests, and to watch over you with paternal
affection and care ; because you have loved me^
and have believed that I came out from God, as the
messenger of his grace to men ; and have ac-
cordingly relied upon me with such steadfast-
ness, that you have ventured your all upon that
28 I came forth belief. And you have therem acted a very 23
from the Father, and prudent and happy part; for / indeed came out
am come into the ^^^^^ ^^^ Father, and am come into the xuorld to
•world :agam, I leave ♦/ -nw- • v i. •. j ^ j ^
the world, and go to scatter a Divme light upon it, and to conduct
the Father. men into the paths of life and peace : and now
again, having dispatched my errand, lam leav-
ing the world, and am going back to the Father ;
where I shall keep my stated abode, and whith-
er I will shortly conduct you to a more glo-
rious kingdom than you ever expected here.
This is the sum of what I have been telling
you, and was particularly my meaning in what
I said before (ver. 16), " Yet a little while, and
ye shall see me again, because I go to the
Father."
29 His disciples And his disciples, struck with the correspon- 29
said unto him, Lo, dence of what he said to what was secretly
now speakest thou ^^^ j^ their own minds, said to him. Lord,
plamly, andspeakest V^ , , P , , ' , • ,
no proverb. Behold, now thou speakest very plamly to us,
and nsest no parable, or obscure form of ex-
pression ; so that we clearly understand thy
30 Now are we meaning, and rejoice in it. And nozvwe know 30
sure tliat thou know- by this farther token, even thy discerning our
^^i^l^Ll^??i''f o"^ inmost doubts on this head, that thou knowest
needest not that any „ ,, ,, ,' , , ,r
man should ask «" things, and hast no need that any one should
thee : by this we ask thee any particular questions, to inform thee
believe that thou ^f ^j^ose scruples which thou seest when first
camest iorth from . . • ^v '^ • i .»• ^ ^i. r
Qod. rising in the mind : on this account therefore
we firmly believe that thou camest out from God,
31 Jesus answer- Jesus answered them. Do you now at length 31
ed them, Do ye now believe P and do you apprehend your faith to be
so firm, that nothing shall be able any more to
shake it? Let me advise you not to be too con-
fident ; for I assure you, that in a very little
VOL. 2. 60
464 His disciples will leave him^ but the Father is xvith htm.
SECT, time you will be found to act, as if you had not
^^^^^"^- any faith in me : pray therefore, that God
John would fortify you against those trials of which
xvi. 32 I have warned you once and again. For be- 32 Behold, the
hold^ the hour is comings yea^ is so near af hand, hour cometh, yea, is
that I may even say, it is now come, that you shall ^,^^{j brtiaufred!
all be scattered and dispersed, and every one of every man to his
you return to your own habitations and employ- own, and shall leave
ments, or otherwise shift for yourselves as well "^^ ^^°"^ "/"'^ y!^ ^
' ,^ , •' . am not alone, be-
as you can ; ana to consult your own security, cause the Father is
you shall flee away and leave me alone ; buc yet with me.
lam not, properly speaking, alone, for the Father
is with me, and he will comfort and support
me, in the absence of all human friends.
32 These things have I spoken thus \2Lrge\y to you, 33 These things
that whatever difficulties may arise in life, hav- I have spoken unto
inc: been thus warned, and furnished with such y°^' ^^^ ^" ^^ ^^
° , . , ' • 7 / 1 ^' miffht have peace.
consolations as these, you might have lasting j„ °^^ world ye shall
peace and serenity of soul by the exercise of have tribulation : but
your faith in me. In the zuor Id indeed you shall be of good cheer,
have and must expect ajliction ; but be coura^ l^^H'"'^''''^'^^ ^^"^
geous and cheerful in your combat, for I have
myself overcome the world ; and, being possess-
ed of a power infinitely superior to it, I will
make you partakers in my victory over all its
terrors and its snares.
IMPROVEMENT.
ver. 16 W^ ^^^' perhaps, often regretting the absence of Christ, and
looking back with emulation on the happier lot of those who
conversed with him on earth in the days of his flesh : but if we
are true believers in an unseen Jesus, it is hut a little while and we
shall also see him ; for he is gone to the Father, and will so sue-
cessfuUy negociate our aff'airs there, that whatever our present
difficulties and sorrows are, they shall end more happily than
21 those of a wojnan, who after all the pangs and throes of her la-
bour, through the merciful interposition of Divine Providence
is made the joyful mother of a livi7ig child,
20 In the mean time, we have surely no reason to envy the world
its joys and triumphs : alas, its season of weeping will quickly
come ! But our lamentations are soon to be turned into songs of
22 praise, and our hearts to be filled with that solid, sacred, and pe-
culiarjoz/, which, being the ^ihoi Christ, can never be taken away.
While we are in this state of distance and darkness, let us re-
23 joice that we have access to the throne of grace through the pre-
vailing name of Christ. Let us come thither with holy courage
Reflections on the joy that we may have in Christ, 465
and confidence, and ask that we may receive ; and so our joy sect.
may be full. With what pleasure may we daily renew our visits clxxviii.
to that throne^ before which Jestis stands as an Intercessor ; to ^,^^ 24
that throne^ which is possessed by the Father^ who himself loveth 25 27
us, and answers with readiness and delight those petitions which
are thus recommended ! May our faith in Christy and our love
to him^ be still on the increasing hand ; and our supplications — 27
will be more and more acceptable to him, whose loving kindness
is better than life ! (Psal. Ixiii. 3.)
Surely we shall be frequently reviewing these gracious dis-
courses which Christ has bequeathed us as an invaluable legacy.
May they dwell with us in all our solitude, and comfort us in 33 —
every distress ! We shall have no reason to wonder if human
friendship be sometimes false, and always precarious : the dis-
ciples of Christ were scattered in tht day of his extremity, and — 32
left him alone^ when they were under the highest obligations to
have adhered to him with the most inviolable fidelity. May we
but be able like him to say, that our Father is with us ; and that
delightful converse with God, which we may enjoy in our most
solitary moments, will be a thousand times more than an equiva-
lent for whatsoever we lose in the creatures. In the world we 33
must indeed have tribulation ; and he that has appointed it for
us, knows that it is fit we should : but since Jesus^ the Captain
of our salvation^ who was made perfect through sufferings^ has
overco7ne the worlds and disarmed it ; let us seek that peace
which he has established, and press on with a. cheerful assurance^
that the least of his followers shall share in the honours and
benefits of his victory*
SECT. CLXXIX.
Christ offers up a solemn prayer to the Father^ that he himself
?nzght be glorified ; and that those who were given him might
be kept through his name, John XVII. 1 — 12.
John XVII. 1. JOHN XVII. 1.
T^HESE words /^UR Lord Jesus spake these words which sect.
A spake Jesus ; \^ ^^.g recorded in the preceding chapters, clxxix.
toheavenf andsTd^ owfif then lifted Up his eyes to heaven, and pour- ''^
Father, the hour is ed out a most affectionate and important pray- xvii. 1
come ; glorify thy er to his Father ; an excellent model of his
intercession in heaven, and a most comfortable
and edifying representation of his temper both
towards Grod and his people. And, that it
might more effectually answer these great ends,
he uttered it with an audible voice, and said,
O my heavenly Father, the appointed and ex-
pected hour is come in which I am to enter on
466 Christ prays to the Father^ t^at he may be glorified.
SECT, my sufferings, and t6 complete the work for Son, that thy Son al-
<^^^^^'^- which I came into the world ; and therefore I so may glorify thee.
John P^^y^ ^^^ thou wouldest glorify me, thy So7i^
xvii. 1 in those signal appearances for my honour and
support in death, in my recovery from the
grave, and mine ascension into heaven, which
thouhastpromisedto me,andv>^hichIknow that
^ thou wilt punctually fulfil ;^ that thy Son also^
in the whole series of his conduct, both in this
world, and in that to which he is now returning,
may successfully glorify thee^ and accomplish
2 the purposes of thy saving love ; According as 2 Asthouhastglv-
thou hast ^ by the engagements of thy covenant, ^" ^^"^ power over
given him that power over all flesh, that absolute ^}^ ?f'^'. ^^^^} ''*;
J ' ' 11 1 1 *' ,.11 should g-ive eternal
dommion over all the human race, which he life to as many as
will ere long receive and exert ; that he may thou hast given him.
give eternal life to all that thou hast given him
by that covenant to be redeemed and saved.
3 And this is the sure way to that eternal Ufe^ 3 And this is
even that they may know thee, who art the onlu ^'^? etemal.that they
!• ,• „ „^ 1 . *^ r^-^j • . . ^ -t .J / might know thee the
livmg and true God, m opposition to the idols ^niy true God, and
they have ignorantly worshipped ; and may Jesus Christ, whom
know also and believe in Jesus Christ, xvhom <-^^o^ ^^st sent.
thou hast sent into the world as the only Saviour :
and to this therefore thou wilt bring them, and
wilt make use of what I have already done, and
shall yet farther do, as the means of effecting it.
4 It is with unutterable pleasure that I now re- 4 I have glorified
fleet upon it, O my Father and my God, that thee on the earth .- I
I have eminently glorified thee on earth during
the whole of my abode here ; that I have been
faithful to the trust that was reposed in me, in
all that I have said and done through the course
of my ministry : and greatly do I rejoice, that
/ have now gone so far, as to be just upon
« Glorify thy Son."] All the circumstan- his death ; as well as his resurrectiottf and
ces of glory attending the sufferings of ascensiofi, and exaltatio7i at God's right
Christ ; as, the appearance of the angel to hand, and the mission of the Holy Spirit,
him in the garden, his striking down to and the consequent success of the gospel ;
the ground those that came to apprehend are nil to be looked upon as an answer to
him, his curing the ear of Malchus, his this prayer.
good confession before Pilate, his extort- ^ This is eternal life.] Christ might in-
ing from that unjust judge a testimony of sert this clause (though neither a petition,
his innocence, the dream of Filate^s laifcy plea, nor any other part of prayer J on
the conversion of the penitent robbery the purpose to remind his apostles of the im-
"astonishing constellation of virtues and portance of their office ; as they were sent
graces which shone so bright in Christ's to spread that knoidedge which he here
dying behaviour, the supernatural darkness, calls eternal life, because the eternal hap-
and all the other prodigies that attended piness of men depends upon it.
He had faithfullij instructed those that were ^iven hhn : 467
have finished the the point of having/^/zz^^ec^, by my sufferings and sect.
work which thou death, the important xvork which thou gaveat cl-'^-^Jx-
^TlTd 'not; O ^'^ ^0 d'' ^^'^ "^^^ therefore, 0 my heavenly -^
Father, glorify thou Father^ do thou glorify me with thine oxvn self xvii. 5
me with thine own with the original ^/^rz/ which I had with thee be-
whklT'l'had ^^Sifi^^ ^^^ '^^°^^^ ^^^^ created,^^ and which for the
tliee before the salvation of thy people I have for a while laid
^orld was. aside, that I might clothe myself in this humble
form.
6 I have mani- / have manifested thy name^ and revealed the 6
fested thy name un- o-lory of thy power and cfrace, to the meii whom
to the men which?, •' ^ ^ , r^/ u *i
tliou gavestme out ^^?". ^^'^^^^^^ ?«^ ^"^ ^/ ^^^^ ^vorld : they were
of the world: thine originally thijie^ the creatures of thine hand,
they were, and thou and the happy objects of thy sovereign choice ;'*
fnd UiVhaN^^ tot ^^^ ^" consequence of thy gracious purposes
thy word. t^^^ gavest them to vie^ that they might be in-
structed and sanctified, and formed for the
kingdom prepared for them from the founda-
tion of the world : and such accordingly has
been the influence of my doctrine in their
hearts, that they have readily embraced it, and
hitherto have resolutely kept and retained thy
7 Now they have xvord and gospel. And, notwithstanding the 7
known that all j^g^n appearance I have made to an eye of
tlung-s whatsoever / ^. r • , , -, , i i •
thou hast given me, sense, their taith has owned me through this
are of thee. dark cloud ; and even now^ in this my humble
state, they have perceived and knoxvn^ that all
things whatsoever which I have said and done,
and all the credentials which thou hast in fact
given me^ and which so many overlook, are in-
deed of thee ; and that I am truly what I pro-
fess myself to be, a Divine Messenger to the
children of men, and the Saviour that was
8 For I have given promised to come into the world. "This 8
unto them the words plainly appears to be their firm persuasion;
meT and ^they h^ave/^^* ^^^ "^^^^^^ "^^h'^ch thou gavest to me^ I have
given to them^ I have revealed already much of
my gospel to them, and begun to deposit it in
their hands ; and in the midst of great dis-
couragement and opposition, giving attention
« The glory ixshich I had ivith thee before ^ They ii^ere originally thine.'] There
the Kuorld was.] To suppose, with the So- can surely be no reason to imagine from
cinians, that this refers only to that glory the sacred story, that the apostles were
which God intended for him in his c/ecrew,- chosen to their great office on account of
or, with Mr.i^/em/?z^, that it refers only, or any extraordinary degrees of piety and
chiefly, to his being clothed ivith the Sheki- virtue previous to their being called to
nahy seems to sink and contract the sense follow Clirist. So that I can see no natural
far short of its genuine purpose. See sense of these words but what I have ex-
Fleming's Christology, Vol. II. p. 247, and pressed in the paraphrase. Compare John
Whitby in loc. xv. 16, page 450.
468 And prays the Father to keep them through his own name.
SECT, to the words I spake, they have received [them"] received them, and
clxxix. with faith and love, W made it manifest by have known surely
, . , . 1 n • ^ J ^ • that I came out irom
j^j^„ their embracmg and adhering to my doctrine, ^^ee, and they have
xvii. 8 that thev have knoxvn in truth the divinity of believed that thou
my mission, so as to be fully satisfied in their <ii^st send me.
own minds that I came out from thee with a
commission to reveal thy will (compare John
xvi. 2r, 30) ; and while I have been rejected by
an ungrateful world, they have regarded me
as the true Messiah, and have shewn they have
believed that thou didst indeed send me on the
9 great errand of their salvation. I therefore 9 1 pray for them s
prau for them, who have attended me as my I V\^y "ot for the
1 ^ £ 11 <,! u u n u world, but for them
apostles, and for all those who are, or shall be, ^^^^^^ ^^ou hast
brought to the same faith and the same temper, given me, for they
that thou wouldest support them under every are thine.
trial, and wouldest regard them in a peculiar
manner as the objects of thy care : I pray not
thus for the unbelieving worlds but for those
-whom thou hast graciously given me; and I
am confident that my prayer for them shall
not be in vain ; for they are not only mine,
but thine too, chosen by thy grace, and devoted
10 to thy service. Aiid indeed all mine inter- lo And all mine
ests, and my people are thine^ and thine are also are thine, and thine
mine; ««</ while thy glory is advanced by their Xrd'in'tt'm""
establishment, / likewise «m, and finally shall
be, glorified in them : so near and intimate is
our relation to each other ; so sincere and ac-
tive thy paternal affection to me, O my heav-
enly Father, and my filial duty to thee.
1 1 And nozv J am to continue no longer in the n And now I am
world; but these my faithful servants are yet no more in the
in the world, and some of them are to reniain ^.^^¥» ^^^f ^^^^^^
a considerable time in it, exposed to various and I come to thee!
hardships and dangers: whereas /(delightful Holy Father, keep
thought !) shall soon have done with this weary
wilderness, and atn coming to thee, who art the
centre of my soul, and the supreme object of
my complacency and desire.^ But while I am
separated from these my servants, so dear to
thee and to me, vouchsafe, O holy Father, to
" And I am coming to thee.l It is very reflection on that dear subject, so familiar
plain that this clause could not be intended to his mind, with which he for a moment
as an additional argument to introduce the refreshed himself in the course of this
following- petition ; for Christ's coming to humble and pathetic address. This I
the Father was the great security of his have endeavoured to represent in the />ar-
people : but it seems rather to be a short aphrase.
I^one of them was lost^ hut the son of perdition. 469
through thine own keep these whom thou hast xhystM given me^ and sect.
name those whom j^^ ^^i^^ be preserved through thv jiame ; let c^^xix.
thou hast given me, , u ^ ^ - r * u ^i, •'"i
that they may be one, them be kept in safety by thy mighty power, j^,,,^
as we are. and be established in the faith by a constant xvii.
regard to thee, and a sense of thy presence im- 11
pressed on their hearts ; that they may still con-
tinue united to us, and to each other, in cordial
affection, and may be one^ even as we \^are'\ one.
12 While I was Do not, O gracious Father, forget these my 12
with them in the friends, in whosfi cause I have so affectionately
world I kept them in j r ^r • i , -, t ^
thy name : those that engaged ; tor thou art witness, that while I was
thou gave St me I have with them in the world I kept them in thy name^
kept, and none of ^nd through the influences of thy prrace": \uea\
them IS lost, but the r j j^l i ./ / • i
son of perdition : that -l g^<^^ded them whom thou gavest me with a most
the scripture might constant care, and none of them is lost^ wdess it
be fulfilled. le counted as a kind of exception, that the son
of perdition perishes by his iniquity ;*' that
wretched creature, who in a lower sense was
indeed given to me, but never, like the rest, was
taken under my special care ; but is left to fall
into deserved ruin,g that the scripture might be
fulfilled^ which foretold it as the dreadful con-
sequence of his treachery. (See Psal. cix. 8^
& seq. compared with Acts i. 20.)
*■ Unless it he the son of perdition."] I am that u fMt Is not used strictly as an except
surprised that so many very learned (//<DZHej, tive particle ; and that if it has any thing
and amongst the rest, even Bishop Burnet like that force, it is only to intimate that
himself (whom I cannot mention but with what it introduces may, in a less proper
the greatest honour), should so roundly sense, be reduced to the number of ihings
infer from these words, that the giving to mentioned before it. And this I take to be
Christy in the preceding clauses, cannot its precise sense in this text ; for wliich
imply an election to glory, since it is here reason I render it [^unless it be,'] though in
intimated that Judas, who perished, was some of the former instances it has not so
given as well as the rest. (See Burnet on much signification as that ; but is used
the Articles, p. 160.) The objection to a with as great a liberty, as [excf/;?] t>y ^lil^-
mere English reader might appear unan- ton, when he says of Satan,
swerable ; but those so conversant in the
original might easily have observed, that if God and his Son except,
this text will prove that Judas was in the Created thing nought valued he nor
number of those gi'sen to Christ, in the same shunn'd.
manner Luke iv. 26,27, will prove, directly
contrary to plain fact and the whole tenor Thus likewise i:iv y.v. Is used, Gal. ii. 16 ;
of the argument, that the 'a'07nanc/Je?e/)fa /John V. 19; xv. 4. The words before us
was a viidovi in Israel, and Naaman the might indeed refer to the uposf/e*, (compare
Syrians leper in Israel \.oo; ]Q\in 'in. \3,\.\\2it John xviii. 8, 9, sect, clxxxiii.) but I do
Christ ascended into heaven before he began not see any necessity of confning them to
his ministry ; Rev. ix. 4, that the men v:ho Christ's care for their preservation, for the
had not the seal of God in their foreheads, reason given above.
were either grass or trees ; and Rev. xxi. g Is left to fall into deserved ruin.] The
27, that there are some of the most abom- son of perdition signifies one who deservedly
inable of mankind whose names are ivritten perishes : as a son of death (2 Sam. xii. 5) ;
in the book of life. See also Mat. v. 13 ; xii. children of hell (Mat xxiii. 15) ; and chil-
4 ; 1 Cor. vii. 5 ; 2 Cor. xii. 13. In all which dren of ivrath (Eph. ii 3) ; signify persons
places, as well as tlie preceding, it is plain justly obnoxious to death, hell, andwrcr^A.
"470 Reflections on Christ'* s prayer to the Father.
IMPROVEMENT.
verse 1 WiTH pleasure let us behold our gracious Redeemer in this
posture of humble adoration ; lifting up his eyes to God with so-
lemn devotion, and pouring out his pious and benevolent Spirit
in those Divine breathings which are here recorded. From his
example, let us learn to pray ; and from his intercession, to hope*
We know that the Father heareth hifu always (John xi. 42) ; and
singularly did he manifest that he heard him now, by all that
bright assemblage o( glories which shone around him in the con-
cluding scenes of his abode on earth, and in those that attended
his removal from it : and in all this too did the blessed jfesus
manifest his zeal for the glory of the Father, May we emulate
that holy temper ! and when we praij even for our own consum-
mate happiness in the heavenly world, may we consider it as ul-
timately centering in the honour and service of God !
2 Well may we be encouraged to hope for that happiness^ since
Christ has an universal /^ower over all fleshy and over spirits su-
perior to those that dwell in flesh ; with which he is invested on
purpose that he may accomplish the salvation of those whom the
3 Father has given him^ even of every true believer. We see the
certain way to this life^ even the knoxvledge of God in Christ : let
us bless God, that we enjoy so many opportunities of obtaining
it ; and earnestly pray that he who commanded the light to shine
out of darkness^ would by his Divine rays shine forth on our be-
nighted souls ; and so animate us in his service, from the no-
blest principles of gratitude and love, that we may be able to say,
even in our dying moments, with somewhat of the same Spirit
4 which our Z(?r<5^ expressed, Father we have glorified thee on earthy
and finished the work which thou gavest us to do ; and therefore,
11 being no more in the world^ we come unto thee. Then may we
hope, in our humble degree, to partake of that glory to which he
is returned, and to sit down with him on his victorious throne,
7, 8 In the mean time, may our faith see, and our zeal confess,
Christ / May we acknowledge his Divine authority ^ as having
come outfroyn the Father I May we be united m. love to him, and
to each other ; and be kept by that Divine word which is the
12 security of his people, that none of them shall be lost I Let the
son of perdition^ who perished even from among the apostles^
teach us an humble jealousy over our own hearts, whatever
external privileges we enjoy ; and engage us to maintain a
continual regard to him xvho is able to keep us froyn fallings and
to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceed-*
^"g'joy I (Jude ver, 24.)
Christ prays that his apostles may be kept from evil.: ^7t
SECT. CLXXX.
Our Lord concludes his prayer^ recommending his apostles^ and
siicceedijig- Christians in every future age^ to the favourable re-
gards of his Father^ mid praying for their union on earth and
glory in heaven. John XVII. 13, to the end.
joHxXVll.13. John XVII. 13.
AND now come /^UR Lord proceeded in that excellent ad- sect.
I to thee, and yj jress to God, which he had begun in the ^^^^^'
in^tL^' w(Sd,'^that former section, in such words as these : And j^,^^
they might have my now^ O my heavenly Father, / come unto thee xvii. 13
joy fulfilled in them- with unutterable pleasure ; and these [xvords']
^^^^^* of this prayer I speak thus openly In the hearing
of my disciples, while I as yet am with them in
the xuorld^ that they who now hear me, and those
too for whose benefit it may be afterwards re-
corded, may have my joy ^ even that holy conso-
lation of which I am the author and support,
14 I have given dbiindsLntly fulfilled in them. And it indeed 14
them thy word ; and becomes me to be thus solicitous for their com-
the world hath ha- r^ji. • r r i. • ^i ^l
ted them, because ^^rt and happmess ; for I have given ^ them thy
they are not of the ivord^ which they have faithfully received : and
world, even as I am jn consequence of this, though they are indeed
not of the world. ^^^ greatest friends and benefactors of mankind,
yet the -world has ungratefully hated them^ and
will be sure to persecute them with the utmost
violence, because they are not o/the same spirit
with the worlds even as /myself, in whose cause
they are engaged, am not of the world., so as to
15 1 pray not that conform to it in my temper and conduct. Since 15
ihou shouldst take therefore for mv sake thev stand thus exposed
worTd, butthltthou to hatred injurv, and oppression I most affec-
shouldst keep them tionately bear them on my heart before thee, O
fi-om the evil. my heavenly Father! yet I do not pray that thou
shouldest take them immediately out of the worlds
bad as it is ; since I know the purposes of thy
glory and their own improvement and useful-
ness, will require their longer continuance in it ;
but I pray that thou wouldst preserve them from
being either corrupted or overwhelmed by the
evil which perpetually surrounds them, and that
the subtilty and malice of the evil one may
16 They are not never overpower them. For I well know that 16
they will meet with many trials which will bear
hard upon them ; because (as I have said) theij
VOL. 2. 61
4/2 And they might he sanctijied through the truth,
SECT, are not of a temper suited to the common sen- of the world, even
clxxx. timents and practice of the world, even as /, ^s I am not of the
"r~ their Lord and Master, am not of the world,
xvii. 17 To arm them therefore against so formidable 17 Sanctify them
an attack, and to maintain and cultivate this holy through thy truth :
temper in them, I would entreat thee to com- ^^^ ''"'''^'' ^''^^^
plete the work that is so happily begun, and to
sanctify them more and more through thy truth ;*
and as thy word and gospel which they are to
preach is the great system of sanctifying truth^
whereby real holiness is to be for ever promot-
ed, may these thy servants feel more and more
of its vital energy on their own souls, to qual-
ify them for the office of dispensing it to others.
18 ¥oYas thou hast sent me into the ivorld to be the 18 As thou hast
Messenger of this grace, I also have sent them sent me into the
into the xvorld on the same errand, to publish H'^^' ^7" '° ^^f
^^ , , . , , - . r A , I also sent them nito
19 and proclaim what they have learnt oi me. Ajid the world.
it is in some measure yor their sokes, as well as 19 And for their
for the salvation of all my people, that /now ^^^^l f "f ^fy ^X-
. /-• 7 A» 'if . rr sell, tnat tney also
sanctijy iiiyseljyov set myselt apart as an otter- mj^j^t be sanctified
ing holy to thee ; that they also, taught by my through the truth,
example, and animated by my dying love, may
be truly sanctified through the truth, and com-
pletely fitted for their important office.
20 And in presenting these petitions for them, 20 Neither pray 1
I am not chieflv influenced bv the personal at- ^r these alone, but
tachment of private friendship, but I consider ^^^^Z^Te o" me
them under their public character; nor do / through their word ;
pray for these my apostles alone, or offer myself
merely for them ; but for them also who shall
hereafter believe on me through their word^
whether it be preached or written ; even for
those who are yet unborn, and on whom the
21 ends of the world shall come : That, being 21 That they all
animated by the same Spirit, and inspired with may be one, as thou,
the same love, they all may be truly and inti- l^^^^[^ tliee": thai
mately one, as thou. Father, \_art'] in me, and I in they also may be
thee ; that they also may in friendship and hap-
piness be one in us, united to us and to each
* Sanctify them through thy truth.'] I see formed and purified by it. To sanctify ^ sig-
no reason to conclude, with Mr. Mede, nifies in general to set apart to any appro-
that £v T>i etxyi^siA must be put for tig tuv priate use ; and is used with peculiar pro-
«tK)f9«/stv, that is,ybr the service of the gospel, priety with I'cference to a sacrifice ,- which
That was indeed the remote end which our seems to be the sense in which our Lord
Xortf had in view ; but the more immedi- applies it to himself in ver. 19. Compare
ate was that their own souls might be trans- Exod. iii. 2 ; xxix. 1 ; and Lev. xxii. 2.
He prays that all believers might he one in them : 475
one in us: that the other, and deriving from us the richest sup- sect.
world may believe p^j^.g ^f Divine consolation ; that so the ivorld, ^^^''^■
that thou hast sent ^ . , • , i i i • i i ,
Die. seeing their benevolence, and charity, and holy -t^^^
joy, may believe that thou Jia?t sent me^ and that xvii. 21
a religion productive of such amiable fruits is
22 And the glory indeed of Divine original.^ And the glory 22
which thftu gavest -ayhiclu bv the covenant of redemption, thou
me, I have {^iven ^ " r , i • j i \i
them : that they g^^'^^^f nnto me, I fiave^ as authorized by thee,
may be one, even as given unto them, by my faithful and invariable
we are one : promise, as the great encouragement of their
faith and hope f that they may all be one, even
as we are one, and, in consequence of such a
blessed union, may dwell together with us, and
23 I in them, and with each other, in eternal felicity: I'hus 23
thou in me, that therefore mav it ever be, / dwelling in them,
perfect in one, and (^"^^d thoii in me ; that they, who now enjoy the
that the world may first beginnings of this happv state, may at
know that thou hast length be made completely perfect in one, and
loved ThemTas thou ^^ united in the most cordial love, without
hast loved me. any jarring affection, or the least mixture of
sorrow and complaint ; that so the clearest dem-
onstration may be given of the efficacy of thy
grace, and that the zuorld by this means 7nay
knoxv that thou hast sent fne, while they per-
ceive them under my forming care to become
visibly and justly the favourites of heaven ; and
it may thus be manifest to all that thou hast
loved them, as thou hast loved me, and hast ex-
tended this mercy to them for my sake.
24 Father, I will But no improvements, either in holiness or 24
comfort, in this world, can completely answer
the purposes of my love, and the promises of
my grace to them ; and therefore, O my Fath-
er, permit me to say, that I will, that is, I im-
portunately ask it, and, in consequence of the
mutual transactions between us, I am bold to
*» That the iwrld may believe that thou we be so wise as to take the warning", be-
Aast sent we.] This plainly intimates that fore we are quite destroyed one of another !
dissension among Christians would not only (Gal. v. 15.)
be uncomfortable to themselves, but would '^ The glory luhich thou gavest Tne I have
be a means of bringing the truth and ex- given the7n, &c.] As it was plainly in his
cellence of the Christian religion into ques- Father's name, and by the authority of his
tion : and he must be a stranger to what commission, that Christ had given them,
hath passed, and is daily passing, in the th's promlsti, which with a lively faith,
world, who does not see what fiual ad- they had affectionately embraced ; so this
vantage they have given to infidels to mis- was one of the strongest arguments that
represent it as a calamity, rather than to could be ur^ed for Uie complete accom-
regard it as a blessing to mankind. May pUshment of it.
4:74 And that theij might he with hhn to behold his glory,
SECT, claim it as matter of right, that they also whom that they also wliom
clxxx. ffiQii /i^gf graciously given 7ne^ even all thy ^^^^ ^^st given me,
-J-^ chosen and sanctified people, may at length be t.T^rZ^'y'm.l
xvh. 24 with me where I am^ in that heavenly world to behold my glory
which I am now removing ; that they may there which thou hast giv-
behold ^nd contemplate, with everlasting de- f" "fl' ^''\^'^Z
,. , o , , ^ ' - , • , , ° , lovedst me before
lightiul admiration, my glory xvhich thou hast the foundation of
by thy sure appointment ^iz;^n me^ and art just the world,
ready to bestow ; for thou hast loved me before
the foundation of the worlds and didst then de-
cree for me that mediatorial kingdom with
which thou art now about to invest me.
25 And herein thou wilt not only be merciful, 25 O righteous
but faithful and just too, as it is congruous to Father, the world
those essential perfections of thy nature, 0 {]f^'^ . '^It I ha^e
most righteous Father^ thus to distinguish me known thee, and
and my followers with a peculiar glory : for these have known
though the xvorld has not knoxvn or acknowl- ^^^'^^ ^^^^ *^^^^ ^^"^
edged thee^^ yet / have known thee^ and have
accordingly directed the whole of my minis-
trations to thy glory ; and these my servants
too have known that thou hast sent me^ and will
courageously assert it, even at the expense of
26 their very lives. And I have declared thy 26 And I have
na7ne to the?n, and xvill^ as I have opportunity, declared unto them
farther go on to declare [i?], both by my word, ^1^;^% 'f^ ^it
and by my spirit ; that thtir graces and ser- the love wherewith
vices may be more eminent ; that even the love thou hast loved me
with which thou hast loved me may be dwelling ^^y ^® .^"^ themi
in them ; and that / also may take up my con- ^" *" ^^^'
stant residence in them by my spiritual pres-
ence, when my bodily presence is removed, as
it will quickly be. •
IMPROVEMENT.
ver. 13 We have indeed perpetual reason of thankfulness that our
gracious Redeemer spake these words in the xvorld^ and recalled
them thus exactly to the memory of his beloved disciples so many
years after, that we in the most distant ages of his church might,
^. ^y S^^^y '^hich thou hast given tne.'] <^ Though the nuorld has not hioixiH thee."]
This may express the lustre and beauty of That kai here signifies Though, the con-
Christ's personal appearance, the adora- nection plainly demonstrates ; and Eisner
tionpaid him by the inhabitants of the up- produces many instances of it. (Observ.
per world, and the administration of the Vol. I. p. 344.) To which the following
affairs of that providential kingdom, which instances from the sacred writers maybe
it is his high office to preside over. added, among many others, Luke xviii. 7 i
John xiv.30 ; Acts vii. 5 j and Heb.iii. 9.
Reflections on Christ* s prayer for his people. 47 S
hy reviewing them^h^ive his joy fiilfli/ed ijius. Let us with pleas- sect.
ure recollect that x\\Q?,e petitions which Christ offered for his apos- c'xxx.
ties were expressly declared not to be intended /ir theyn alone ;hut^ "^ ^
so far as circumstances should agree, for all that should believe
on him through their word^ and therefore y^^r us^ if we are real,
and not merely nominal believers. For us doth he siiWpraif^not
that Gc^ ifowA/ immediately take us out of the xvorld^ though for 15
his sake we may be continually hated and injured in it ; but that 14.
he would keep us from the evil to which we are here exposed.
For our sokes did he also sanctify hi?nselfas a propitiation for 19
our sins, that we might also be sanctified through the truth ; for
he gave himself for iis^ that he might redeem us from all iniquity^
and purify unto himself a peculiar people^ zealous of good works.
(Til. ii. 14.)
May these w^ise and gracious purposes of his love be fulfilled
in us ! 3Iay we be one with each other, and with him ! May that 21
piety and charity appear in the whole series of our temper and
behaviour, which may evidently shew the force of our religion,
and reflect a conspicuous honour upon the great Founder of it !
And may all concur to train us up for that complete felicity
above, in which all the purposes of his love centre ! It is the de-
clared xvill of Christy and let us never forget it, that his people
should be with him where he is, that they may behold his glory
which the Father has given him. And there is apparent con- 24.
gruity, as well as mercy, in the appointment : that where he is^
there also should his servants and members be. The blessed an-
gels do undoubtedly behold the glory of Christ w^ith perpetual con-
gratulation and delight ; but how much more reason shall rue
have to rejoice and triumph in it when we consider it as the glorif
of one in our own nature, the glory of our Redeemer and our
Friend, and the pledge and security of our own everlasting hap-
piness ! Let us often be lifting up the eyes of our faith toward
it, and let us breath after heaven in this view ! in the mean time,
with all due zeal, and love, and duty, acknowledging the Father 25
and the So?!, thsit the joys of heaven may be anticipated in our
souls, while the love of God is shed abroad there by his Spirit, 26
which is given unto us ; even something of that love wherewith
he has loved Jesus our incarnate Head.
SECT. CLXXXL
Jesus retires from the guest chamber to the garden ofGethsemanCy
and in his way thither renews the caution which he had given to
Peter and the rest of the apostles. Mat. XXVI. 31 2>5,
Mark XIV. 27—31. Luke XXII. 39. John XVIIL 1.
John XVIII. 1. JOHN XVIIL 1.
[A ^ ^^ ^^^^" A ^^ "^^hen Jesus had spoken these words that
V-tx Jesus had Jl ^re mentioned above, and had concluded
476 Jesus tells his disciples they would all forsake him,
SECT, 'hjs discourse with this excellent prayer to his spoken these words»
^j^' heavenly Father, he came out from "the guest ^^ C^ame out, and]
John chamber, where he had celebrated the passover, Z'^'^J^^}^ ^ ^^^
xvai. ajid^ according to his usual custom every night, disciples/ over the
^ went forth ivith his disc? pies out of the city ; and ^^'ook Cedron, [to
crossing oz;^r thebrcok Kedron, which lav on the the mount ofOlives,]
^ ' ? c T 1 1 ^ " c r wliere was a garden,
east side ot Jerusalem, he came to the toot or into the which he
the 7nount of Olives, where there was a garden entered, and his dis-
belonging to one of his friends, into which he '^JP'^.^ [also follow-
had often been used to retire ; and though he xxil!^39.] ^ ^ ^
knew his enemies would come this very night
to seize him there, yet he entered into it,^ and
his disciples also followed him.
Mat. Then, as they were on the way thither, Jesus Mat. XXVI. 31.
xx^'^- says to them. Notwithstanding all the faith vou Then saith Jesus un.
21 have professed in me, and all theaifection which {,Voffemlfd because
I know you bear me, yet not only one or an- of me this night: for
other, but all of you shall be offended because of'^^ is written, I will
me this very niHit ; and the hour is just at ^'^j^^^^, ^^^^P'l5\'^»
h, , •' 1 11 1 •/> 11 1 !• and the sheep of the
and, when you shall be so terrified by the dis- flockshallbescatter-
tress befalling me in your presence, that it shall ed abroad. [Mark
prove the sad occasion of your falling into sin, ^^^' ^T'-]
by your forsaking me, your Master and Friend,
and leaving me in the hands of the enemy :for
it is xvritten (Zech. xiii. 7), " / will smite the
Shepherd, and the sheep of the fock shall be scat^^
teredP'* I am that Shepherd, and you the tim-
orous sheep, to be dispersed by the assault
32 made on your Keeper. ^w?, as it is after- 32But after [th at^
wards added there by way of encouragement, I ^"* rJsen again, I
*' I will turn my hand upon the litde ones," to ^viU go before you in-
J 1 rx ^ c xL- J' • 1 t" Gahlee. [MAaii
reduce and recover them Irom this dissipated xiv. 28.]
state ; so likewise I assure you for your com-
fort, that after I am risen from the dead, as I
shall soon be, Izvillgo before you into Galilee,
and there give, not only you, my apostles, but
all my disciples, the amplest demonstration
both of my resurrection and my love ; whereby
your hearts shall be established in the firmest
* J garde?!, into nuliich he entered."] Christ the first sallies of their zeal and rage, at-
probably retired into such a private place, tempt to rescue him in a tumultuous man-
not only for the advantage of secret devo- ner. Kedron was, as its name signifies, a
tlon, which perhaps he might not so well dark shady vale between Jerusalem and the
haveenjoyedinthecityat so public a time, mount of Olives, through which a little
but also that the people might not be a- brook ran which took its name from the;
larmed at his being apprehended, nor, in plac^. (Compare 2 Sam. xr, 23.)
Peter and all the rest affirm they would never deny hhiu ^TT
33 [But] Peter adherence to me : and upon this he named the sect.
juiswered and said p.j^^-(,^^lj^^plj^(,e ^yl^^^i-e he would meet them.^ clxxxi.
TJ^xJ'^t Unt Peter was so grieved to hear him say "^
fended because of that they should all be offended, and be scatter- xxvi.33
thee, [yet] will I ed from him, that, with a confident assurance
rMrnK\rv^29^'^'°^^^^°^^^^ stedfastness, he ansxvered and said
^^^ ' " to him, My dearest Lord, there is no trial can
surmount the love I bear thee ! and whatsoever
danger or distress may be at hand, I am abso-
lutely resolved and determined upon it, that
though every one besides, and even fl;//the rest
of these mv brethren, -9/20?//^ be off'ended because of
the calamities that are coming on thee, and upon
this account should be induced to forsake thee,
yet will I never be offended, but will follow thee
even to the last.
34 Jesus said un- Jesus said to him, Peter, this confidence does 34
to him, Verily I say not at all become thee, especially after the
unto thee, Thai^ this ^^arninff I ffave thee at supper f but I repeat
[day, even m this] . .0 ^ .7 r f ^r. ^l * * j
night, before tlie it agam, and verily I say unto thee, Inat today ^
cock crow [twice], vea, [^c;e?2] this very night which, is now begun,
thou Shalt deny me '(y^Qre the cock croiu twice, thou shalt repeatedly
Uirice.[MAKK XIV. ^^^^ ^^^^ .^ ^-^^ ^^^^ shameful manner ; for
after thou hast heard it once, thou shalt not be
admonished ; but before it crow a second time,
thou shalt repeat the fault ; nay, thou shalt do
it thrice, and every time with new aggravations.
35 [But] Peter But Peter upon this, instead of being awa- 35
[spake the more ve- kened to a humble sense of his own weakness,
hemently, audi said ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^.^ eagerly, \and,'\ with a mixture of
grief and indignation at the thought, said to him^
Lord, no danger whatsoever can induce me to
be guilty of such baseness ; for such is the sin-
*» He named the particular place where centre of his chief circuits, and therefore
he would meet them.] An appointment must be most convenient, especially for
to meet in so large a region as Galilee those beyond jfordan, where ma?iy had of
would without this have been of very little late believed in liim. See John x. 40 — 42,
use ; and Mat. xxviii. 16 (sect, ccii.) sect, cxxxiv.
expressly declares such an appointment. " After the warning I gave thee at sup-
We do not know the exact place, but per.] See Luke xxii. 34,' and John xiii,
we there learn from Matthew it was a 38, p. 425, 426. I persuade myself that
certain vioimtain .- probably it might be an attentive com])arison of f/io5e fexfj with
near the sea of Tiberias ,• not only because these before us in Matthew and Mark will
we find Christ on the borders of that sea convince the reader that these admonitions
after his rejwrre«/o«, (John xxii. 1, sect, cc.) were first given at the table, and now re-
but also because, as he had resided there peated as they went out : nor can I find any
longer than any where else, he had, no way of forming them all harmoniously into
doubt, the greatest number of his disciples one compound textf witliout such a suppo-
thereabouts ; and it lay pretty near the sitioi>>
478 Reflections on a resolution to suffer for Christ,
SECT, cerity and strength of my affection to thee, that unto him, Though I
clxxxi. though I should die with thee on the place, yet /should die with
"^ will not deny thee in any manner or degree,^ but ^^^y' thee '""[hi^ any
xxvi. would a thousand times rather fall by thy side wise]. Likewise al-
o5 in a brave and resolute defence, than so-much so said all the disci-
as seem to neglect thee, or in any respect to ^1^^' C^ark XIV.
fail of the strictest and most affectionate fidel-
ity. Likewise also said all the disciples^ with
equal sincerity of present intention, though
neither he nor they had courage enough to
abide by that resolution. Jesus therefore in-
sisted no farther on the matter, but left them
to be taught by the event. ,
IMPROVEMENT.
^at. So feeble is the heart of man, and yet so ready to trust to its
-^^^^" own strength ! So gracious is the Lord Jesus Christy that great
' Shepherd and Bishop ofsoids^ who gave himself to be smitten for
his fock when they had forsaken him ; and then returning, sought
them out again, and fed them in richer pastures than before !
How reasonable is it that our hearts should be fixed in the most
inflexible resolution for his service ! How fit that we should
every one of us say, with the utmost determination of soul, Lordy
25 though I shoidd die zuith thee^ yet will I not deny thee 1 For how
could death wear a more graceful, or a more pleasing form, than
when it met us close by our Saviour'' s side, and came as the seal
of our fidelity to him ?
Surely this is the language of many of our hearts before him>
especially when warmed and animated by a sense of his dying
love to us. Yet let us not he high minded ; for Peter ^ after this
Mi^ 35 declaration, denied his Master ; and the same night in which they
had protested they would never leave him, all the disciples for-
sook him and fed. (Mat. xxvi. 56.) Nor, on the other hand,
let the view of that frailty discourage, though it ought to caution,
us ; for the time came when each of them behaved as they here
spoke ; and they who in his very presence acted so weak a part,
** Spake the more eagerfy, — Iivill not deny peculiarly worth our notice that the aggra-
thee in any manner or degree] "Ek Tnptira-H vations attending Peter's denial of our Lord
thifi fxctAKov, — a /un <riit7rctgv»a-o/x!tt. I think should be more strongly represented by
the energy of these or/^?«a/ expressions Mark than by any other ei'i3w^eii\yf/ which,
cannot be reached in a version : I have in that case, probably was done by his own
therefore attempted it in the paraphrase ,- particular direction, and may be regarded '
and must observe that, if Mark's ^oj/)e/ as a genuine proof of his deep humiliation
was reviewed by Peter, as the ancients say and penitence. Compare Mark xiv. 66-»
(and particularly Clemens Alexandrinus, 72, with M<it. xxvi. 69—75 ; Luke xxii.
as quoted by Eusebius, Hist. Ecdes. lib. ii. 54—62 ; and John xviii. 25—27, sect,
cap. 15, on which see Dr. Lardner''s Credi- clxxxiy-
bilityt part ii. Vol. II. chap. 22, § 5), it is
He takes Peter, yames, and yohn, with him into the garden, 479
through the influences of his strengthening spirit, resisted unto
bloody and loved not their lives unto death, for the testimony of
Jesus. (Rev. xii. 11.)
SECT. CLXXXIL
Jesus enters the garden of Gethsemane^ and falls into his agontf
there ; during which his disciples fall asleep^ for which he gent*
ly reproves them^ and warns them of the enemies^ approach*
Mat. XXVI. 36—46. Mark XlV. 32—42. Luke XXII.
40—46.
Mat. XXVI. 36. MaT. XXVI. 36.
'T' HEN cometh CT^ H E N^ after this discourse with his disci- sect.
1 Jesuswiththem ± pj^g Jesus comes zvith them to the place we clxxxii.
unto a place called • j i i • i n j ^ , ,,
Gethsemane ; and ^^'^t'O^^^ ^'^O^'^? "^^'"1^" ^vas rGr//e'<2 G^M^^WOTZf,, j^j^^
[Luke, \vhen he as being a wtvy pleasant and fertile garden :* xxvi.
was atthe place, he] and when he was arrived just at the entrance 36
rjptTsit )^^^ i"to the place whither he was used to retire, he
while I go and pray says to eight of his disciples^ Sit ye down here
yonder. [M a r k a while, and observe what passes abroad, while
XXII ^40— l" ^ ^^ ^ S° and pray in yonder retirement.
o7 And he took -^^d^ ^s this was a very extraordinary pas- 2,7
with him Peter, and sage of his life, he took along with him Peter ^
the tvfo sons o^Zeb. and the tzvo sons of Zebedee, Jatnes and John^
edee f James and i i j u 'J r i • r '^ . '
John], and beg-an to ^"^ "^^ ottn Witnesses ot his transfiguration,
be sorrowful, [sore and were now chosen by him to be witnesses of
amazed,] and very his agony. And as he' went on with them to-
xTv'! 33.]'" ^ ^ ^ ^ wards a more retired part of the garden, he be-
gan to be in a very great and visible dejection,
amazement^ and anguish ofmind^ on account of
some painful and dreadful sensations which
a Called Gethsemane, as being a very nifies to be penetrated nxitk the most lively
pleasant and fertile garden.] It is well and piercing sorroxn ; and etStt/ucyuv to be
known that C3i3Da' Nu signifies the val- quite depressed and almost overwhelmed
ley of Fatness. The garden probably had with tlie load : Mark expresses it, if pos-
its name fromi its soil and situation, and sible, in a more forcible and stronger man-
lay in some little -valley between two of ner ; for iKdA/uCuerdm imports the most
those many hills, the range of which con- shocking mixture of terror SLudajnazement f
stitutes the rnoicnt of Olives ; and it is with and '^igiwTr®', in the next verse, intimates
some peculiar reference to this situation ihixt he was surroundtd^n-ith sorrow on eveTy
that some have rendered it torcular oleiy or side, so that it broke in upon him with
afatofoil. ^ such violence that, humanly speaking, there
^ He began to be in great dejection^ amaze- was no way of escape. I have endeavour-
tnent, and anguish of mind."] The words ed, as well as I could, to express each of
which our translators use here are very these ideas in the paraphrase. Dr More
flat, and fall vastly short of the emphasis truly observes, that Christ's continued re-
of those terms in which the exiangelists de- solution., in the midst of these agonies and
ecribe this awful scene : for aut«c-6*< sig- supernatural horrors, ^as the most heroic
VOL. 2. 62
480 He prays that^ if possible^ the cup might pass from him*
SECT, were then impressed upon his soul by the im-
clxxxii. mediate hand of God. Then^ turning to his 38 Then salth he
i;i;r three disciples, he says to them. My friends, '"JhemMysouHs
sxvi. you never saw me m so great distress as now ; fui, even unto death:
38 for my soul is surrounded on all sides with an tarry ye here, and
extremity of anguish and sorrow, which tor- ;^/^^^ ^^^^. ^^ -
^ / / J T 1 PLuKE, a7id pray,
tures me even almost ipito deatli ; and 1 know \Yiax. ye enter not
that the infirmity of human nature must quickly into temptation ]
sink under it, without some extraordinary re- [Mark XIV. 34.
lief from God; to him therefore I will apply ^^"""^ ^^"-""^^^
with the greatest earnestness ; and do you in
the mean time continue here^ and tvatch with
me^^ considering how liable we are to be sur-
prised ; {and'\ let me remind you also to pray
for yourselves, that you may not enter i?ito that
dangerous tejnptation of which I have just been
giving you notice, or may be kept from falling
by it. See Mat. xxvi. si, sect, clxxxi. ^
Mark And going on a little xvay from thence into a And^he^ went for-
XIV. 35 more retired part of the garden, zvhen he was wardalittle,[LuKE,
now zvithdrawn about a stone"* s throxv from the and was withdrawn
place where he left the?n, he first humbly kiielt ftone'f Tast^^'^'Ind
down^ and then, as the ardour of his devotion kneeled down,] and
increased, he prostrated himself on his face to the fell [on his face] on
ground, and prayed. That if it we. e possible, that the ground,and pray-
1 iri c '^ii'ii ^d, 1 riat it it were
areadtul season oi sorrow, with which he was possible, the hour
then almost overwhelmed, anight be shortened, might pass from hira.
36 and pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, [Mat. XX VI. 39 —
I know that all things proper to be done are ^iTl^ll\^tlXh-
possible to thee ; and, 0 my Father, if it be so far ba. Father, all things
possible, as to consist with what thy wisdom has ^^^ possible unto
appointed for the advancement of thy glory, gr^^f\^^b^ "SssiWe*^!
that can be imagined ; and far superior to external signs of distress than in any other
Valor in single combat, or in battle ; where, circumstance of his sufferings, there is
in one case, the spirit is raised by natural reason to conclude there was something
indignation ; and in the other, by the pomp extraordinary in the degree of the impres-
of war, the sound of martial music, the ex- sion : and it surely comes much to the
ample of fellowsoldiers, b'c. See Mare's same, whether we say that God^ by his
Theolo^. Works, p. 38. Dr. Whitby will own i^nmediate agency, impressed some
not allow that these agonies arose from the uncommon horrors on his mind, or that the
immediate hand of God upon him; which strength of his spirits, and perhaps the
he thinks not to be the case, even of the tone of his nerves, were so impaired, that
damned in hell. But it seems impossible the view he had of these things should
to prove that it is not. He rather thinks affect him to a degree of exquisite and
it might arise from a deep apprehension of uncommon sensibility,
the malignity of sin, and the misery ^ w^tch ivith me ] Had they done this
brought upon the world by it. But, con- carefully they would soon have found a
sidering how much the mind of Christ rich equivalent for their watchful care, in
was wounded and broken with what he the eminent improvement of their graces
now endured, so as to give some greater by this wonderful and edifying sight.
His disciples sleepy and are exhorted to watchfulness. 481
take away this cup, and the salvation of thy people, I earnestly be- sect.
[flofl^ let /fpass]from seech thee, that thou immediately wouldest clxxxu.
ITot ' whir^^wm', *^^^ ^'^^^y ^^'^ ^^^P ^^ bitterness and terror ;d Mark
but \^\\2X thou wilt! [,yea^'] let [it'] now pass from me^ and let comfort xiv. 56
[Matt h. XXVI. and peace return to my soul : nevertheless^ if
"'^^j thou seest it necessary to continue it, or to add
yet more grievous ingredients to it, I am here
ready to receive it in submission to thy will,
and resolutely say upon the whole, Not as I
will^ but as thou wilt ; for though nature can-
not but shrink back from these sufferings, it is
the determinate purpose of my soul to bear
whatsoever thine infinite wisdom shall see fit
to appoint.
o7 And he cometh And upon this, rising up from the ground on S7
[unto the disciples], which he had lain prostrate, he conies again to
sleeping ;^and sa!th ^^^^ ^^^^^ discipks, and, notwithstanding the
unto Peter, Si- distress that he was in, and the command that
mon, sleepest thou ? he had given to them to watch, he finds them
Zlch onThoir n ^'l' "'^^'P ■• ondhep^mcuUrly says to Peter (who
[What, could ve not bad but lately made such solemn protestations
watch with me one of his peculiar zeal and fidelitv), What, Simon^
XXV'?40'T^'^^^"' ^^^^ ^"^^^ ^^^^P ^^ ^^^^ ^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ • ^"^ ^^^^^
"' thou hadst just declared thy resolution to die
with me, coiddst thou so soon forget thy prom-
ise to stand by me, and not so much as watch
or keep awake but for one hour, when I was in
such an agony ? And you that were so ready
to join with him in the same profession, could
neither of you be mindful of me ; and in this
time of my extreme distress were ye all so un-
able to perform your resolution as not to watch
38 Watch ye, and one single hour xvith 7ne f 1 must again exhort 38
pray, lest ye enter ^^^ ^q watch and pray with the QTeatest ear-
into temptation : the -^ ^ ^, ^ ^ ^ • 7 j r n i
nestness, that ye may not enter into and tall by
that dangerous temptation which is now ap-
proaching:^ the spirit indeed is forward, and
^ Take a^way this cup."] Nothing is reference to the way of executing some
more common than to express a portion of criminals by sending them a cup of poison ;
comfort or distress by a cup, alluding to the which is well known to have been an east-
cusiomof the father of a family, or master em, though not (so far as I can learn) a
of a feast, to send to his children or guests Je-jvish ciisto^n.
a cup of such liquor as he designed for e Watch and pray. Sec] How poorly is
them. See note '', on Mat. xx. 22^ p. 259 ; this exhortation answered by those vigils
and with the texts which are referred to at and nocturnal offices of the Romish church,
the end of that note compare Psal. xvi. 5 ; which are said to have had their original
xxiii. 5 ; Ixxv. 8 ; Jer. xvi. 7 ; xlix. 12 ; from hence ! Rhemish. Testam. p. 79. I
Lam. IV. 21 ; Ezek. xxiii. 32, 33 ; Hab. ii. think it more proper, on a review, to ren-
16 ; and Rev. xiv. 10 ; xvi. 19. In some der alct; hk ta-^va-AJi in the preceding verse,
qf which texts there may, perhaps, be a with Dr. Hammond, W^ere ye so unable^
482 He repeats his prayer with submission to his Father'^s wilh
SECT, ready to express the dutiful regard that you spirit truly is [will-
clxxxii. have for me, and I know your resolutions of "^.?3' b"t the flesh/,
11 • • 1 ^ ^ weak. rMATTHi
jyj^j.|. adhering to me are very smcere ; but yet, as xxvi. 41.J
xiv. 38 your own present experience may convince
yoUy thejiesh is -weak / and as you have been
so far prevailed upon by its infirmities, as to
fall asleep at this very unseasonable time, so if
you are not more upon your guard, and more
importunate in seeking for assistance from
above, it will soon gain a much greater victory
over you.
S9 And when he had thus gently admonished 39 And again he
them, he went away again the second time, to a "^^^^ Mmej^^^and
little distance from them, and prayed as he had prayed, and' spake
done before, speaking much the sa?7ie words, or the same words,
expressintr himself to the like effect, with the [saying O my Fath-
^ ,° , , . . . /n ri er, it this cup may
same ardour and submission, saying, U my ta^ ^ot pass away from
ther, if'it be necessary, in the pursuance of the me, except I drink
great end for which I came into the world, that it, thy will be done ]
I should endure these grievous sufferings, and LMat. XXVI. 42.J.
this cup cannot pass from me xvithout my drink*
ing it, and wringing out, as it were, the very
dregs of it, I will still humbly acquiesce, and
say, Thy will he done, how painful soever it
may be to flesh and blood.
40 And returning back to his three disciples, he 40 And when he
fot,nd them asleep again ; for the fatigue and ^Z^tk^^ again
trouble they had lately undergone had exhaust- (tor their eyes were
ed their spirits, and their eyes were quite heavy) ; neither
weip-Zze^^^fl^OTt^n with weariness and sorrow: and^"^^^^ ^^^ ^]^^\ ^^
- -^ J • V J .1 • \ c 1 answer him. [Mat.
he admonished them again as before ; and xxvi. 43.]
they were so thoroughly confounded, that they
knew not ivhat to answer him ; and yet imme-
diately after they were so weak and senseless Mat. XXVI. 44.
as to relapse into the same fault again. And he left them.
Mat. And. havino; roused them for the present from ^"^. "^'^"J ^^^y
^^..: 1 • V tin? J J • again, and prayed
xxw. their sleep, he left them; and went away again, ^§^ ti^i^a time, say-
'*^ and prayed the third time^ speaking much M^ing the same words;
tfc. than to retain our version ofifjax, luhat, deeper and tenderer sense of the unkind-
which seems a less common and less for- ness of his friends. (See Tillots. Works,
cible sense. Vol. II. p. 435.) How apt are we to
f The spirit indeed is forward and ready, think affliction an excuse for peevishness f
but thejiesh is 'loeai.] So gentle a rebuke. But how unlike are we to Christ in that
and so kind an apology (as Archbishop thought, and how unkind to ourselves, as
Tillotson very justly and beautifAlly ob- well as our friends, to whom, in such
serves), were the more remarkable, as circumstances, with our best temper, we
our Lord^s mind was now discomposed must be more troublesome th^n we could
^vith sorrow, so that he must have the wish !
An angel appears to strengthen him In his agony, 483
Luke XXIL 42. same words as before, or offering petitions to sect.
ClXXXll.
Saying-, Father, it t^g ^^^^ effect ;S Saying, Father^ if thou ^^
thou be willing-, re- . ; .. ,, *i - / r ^
move this cn^W-omP^^'^^^^^ ^^ ^""^^ «^^'«?/ ^^^^^ ^^P f^^^'^ ^'^^ ^"^ to j^^k^
me ; nevertheless, excuse me from the continuance of this bitter xxii. 42
not my will, but anguish and distress,^ it is what would greatly
me edone. rejoice me, and with due submission I would
humbly ask it ; nevertheless^ as I said before,
43 And there ap- not my xv'ill^ but thine be clone* Ancl^ in this 43
peared an angel unto 1^3^ address, his combat was SO violent and
him from heaven, , ' i i t ^
etrengtbenine- him. severe, that he was almost overwhelmed ; and
therefore, for his assistance against the powers
of darkness, which united their force against
him in the most terrible manner, there appear-
ed to hhn an angel from heaven^ standing near
him in a visible form, strengthening him by
that sensible token of the Father's protection
and favour, and suggesting such holy consola-
tions as were most proper to animate his soul
44 And, being in in such a struggle.^ Yet, with all these as- 44
an agony, he prayed gurances that he was still the chartre of heaven,
more earnestly : and , -iiiiii i-.
his sweat was as it ^"^ quickly should be made victorious over
all, his terror and distress continued ; and^ be-
ing in an unspeakable agony^ he prayed yet
more intensely than before, insomuch that,
though he was now in the open air, and in the
cool of the night, his sweat ran off with uncom-
mon violence ; yea, so extraordinary was the
commotion of animal nature, that blood was
g Speaking much the same 'vnords.'^ It is combat in which he was now actual! v en-
plain, by comparing ver. 39 and 42, tiiat gaged. (See Zmi/.'orc/z'tf T/^eo/. lib. iii" cap.
the v:ords were not entirely the sattie ; and 13. § 17 ) This throws great light on Heb.
it is certain that ?.cy^ often signifies mat- v. 7, He ivas heard in that he feared. Since
ter : so that no more appears to be intend- tlie former editions I have had the pleas-
ed than that he prayed to the same purpose ure to find this interpretation beautifully
as before. illustrated and judiciously confirmed by
^^ If thou pleasest to take au^ay this aipfrotn the learned Dr. Thomas yackson^ in his
we.] The observing reader will easil) per- IVorksy Vol. II. p. 813, 817, 947.
ceive by the paraphrase, that I do not sup- ' An arigelfrom heaven strengthening him.']
pose Our Lord here prayed to be excused Some of the ancient Christians thought it
entirely ^Tom sufferings and death. Such a so dishonourable to Christ that he should
petition appears tome so inconsistent with receive such assistance from an angel, that
that steady constancy he always shewed, they omitted f/1/5 lerse in their coj&/e,y ; as
. and with that lively turn (John xii 27, 28, Jerom and Hilary inform us. It is indeed
p. 296) in which he seems to disown such wanting in some manuscripts : but far the
a prayer, that I think even Hooker's solu- greatest number of copies have it; and
lion, though the best I have met with, is could Hilary have proved it a spurious ad-
not satisfactory. ( Hooker'' s Eccles. Polity ^ dition, he would, no doubt, have done it,
Ijb. V. § 48.) It appears to me much safer since it so directly contradicts the wild
to expound it, as Sir Matthew Hale does notion he seems to maintain, that Christ
(in his contemplationi Vol. I. p. 59), as re- was incapable of any painful sensations.
Uting to the terror and severity of the (See Dr. Mill, in loc.'j
484 He tells his disciples that the traitor was comhig.
SECT, also forced in an amazing manner through the were great drops of
clxxxii. pores together with the sweat ; which was as ^lood falling down
V ^ , r 11 1 r 11' J r to the ground.
Luke ^^ ^^^^ ^rfo^ drops of blood falling down Irom ^
xxii. 44 his face, and dropping in clots on the ground^ as
he bowed himself to the earth.*'
45 And rising up from prayer^ after this dreadful 45 And when he
conflict, he c^we back to his disciples the Mz>^ rose up from prayer,
ti7ne, and, notwithstanding the repeated admo- ^i?^ 7'^^ *^Tm ° ^"*
nitions he had given them, he ag^m found them the^thh-d tiine/rhe
sleeping ; for their senses were quite stupified, found them sleeping
46 and their spirits exhausted with sorrow. And for sorrow, [Mat.
he said to them. Why do you still go on to sleepy at x^^i^flj ^^^"^
such a season as this ? This drowsy disposition 45 ^.nd said unto
makes it necessaryto renew my exhortation, and them, Why sleep
to call upon you yet once more to arise and \^ \ ^^^^ ^"^ PPf'
, A -^ -^ . . lest ye enter mto
pray, that you may not enter into a circumstance tempt?tion.
Mat of very dangerous temptation. But as all this y^^r^ XXVI.— 45.
xxvi. (lid not sufficiently rouse them, and he knew And he saith unto
'^■^ those that came to apprehend him were just now them. Sleep on now,
entering the garden, /z^^altered his voice, and ^"j. i^^enough ;]^be!
said to them in an ironical manner, You may hold, the hour is
Tioxv sleep on if you can, and take your rest as long [come], and the
as you please. I have been calling you to watch; l^^^^l "|^;j^ ^^ \^^
but It is now enough ; for this season of watch- hands of sinners,
ing is over, and I have no further need to press [Mark XIV — 41.]
you to it : you will now be roused by another ^
kind of alarm than what my words have given ;
for behold, the long expected hour is at length
co?ne, and the Son of man is even now betrayed
into the hands of the most inhuman sinners :
46 Arise, therefore, and let us go along with them 45 ^Cise, let us be
whithersoever they shall lead us j for behold, he going: behold, he is
^ His sv3eat ivas as it vjere great drops of darkness : the former says he was now
blood, &.C.] Many expositors have thought, surrounded with a mighty host of devils,
as Mr. Le Clerc did, that the expression who exercised all their force and malice
. [0 iS'paig dLvla ucru ^pojuCci Aiuctl^'] only im- to persecute and distract his innocent
plies that his drops of snxieat were large and soul ; and the latter supposes that Satan
clavimy like clots of gore : but Dr. Whitby hoped, by overpowering him here, to have
observes that Aristotle and Diodorus Si- prevented the accompUshment of the
cuius both mention bloody sweats as attend- prophecies relating to the manner and
ing some extraordinary ago7iy of mind ; circumstances of his death. (See Scott\
and I find Leii, in his Life of Pope Sextus Christian Lifey Vol. III. p. 149, and Flem-
V. p. 200, and Sir John C'hardin, in his ing'' s Christology,y o\. II. \i.\oO.) Buthow-
/Tfj^oryfj/'PcTjia, Vol. I. p. 126, mentioning ever this be, I can hardly think, as Dr.
a like phenomenon ; to which Dr. ^^c-^^on Scott suggests, that there was some su-
(in his Works, Vol. II. p. 819) adds an- pernatural agency of those evil spirits in
other from Thuanus, lib. x. p 221. Dr. the drowsiness of the disciples, since the
Scott and Mr. Fleming both imagine that sacred historian is silent on this head, and
Christ now struggled with the spirits of refers it to another cause.
Rejlections on Christ*s agony in the garden. 485
Sit hand that doth that betrayeth me is just at hand. Accordingly sect.
xxxu.
betray me. [Mark judas and his retinue immediately appeared,
XIV. 42.] ^^^ seized him in the manner which will be
next related.
IMPROVEMENT.
On the most transient survey of this amazing story we cannot
but fall into deep admiration. What a sight is here ! Let our
souls turn aside to behold it with a becoming temper : and surely
we must wonder how the disciples could sleep in the midst of a Mat,
scene which might almost have awakened rocks and trees to ^q^^^]-
compassion.
Behold the Prince of life^ God's incarnate and only begotten
Son, drinking of the brook in the xvay (Psal. ex. 7) ; and not only Luke
tasting, but drawing in full draughts of that bitter cup which his ^'^""
heavenly Father put into his hands on this awful occasion. Let *
us behold him kneeling^ Siud even prostrate on the groimd^ SLixd „ .
there pouring out his ^strong cries and tears to him that was able ^iy. o5
to save him from death* (Heb. v. 7.) Let us view him in this Luke
bloody agony ^ and say, If these things be done in the green tree^ xxu.44
•what shall be done in the dry ? (Luke xxiii. 31.) If even Christ
himself was so depressed with sorrow and amazement^ and the
distress and anguish he endured were such, that in his agony the
sweat ran from him like great drops of bloody when our iniquities
were laid upon him^ and it pleased the Father to bruise him, and to
put him to grief (Isa, liii. 6, 10) ; how must the sinner then be
filled with horror, and with what dreadful agonies of anguish
and despair will he be overwhelmed, when he shall bear the-
burden of his own iniquities, and God shall /;owr out all his zvrath
upon him ? Behold, how fearful a thing it is to fall into the
hands of the living God I (Heb. x. 31.)
Here was no human enemy near our blessed Redeemer ; yet ..
such invisible terrors set themselves in array against him, that xxvi! 38
his very soul was poured out like xvater ; nor was there any cir-
cumstance of his sufferings in which he discovered a greater
commotion of spirit. Nevertheless, his pure and holy soul bare
all this without any irregular perturbation. In all this he sinned
not by a murmuring word, or an impatient thought : he shone
the brighter for ihefurjiace of affliction, and gave us at once the
most wonderful and the most amiable pattern of resignatio?! to the
Divine disposal, when he said. Father, not as I will, but as thou 39, 42
wilt. May this be our language under every trial ! Lord, we
could wish it was ; and we would maintain a holy watchfulness
n over our own souls, that we may be so ! But in this respect, as
j well as in every other, we find that even when the spirit is willing,
I the flesh is weak. How happy is it tor us that the blessed Jesus 41
486 Judas comes to the garden -with soldiers to seize him*
SECT, knoxvs our frame ^ and has learnt^ by what he himself suffered in
^ -^^^"' our frail nature, to make the most compassionate allowance for
its various infirmities ! Let us learn to imitate this his gentle
and gracious conduct, even in an hour of so much distress. Let
us bear with and let us pity each other, not aggravating every
neglect of our friends into a crime ; but rather speaking of their
faults in the mildest terms, and making the most candid excuses
for what we cannot defend. Let us exercise such a temper,
even in the most gloomy and dejected moments of life ; which
surely may be well expected of us, who ourselves need so much
compassion and indulgence almost from every one with whom
we converse ; and, which is infinitely more, who owe our a// to
the forbearance of that God, of -whose mercy it is that we are not
utterly consumed.
SECT. CLXXXIIL
yestis is betrayed by Judas^ and seized by the guards to whom^ af-
ter glorious displays of his power ^ he voluntarily surrenders
himself and is then forsaken by all his disciples. Mat. XXVI.
47—56. Mark XIV. 43—52. Luke XXII. 47—53. John
XVIII. 2—12.
John XVIIL 2. JohnXVIII.2.
^^^'^'. ^rOWwhen our Lord was thus retired to the AND Judas also
clxxxm. IVg^^jgjj^ fudas also that betrayed him ^/i^-ty ^^ which betrayed
John the place; for Jesus often resorted thither in com- fo^'j^uT oft ^times
3tviii.2pany with his disciples ^^ and had particularly resortedthither with
done it again and again since his coming up to his disciples.
spend this passover at Jerusalem. (Compare
3 Luke xxi. 37, p. 399.) Judas therefore taking 3 j^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^
with him a band [of soldiers^ or a Roman co- ing received a band
hort, with their captain (see ver. 12), and some of men and officers
Jewish officers, sent for that purpose >« .A. "t^^fsrc'cm!
chief priests and other Pharisees belonging to eth thither with lan-
the sanhedrim, who were chiefly concerned in terns, and torches,
this affair, cofiies thither with torches^ and lamps^ ^"^ weapons.
and hostile xveapons ; which they brought with
* yesus often resorted thither luith his dis- it is very probable Christ might exert
eiples.'\ It was probably a gardeji which some miraculous power over his own ani-
belong-ed to one of Glirist's friends, and to mal nature to strengthen it for such diffi-
which he had a liberty of retiring when- cult services, and to preserve it in health,
ever he pleased. And here accordingly he and vigour ; otherwise the copious dews
often used to spend some considerable time which fall by night in those parts must
in prayer and pious converse, in the eve- have been very dangerous (as I have else-
nings or nights after his indefjitigable la- where hinted, sect. Ixxxvi. note •=) espec-
bours in the city and temple b)' day. It is ially when the body was heated by preach-
indeed amazing how fesh arid blood con\d ing in the day, and often by travelling
go through guch incessant fatigues ; but several miles on foot.
He appoints a signal to distinguish Jesus, 487
them, though it was now full moon, to use sect.
their arms, if they should meet with an oppo- clxxxiii.
siti«^n, or to discover him by their lights, if he ""j^hrT
should go about to hide himself, as they fool- xviii. 3
ishly imagined he might, among the private
walks or other recesses of the garden.
Mark XIV. 43. And i?nmediateli/^ while he rvas yet speaking Mark
And immediately, to his disciples, and giving them the alarm ^tiv. 43
no\'^uys!^ one ''of mentioned in the close of the last section, behold,
the twelve' came,] this very Judas^ one of the twelve apostles, came
and with him a into the garden, and with him a great multitude
great multitude with of persons of very different stations and offices
swords RncL staves • r-
from the chief i" ^^^^i ^^ho were sent with authority yrc??;z the
priests, and the chief priests ^ and scribes ^ and elders of the people ;
scribes, and the el- ^nd, more effectually to execute their orders,
TmIt ^^v\ X7 ^^y ^^"^^ armed with swords and staves^ to
Luke XXII. 47.—] seize him by violence, if any resistance should
be made to the attempt ; and there were also
with them some persons of superior rank and
quality, who, full of impatient and malicious
zeal, could not forbear mingling themselves
with the dregs of the people upon this infa-
mous occasion. (See Luke xxii. 52, p. 492.)
44 And he that be- Now he that betrayed hif?i zvent a little before the 44
trayed him [Luke, rest of them; [and] that they might not be mis-
W]\ad given them taken in the person, he had given them a signal,
a token, saying, by which they might distinguish Jesus from any
Whomsoever I shall others who might chance to be with him,^ say*
kiss, that same IS he; ^, ^^ Ti;/^ow I shall kiss ^i my first entering
take him, fhold him . '^ ' , 1 • , .
fast,] and lead Azm i"to the garden IS the person you are commis-
away safely. [Mat. sioned to take i'^ be sure therefore to lay hold
^Yu^S-- ^^^^ of him immediately, and lead him away safely ;
^'"^"^ for he has sometimes made strange escapes from
those that have attempted to take him, and if he
, get away from you after this signal it will be your
TP J /\n,n. RS soon 3-s r*i -i • ^ a i i*i7* a ^
he was come, he lault, and not mme.° And accordmgly, being 45
^ Had given them a sigJial.'] As those thus to salute hhn-> when they returned to
that came to apprehend him were stran- him after having been any time absent,
gers to Jesus, and it was now night, and ^ Xeac/ him, aivay safely ; for he has
there were txvelve persons together, prob- sometimes made strange escapes, See.]
ably dressed much alike, such a signal Compare Luke iv. 30 ; John viii. 59 ; x.
might be thought more necessary. 39. I am ready to imagine, from this pre-
caution, that Judas might suspect that
<= He vihotn I shall kiss is the person^ It Christ would on this occasion renew the
is indeed probable, as Dr. Guyse andoth- oniracles he had formerly wrought for his
ers observe, Xh^X. our Lord, in great con- own deliverance; though he had so ex«
descension, had used (according to the pressly declared the contrary. See Mat.
Jewish custom) to permit his disciples xxvi. 24, sect, clxx,
VOL. 2, 63
488 He betrays the Son of man xvith a kiss»
SECT, come into the garden, he drew near to Jesus to [Luke, drew near
d^i. ki,, hij,,^ as a signal to the company to seize jJl^^^.J^^^^^-j ^^^^^^
Mat. ^i"! J {audi going directly to him, with an air of straightway to him,
XIV. 45 the greatest respect, as if he had been impatient and saith, [Hail]
of his absence during those few hours which Master Master; and
, . , ° 1 • 1 1 '^ kissed him. 1 Mat.
had passed since he saw him last, and was quite xxvi. 49. Luke
tansported with joy to meet him again, he said, XXIL— 4r.3
with the fairest appearance of duty and friend-
ship, Hail to thee, Rabbi, Rabbi ! May the
greatest pleasure and happiness continually at-
Mat. tend thee! ^?2^ upon this he kissed him. But Mat. XXVL 50.
xxvi. 50 Jesus, well understanding the perfidious pur- —[But] Jesus said
poses concealed under this fond address, an- Xefo^e art'Xu
swered with great mildness, yet with becoming come ? [Judas, be^
spirit, and said to hi??i, Friend, xvherefore art trayest thou the Soa
thou come? and jvhence is all this ceremony |f^-„ wit.. a UissG
and transport ? Thmk of it, Judas I Is this the *•
friendship thou hast so often boasted ? Alas,
dost thou betray him whom thou canst not but
know to be the Son of man with such a treach-
erous kiss ?^ And dost thou think that he can
be imposed upon by this poor artifice ? or that
God, who has promised him so glorious and
triumphant a kingdom, will not punish such
baseness and cruelty to him ?
John T/ze-^y^sw*, though he fully understood what JoHNXVin.4. Je^
kvui. 4 was to follow this perfidious salutation, ^shiow- ?"« therefore know--
. „ 1 1 ir 1 .; • ^/ X • J insr all things that
mg all the dreadful things that were coming up- ^^^^^^^ ^^^| .^^p^^^
on him^ yet did not attempt to escape, or to
withdraw himself out of the power of his en-
emies : nevertheless, he determined to shew
them that he could easily have done it ; and
"■ Dost thou betray the Son of man i;iith a of ignominy and horror that should attend
kiss ?~\ There is great reason to believe his siifferiiigs : which accordingly he
that our Lord uses this phrase of the Son largely foretold (see Mat. xx. 18, 19, and
ofman to Judas on this occasion (as he the parallel places, p. 257), though many
had done the same evening at supper of these circumstances were as contingent
twice in a breath) in the sense here given; as can well be imagined. It is impossible
(compare note • on Mat. xxvi. 24, sect, to enter aright into the heroic behaviour
clxx.) and it adds a spirit to these words of oz^r Lord Jesus Christy without carrying
that has not often been observed, which this circumstance along with tis. The
the attentive reader will discern to be critics are in raptures at the gallantry of
attended with much greater strength and Achilles in going to the Trojan ivar, when
beauty than if oJirZor^ had only said, Z)o5f he knew (according to Homer) that he
thou betray me inith a kiss ? should fall there : but he must have a
very low way of thinking who does not
^Knoiiiing all things that icere coming up- see infinitely more in our Lord's conduct
on him.'] Our Lord not onlv knew in gen- on this great occasion, when this circum-
eral that he should suffer some great evil, stance, so judiciously though so modest-
and even der.th itself, but was acquainted ly suggested by St' John, is duly attend-
also with all the particular circumstances ed to>
yesus comes forward^ and his enemies fall to the ground, 489
him, went forth, and therefore, as they now, upon the signal that sect.
said ""to them, ^yj^g given them, were drawing near to seize clxx^iii.
ye . j^.^^ j^^ went forth towards his enemies, and ~7^
said to them^ with the greatest composure of xviii. 4
5 They answered mind. Whom do you come to seek here ? And 5
him, Jesus of Naza- iji^y ^yere SO confounded at the air of majesty
reth. Jesus saith un- , • ^ . ,• • i i • i i 11
to tliem, I am he. ^"" mtrepidity With which he appeared, that
And Judas also Without saying they were come for him, they
which betrayed him, only atiszuered him., We are come to seek fesus
stood with them. the Nazarene. Jesus says to them. You have
the person then before you ; / am [//<?]. And
fudas also xvho betrayed him., then stood xvith
them ; and he who formerly had followed
Christ as one of his disciples, now sorted with
6 As soon then as his open and avowed enemies. Then as soon 6
he had said unto ^^ ^^ /^^^ ^^-^ ^ ^j^ j^^^^ o -1 ^^
them, I am he, they r i_ u r -r^- •
went backward and lo^th such a secret energy of Divine power
fell to the ground, with those words, that all their united force
was utterly unable to resist it ; so that they
presently drezv back, as afraid to approach him,
though unarmed and unguarded ; and fell at
once to the ground,^ as if they had been struck
7 Then asked he with lightning. Yet a few moments after, 7
them again, Whom recovering from this consternation, they arose
^:%L^^l ^"d rallied again , and then as they came up
reth. the second time, he asked them again. Whom do
ye seek ? And they said to him as before, Jesus
8 Jesus answered, the Nazarene* Jesus a?iszvered them, I have 8
I have told you that already told you that lam [hel : If therefore you
lam/je. If therefore ;i 1 ^ ii
seek me, let these '^^^^ ^^^ ^^"""^^^ 7°^ ^^Y ^^^ ^^^^^^ "^Y COmpan-
ve
go their way : ions and friends go their way in safety -^ and
g They drevi back, and fell to the ground."] most corrupt heart has its reasonings to
As there were scribes and priests among support it, in its absurdest notions and
them, they must have read of the de- most criminal actions.
struction of those cotnpanies which came to
seize the prophet Elijah (2 Kings i. 10, '' Let these go their 'way. ~\ What ?eWer-
12) ; a fact which bore so great a resem- ness was here towards those who had so
blance to this, that it is an amazing lately neglected him (sleeping while he
instance of the most obdurate wickedness, was in such an extreme agony Jy that yet
that they should venture to renew the he would not suffer them to be terrified by
assault on Christ, after so sensible an ex- so much as a short imprisonment ! and
perience both of his power and mercy, the words also intimate that he intended
Nothing seems more probable, than that presently to disoni^s thevi, as probably not
these wretches might endeavour to per- thinking it convenient to appear before his
suade themselves and tbeir attendants, judges with such an attendance. His dis-
that this strange repulse was effected by ciptes, pei-haps, might consider this speech
some demon in confederacy with Jesus, as an excuse for their yorj^/^/;;^ Ai7n. ,• but
who opposed the execution of justice upon had they viewed it in a just light, it would
him ; and they nfight, perhaps, ascribe it rather have appeared a strong engagement
to the special providence of God, rather upon them to have waited for that fair dis-
than to the indulgence of Jesus, that they onission which our Lord seemed about to
had received no farther dnnage. The give them,
\
490 They seize upon jfesusy and Peter cuts off Malchus^s ear.
SECT, indeed I shall insist upon that as a condition
clxxxiii. of surrendering myself to you, which you may
~7^j^ easily perceive I could refuse, if I thought f]|.
xviii. 9 And this he said, that the saying he uttered be- 9 That the saying
fore mi^ht farther be illustrated and accomplish' ^^^^^ be fulfilled,
7 ,i ^n t 7 . 1 1 ■r' \..t- which he spake, Ot
ed^ " Of those xvhom thou^my heavenly rather, ^^^^^^ which thou
hast given me^ I have lost^ and will lose, none,"*^ gavest me, have 1
(See John xvii. 12, p. 469.) lost none.
Mat. And then^ as he was speaking this, they that Mat. XXVI. B^.
xxvi.50 ^yere sent to apprehend him came, and laid their Then came they,and
11, Of j^ J r • '^.u laid fthexrjhands on
hands upon Jesus, and took him prisoner, with- jegyg^ and took him.
out his making any manner of resistance. [Mark XIV. 46.}
Luke Now upon this, xvhen his disciples sazv that they Luke XXII. 49.
xxii. 49 had seized him, and bee-an to apprehend zvhat When they which
,,, , r 1 ^T_' ^t were about him saw
would be the consequence ot these things, they ^^^^ would follow,
said to hhn. Lord, shall zue smite these impious they said unto him,
wretches with the sword? for we doubt not, Loi-djshallwe smite
but as few as we are, thou canst render us vie- ^^^^ ^ ^^ ^^^^ '
Mat. torious over this armed multitude. And, Mat. XXVI. 51.
xxvi. 51 without staying for his answer, behold one of^"^^ behold one of
them that were ivith yesus,\^even'] Simon Peter ^ ^j^l^ jesus TJohn
having a sword, stretched out his hand, and e^ven Simon Peter,
drexv it with a rash inconsiderate zeal, g;2(^ having a sword],
smote a serva?it of the hi^h priest, whose name stretched out his
/ r.i-r 1.U "^""' ^""^ [John,
•was Malchus, who was one ot the torwardest, drew it, and] struck
and seemed peculiarly officious in seizing a servant of the high
Christ '} and he struck full at his head, intend- ^^^''^"^^ ^Ms^^'ri^-ht
ing to cleave him down, but the stroke glanced g^r. The servant's
a little on one side, so that he only cut off his name was Malchus.]
right ear, [Mark XIV. 47.
52 Then Jesus, being determined to surrender tqhn XVIII 101 *
himself into the hands of his enemies, and still 52 Then said Jesus
to shew that such a surrender was the effect,
' J have lost none. 1 Jansenins justly ob- observes, he should rather have struck
serves, that it was a remarkable instance jfudas ; but the traitor^ perhaps, on giving
of the power of Christ over the spirits of the signal had mingled himself with the
men, that they so far obeyed his word as crowd ; or Pete-r might not understand
not to seize Peter when he had cut off the the treacherous design of his liss ; or see-
ear of Malchus ; or John, while he stood ing Malchus more eager than the rest in
by the cross, though they must know them his attack on Christ, he might postpone all
to have been of the number of his most other resentments to indulge the present
intimate associates. sally of his indignation. Though this
^ Even Simon Peter.'] None of the might seem a courageous action, it was
evangelists but John mentions the name of really very imprudent ; and had not Christ
Peter on this occasion ; which, perhaps, by some secret influence overawed their
the others omitted, lest it should expose spirits, it is vei/y probable (as the pious
him to any prosecution ; but John, writing Sir Matthev) Hale observes) that not only
long after his deatli, needed no such pre- Peter, but the rest of the apostles, would
caution. have been cut to pieces. ( Hale^s ConteTn-
' Smote a servant of the high priest, &c.] plations, p. 254.)
One would have thought, as Bishop Hall
Peter is rebuked for ushig hh sword. 491
onta[Peter], Putup not of compulsion, but of choice, said unto Pe- sect.
again thy sword m- ^^^^ Return thy sxuord into the sheath again ; for c^^xxxiii.
aU they ^IhVt take I ^^^^^ ^0^ ^^'^^'^ recourse to this, or any other "IJi^
the sword, shall per- method of defence : and indeed, all that take the xxvi. 52
ish with the sworA. sword shall perish by the srvord^ and they that
^j _-j" ^ ■ are most ready to take up arms are commonly
the first that will fall by them ; which might be
intended as an intimation that the Jews, who
were now drawing the sword against him,
should ere long perish by it in a very miserable
manner, as they quickly after did in tht- Roman
war ; and that the sword of Divine vengeance,
in one form or another, would quickly find out
53, Thinkest thou all its implacable enemies. And besides, Pe- 53
that I^'^annot^ now ter, dost thou think that I want the aid of thy
andlie^hTlI present' feeble arm, and that I cannot 7iow entreat m'y
lyg-ivc me more than Father^ and have such interest with him, that
tweXvelegionsoriin. lie rvould presently furnish me rvith a celestial
^^ ^ * army for my guard, marshalled in dreadful
array, and consisting of 7?7ord? than tzvehe legions
54. But how then of angels f"^ But how then^ it I should thus 54
betlfiIi:d!Zt IhS: =iri °" '">;'^^f'^"^^' ^'^f '<}' '"^Pt^'res be Jul.
it must be .' JiUed^ even the very prophecies which I came to
accomplish, which have so expressly foretold
that thus it must be? Or how should I approve my
John XVIII.— 11. submission to him that sent me ? You only look John
The cup which my ^i second causes, and have but an imperfect ^viii.
Father hath e^iven • r^T.- i^ t > ^ n i «- 11
ine,shalUnotdrinky^^^^of t^^^B's; but I consider all the suffer- 11
it ? ings I am now to meet as under a Divine di-
rection and appointment, and regard them as
the cup which my Father has given me ; and,
w^hen considered in that view, shall I not wil-
lingly submit to drink it P Shall I not acquiesce
in what I know to be his v/ill ? or would it be
the part of a dutiful and affectionate Son to dis-
pute the determinations of his paternaHvisdom
and love ?
12 Then the band. Then without any opposition he surrendered 12
himself into the hands of those that came to ap-
prehend him : and all uniting in their enmity
against him, the band of Roman soldiers, xvith
^ More than tu^ehe legions of angeUT^ est generals. (See note " on Luke viji
The J^oman armies were composed of le- 30, Vol. I. p. '383.) How dreadfully
gions, which did not always consist of tlie irresistible would such an arviy of an-
same number of men, but are computed at gels have been, when o«e of these celes-
this Ume to have contained above six thou- tial spirits was able to destroy one hun-
sand; and twelve legions were more than dred eighty five thousand Assyrians at one
were commonly intrusted with their great- stroke ! 2 Kings xix. ^5.
492 Jesus submits to his enemies, and cures Makhus^s ear.
SECT, the captain at their head, and the Jewish officers and the captain, and
*^J^^^- that came with them, seized Jesus as a male- officers of the Jews,
Luke factor, and presently bound him to prevent his u°"^ , Jesus, and
..^^ D ^ 1 1 • T ^ • ^ bound him.
sxii. 51 escape. But as they were bmding him, Jesus l uk e XXII. 5\.
anszvered and said^ Suffier ye at least that I may And Jesus answered
have my hands at \\h^vW thus far ^ and stay but ^"^ ^f^' ^"^^^^ ^^
for a moment, while l' add one act of power ttd.ed his fa^ aid
and compassion to those I have already done : healed him.
GW/a^ calling Malchus to him, he touched his ear,
and immediately healed him,^
52 Then Jesus said in that same hour to the chief 53 ThenJesus said
priests^ and to the captains of the temple guard," [in that same hourj
and to the elders of the people, or to those mem- ""•^'^ , ^''! ''^^^^
I r^r T.J-//- •1,,' priests, and captauis
bers ot the sanhedrim ivho (as was said before, of the temple, and
p. 48r) were so forgetful of the dignity of their the elders which
character as to come to him themselves with the ^^"^^ ^°"^^ ^° ^'"*
dregs of the populace, at this unseasonable time, tuXsj'^t^^Some
and or. this infamous occasion: to these he said, out as against a thief,
\and'\ to the multitude that now surrounded him, ^^^^^^ swords and
For what imaginable reason are you come out ^^Tf ^["m^a t t!
against me, as against a robber that would make xZVl. 55.— Mark
a desperate resistance, armed in this way with XIV. 48.]
swords and staves, as if you came to seize me at
•^^ the hazard of your lives? When I was with you 5.3 When I was
even) day, as I have been for some time past, ^^""^^ ^i^^ >'^".' t'^"^
r Ji 1 1- 1 ^^ I- • .» t 11 sat teachmer 1 m the
[«;2<^j publicly sat teaching in the temple, you had temple, ye [Mark,
opportunities enough to have secured me, if took me not, and\
there was any crime with which you could stretched forth
have charged me j yet then you did not appre- ^^^"^^ agamst
no
me :
" He touched his eary and healed him.'] As rison kept by the Romans In the castle of
this was an act of great compassion, so Antonia; from whence there were de-
like wise it was an instance of singular wis- tachments sent at the time of the feasts,
dom ; for it would effectually prevent and posted in the porticos of the temple,
those reflections and censures on Jesus to suppress any tumults among the peo-
•which the rashness of Peter's attack pie, when such great numbers flocked to-
Jiiight otherwise have occasioned. gether. But for these captains of the tem-
ple spoken of by Luke, there is no doubt
° The captains of the temple.'] There was but they were Jewish officers, who are said
indeed a Roman guard and commanding by John to have attended with the for-
-9^ccr wliich attended near the femj&/edur- mer ; of whom it is to be observed, that
ingtlie time of the great feasts, in order to the priests kept watch in three places of
prevent any sedition of the Jews. (See the temple, and the Levites in twenty one,
-Joseph. Antiq. lib. xviii. cap. 4 [al. 6], § 3 ; so their leaders were called ^^ctl>iyot m
and Bell. Jud. lib. v. cap. 5 [al. vi. 6], § 8.) /sfl«, or captains of the temple ; and Jose-
And this^ appears to be the band and cap- phus more than once speaks of one of the
tain mentioned here by John ver. 12, where Jewish priests by this title, f Antiq. lib. xx.
the word in the origin'alis ;^^/x/*g;;^(^, which cap. 6 [al. 5], § 2 ; cap. 9 [al 8], § 3, and
plainly shews it was a Roman officer y and Bell. Jud. lib. ii. cap. 17, § 2.) (See Dr.
is tlie title given to Lysias, (Acts xxi. 31, Whitby in loc. and Dr. Lardner*s CredHu
'" seq.J who was commander of the gar- part i. Vol. I. book i. ch. ii. § 15-)
\j
All his disciples forsake him^ and fly. 493
3>«tthisisyourhour, hend we, [(?r] offer to stretch out [ijour'] hands sect._
and the power of against me. But I know the reason better than clxxxm.
XXv'i.-55':^'aVk you yourselves do: you have hitherto been kept Luke
XIV. 49.—] under a secret restraint, which is now re- xxii. 5o
moved ; and this is your hoiir^ in which God
has let you loose against me, and the power of
darkness is now permitted to rage with peculiar
violence ; for it is under the instigation of
Satan and his infernal powers that you now
act, with whatever pious names you may af-
Mat. XXyi. ^^. feet to consecrate the deed. And in all this I ^^^
—But all this^ was j^^ow, that both you and they are secretly over- xxvi.
turet' ©rthe y-oph- ruled by Divine Providence, to accomplish 56
ets might be fulfill- events most contrary to your own schemes ;
ed. [Mark. XIV. ^ca^ it is done^ that what is written concerning
^ '-* Td^'m the scriptures of the prophets might be ful-
filled,^ I therefore resign myself into your
hands, though 1 have given you abundant evi-
dence that I am not destitute of the means of
deliverance, if I was inclined to use them.
—56 Then all the Then all the discipks, who but a little while
disciples forsook before had solemnly protested that they would
-ivT* vfxr c^^T^* never leave him, when they now saw him
[Mark XIV. 50.J . j-iiiru- • t
bound m the hands oi his enemies, accordmg
to his repeated predictions, forsook him and
fled f^ each of them shifting for his own safety
as well as he could, and seeking to shelter
himself either among friends or strangers.
AmUhe'e'^blTow'ed ^"i " ""-'f" y°f'^ who lodged in a house Mark
him a certain young- 1"^^^^ the garden, and was waked by the noise oi xiv. 51
V TJint the scriptures of the prophets might been warned of their danger, and what
he fulfUled.^ This was a consideration, solemn promises they had made of a cour-
which, if duly applied, might have pre- ageous adherence to Christ ; but also
vented his disciples, from being offended at what an agony they had just seen him in,
his sufferings : and it strongly intimates what zeal he had a few moments before
that he still kept up the claim which he shewed in their defence, and what amaz-
had formerly made of being the Messiah ; ing power he had exerted to terrify his
and that what he was now to go through, enemies into a com]>liance with that
was so far from being at all inconsistent part of his demand which related to the
Avith that claim, that, on the whole, it was safety of his friends. He had also at the
absolutely nece.y^ar}', in order to make it out same time intimated his purpose of giving
to full satisfaction. them a speedy and kind dismission ,- so
that it was very indecent thus to run aivay
*i All the disciples forsooi him and fed."] without it, especially as Christ's prophecy
Perhaps they were afraid that the action of their continued usefulness in his church
of Peter should be imputed to them all, was equivalent to a promise of their pres-
and might bring their lives into danger, ervation, whatever danger they might
But, whatever they apprehended, their now meet with. But our Lord probably
precipitate ^/^Af in these circumstances permitted it, that we might learn not to
•was the basest cowardice and ingratiude ; depend too confidently even on the friend*
considering, not only how lately they had ship of the very best of men^
4'94. Rejections on Chris fs being' betrayed and apprehended.
SECT, this tumult, havbig an affection for Jesus, and man, having a llneii
clxxxui. apprehending him in danger, arose out of bed ^^^^^ cast about his
-;^ with nothing but a linen doth in which he lay, "he ™ung '^[ek l"d
xiv. 51 thrown about his naked body ; and he followed hold on him.
hi?n a little way after the rest of his disciples
were gone, transported into a forgetfulness of
his own dress, by his concern for Jesus : and
the yoimg" 7nen that made a part of the guard,
suspecting he was one that belonged to Jesus,
52 laid hold on htm. But he^ leaving the sheet which 52 And he left the
was wrapped about him in their hands,/^^Ji"^^^ ^^j^^^^^>^^^^^^
axuay from them naked^ in the utmost conster-
nation. After which Jesus was led to the
palace of the high priest, and condemned there,
in the manner which will presently be related.
IMPROVEMENT.
The heroic behaviour of the blessed Jesiis^ in the whole pe-
riod of his sufferings^ will easily make itself observed by every
attentive eye, though the sacred historians^ according to their
usual but wonderful simplicity, make no encomiums upon it.
John With what composure does he go forth to meet the traitor! with
xviu. 4 what calmness does he receive that malignant kiss ! With what
Mat • •
xxvi. 50 dignity does he deliver himself into the hands of his enemies^ yet
52, s:^ plainly shewing his superiority over them, and leading as it were
even then captivity captive !
John We see him generously capitulating for the safety oi his friends^
xviii. 8 while he neglected his own ; and afterwards, not onXy forbidding
^* ^^ all the defence they attempted to make, but curing that wound
which one of his enemies had received in this assault on him.
With what meek majesty did he say, Suffer ye at least thus far /
xxii. 51 ^^^ ^^^ touched his ear^ and healed him. We hear his words, we
behold his actions with astonishment ; but surely our indignation
must rise within us when we see so amiable and excellent a Person
47, 48 thus injured and abused ; when we see the Son of mail betrayed
zvith a kiss : betrayed by his intimate friend, who had eaten of his
Mat. breads and yet lifted up his heel against him (John xiii. 18) ;
xxvi. 56 and at the same time forsaken by all his disciples^ even by him
whom he most tenderly loved^ and who had so often leant on his
bosom. Let us not wonder if some o{ our friends prove false ; and
others seem to forget us when we have the greatest need of their
assistance. When we deserve so much less friendship than Christ
did, let us not think it strange if we find but little more. Nor
can we reasonably be so much amazed,, as we migjit otherwise
have been, to see sinners going on under the most awful rebukes of
xviir Providence ; when we consider that these wretches, who had been
6, 12 struck down to the ground by one word oi Chris fs mouth, should
Christ IS led away to Annas. 495
immediately rise vp and stretch forth their impious hands against sect.
him, to seize and bind hbn ; though they might well have known clxxxui.
that they lived only by his indulgence and forbearance, and that
the same ivord that struck them down to the ground could have
laid them dead there. Touch our hearts^ 0 Lord^ by thy grace ;
or it will be in vain that we are smitte7i with thy rod !
In all the remainder of this story let us remember that Jesus
\ oXunt^rWy gave himself up to su^e rings which he circumstan-
tially foreknew; even though he could have commanded to his Mat.
assistance whole legions of angels. His Father"^ s will was an an- xxvi. 53
swer to all that nature could plead in its own cause ; and the ^^l'".,
good hand from which this cup of his severest sufferings came, ^^*"'
reconciled him to all the bitterest ingredients it contained. How
reasonable then is it that we who, having had fathers of our flesh
that corrected us^ submitted to the rod, and gave them reverence^
should much rather^ after the example of our innocent and holy
Redeemer, be in subjection to the Father of our spirits^ and
live ! (fieb. xii. 9.)
SECT. CLXXXIV.
Jesus is co7iducted to the palace of Caiaphas : Peter follows him
thither^ and denies him thrice. Mat. XXVI. 57^ 58, 69, to the
end. Mark XIV. 52>, 54, 66, to the end. Luke XXIL 54—
62. John XVIII. 13—18, 24 — 27.
John XVIII. 13. JoHN XVIII. 13.
A NDf/2f>ledhim '' I ^HE officers arz^ people having thus appre- sect.
fim ^rfor ^h ^""""^ hended Jesus, in the manner described clxxxU-.
faTh^r iuTawTo Cai! ^^°y^' ^^^^ led him away from the garden of j^^,,
aplias, which was Gethsemaneto those who had employed them, xviU.
the high priest that and brought him fir^t to the house of Annas ; 13
tame year.) j^^ j^^ xu as father in law to Caiaphas^ who ruas
high priest that year^^ or bore the office at that
'^ Led him a'ii^ay first to Annas, hc.'\ It care to prepare Caiaphas for receiving-
appears from 'Joscphus f Antic/, lib. xviii. him, as iie could not but know tliat this
cap. 2 [al. 3], §2, p. 873, Jlaxercamp.J was a most critical juncture. We da
that Annas, whom he calls Jjiarius, had not read of any thing remarkable which
been high priest before his son in law Cai- passed at the house of Annas ; for whicli
aphas ; and it seems to have been by his reason his being carried thither is omitted
interest, that first Eleazar his own 'son, by the other evangelists. C3ril adds, kai
and then Caiaplias, who married his et^srs^xafv nv^.v SiSi/uivov <ni-f.& Ka/^4)«v tcv
daughter, and probably had been his depu- A^xH-'^y «"^ ^^^^y ^^"i ^'W Oound to Caia-
ty, obtamed that dignity : so that though phas the high priest; which addition Eras-
he had resigned that office himself, yet mus,Beza, and many others have thought
the people paid so much regard to his ex- it necessary to admi't, both to accountYor
perience, that they drought ^esusjirst to the ii-ord ^p7cv, frst, in the preceding
him ; who, no doubt, took all necessary clause, and to reconcile John with the
VOL. 2. 64
495 Thence he is sent to Caiaphas, whither Peter follows hhn.
SECT, time: And xinnas sent hhn bound to Camphas 24 (Now Annas—
'=':^^ the high priest, as judging it most proper that SpiTsT'hTgh
John the rest oi the council should upon this occa- priest.)
sviii. sion be convened at his palace. Noiv this 14 Now Caiaphas
24 Caiaphas was he whom we mentioned above, was he which £-ave
izL /T 1 • ^^ ^^ ^ T N L --u counselto the Jews,
14' (John XI. 49—51, sect, cxli.) rvho gave it as ^^^^j^^^^gg^pe^ient
his advice to the jfetus, that it was Jit that one that one man should
??2a?z, though innocent, shoidddie for the preser- die for the people,
vation of the people : in which words he uttered
a kind of oracle, which (as we there observed)
contained a far nobler and sublimer sense than
he himself intended or understood. Mat. XXVI. 57.
Mat. Andtheij who had apprehended Jesus took and ^"^^ they that had
xxvi. ledhimaivaif from Annas like a criminal in ^.^J^ ^'""^^ ,Z^\Z^
t^py ^ . . . , . , I L. u K E, took liim,
^' bonds, and^ according to the directions which j^nd] led hhn away,
Annas had given them, brought him to the pal- [Luke, andbrought
ace of Caiaphas the high priest; xvhere, though Jjj.i]J clk^hts^'^'the
it was now the dead time of the night, cdl the J^^j Jj^ p^tes^ I'^where
chief priests^ and the scribes^ and the elders^ or [all the chiefpriests,
the chief persons of the sanhedrim, with their and] the scribes,and
proper officers, met together on a summons ^^^^^^^^^^^.^^^j^i^^^
from Caiaphas, and rvere asse?nbled zvith him, ^mab.k XIV. 53.
waiting for Jesus to be brought before them. Luke xxii. 54.—]
John Jn^though Svnon Peter had at first forsaken ^nd "simon^^Pet^e^-
xviii. Christ, and shifted for himself, as the rest of foUo^^e^j jesus [afar
1^ his companions did, yet afterward he and anoth- off], and so did an-
er disciple, even the evancrelist John, bethought other disciple. That
1 \ 1 1 X ' • J ^ ^ 1 disciple was known
themselves, and determined to return ; andac- untothehi^-h priest,
coxdiin^y xh^yfolloxved Jesus afar off, ^ desiring and went in with Je-
to see what would become of him : and 2ls that sus into the palace
other disciple zvas knoxvn to the high priest,"" he ^^^^^ xx'v^!^'^58'
was admitted without any objection or impedi- __mark XIV. 54.
ment, and went into the palace of the high priest — L u k e xxii.—
with Jesus and the ffuard that attended him. "^^3 „ ,„ , , ,
„ tT 111- • ^ 16 But Peter stood
16 But Peter, who had no interest or acquaintance ^^ ^^xe door without.
there, stood waiting without at the door : that Then went out that
other evaJigelistSy who all agree that the or else ttiey could not have follo'-xed him,
scene of Peter's fail was the palace of at some distance, and yet he so near as to
Caiaphas, not of Annas. Yet, as almost be ready to g-o into Caiaphas's house
the same words occur in ver. 24, it is suf- %i;ith him.
ficient to transpose that verse, and intro- <= That disciple ixas hioix-n to the high
duce it here ; which is intimated in the priest.'] We cannot imagine the acquaint-
margin of some of our Bibles. For the ance was very intimate, considering the
phrase of being high priest that year, see great diversity of their rank and station
r.ote ^ on John xi. 49, p. 252- in life ; but a thousand occurrences oc-
^ folloH\:ed yesus afar off.'] It appears casion some /■/joiu/e^/^e of each other, be-
from hence that Peter and John recover- tween persons whose conditions are as
ed themselves quickly after their fli^'ht, unequ.il.
Peter is challenged by a maul^ as belonging to Jesus* 497
other disciple which ^^/^^^ dhaple therefore^ ivho ivns knoivn to the sect.
h?^l''''riesr°and/"^''^^ M''^^ Ttv';^?'(P?/? of the inner room, into c^cxxiv-
spake unto her that vvhich Jesus was then carried in order to his j,j,^„
kept the door, and examination, and spake to her that kept the xviii. 16
brought m Peter.^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^ -j. ^,^^ g^ t^y j^^^ consent brought Luke
Luke XXTI. 3o. . „ ^ a i , , i i i • i, , r • wii 5t
And when they had ^'^ -reter. And xvhen thcij had kindled a pre in"
kindled a fire in the the midst of the large hall^ and were set down
inidst of the hall, to9'ether^ Peter, hopincjto pass imdiscovered by
and were set down - y vi \i ^ f *i *
tot^ethcr, Peter sat mmglmg With the rest ot the company, sat
down among them doxvn among them with the servants^ that he
[with the servants might be at hand to see the end of this affair,
Tm^xrk and warm! ^^^^ '^(^^ff^^^d himself at the fire^ while they were
ed himself at the examining Jesus with circumstances which we
fire.] [Mat. XXVI. shall afterwards mention.^
--58. Mark XIV. j^^^^^ during the time that this important Mark
Mark XIV. 66. event was depending, as Peter zvas sifti?ig xiv. 66
And as Peter [sat among the servants without the room where
without] beneath m jesus was examined, and thought to have con-
cometh^ [unto him] ^ii^^^^ unsuspected in the hall belozv^ there came
one of the maids of to him one of the maid servants belonging to the
the hig-h priest, family of the high priest^ who was indeed the
ttept 'ihe'doTn-O f"'- /«'f ' '/-' (f ;- J."st now said) had
[Mat. XXVI. 69. kept the door : And seeing Peter as he sat 67
John XVIII. If.—] warming himself bij the fire^ she fixed her eyes
67 And when she earnestly Upon him^ and^ observing in his coun-
as he sat bv the fire] tenance the appearance ot great concern, she
warming- ' himself, said to some that stood near her, I cannot but
she looked, [Luke, think that this 77ian is a follower of Jesus, and
ZT'^^l^T^lT' -^^^'^ ^^^^^ one that used to be with him :^ and
ana saia, li^uke, . i i • t
This man was also upon this presumption she charged him di-
with him :] [John, rectly with it, and said. Tell us truly, Ai't not
Art not thou also o;.e ^^^^ thyself also [one] of this man's disciples P^
oi this man s disci- -^ ^ j j i
'^ And xo armed himself at the fire, while been in the garden with the multitude that
they were examinin;^ Jesus, &c.] It is apprehended Jesus : slic therefore must
remarkable that all the evangelists record guess by Pcter^s countenance, that lie was
the fall of Peter, and none with circum- ojie of his friends ; unless possibly she had
stances of greater aggravation than Mark, seen them together ia the temple or else*
w^hose gospel is said to have been reviewed where.
by Peter himself, and indeed written from ^ Art 7iot thou also one of this man's disci'
his preaching. (See note "^ on Mark xiv. pies ?'] One would imagine from the word
31, p 478.) Though Christ's examination [a/io], wlien it is read in the connection
happened during this interval (which oc- John has placed it in, that in this question
casions Matthew, Mark, and John, to in- she referred to John ; as if she had said,
terrupt f Aw j^orj/ to recount f/7t;?J, I rather Art not thou one, as well as thy com-
chose, as Luke has done, to take the panion ? And, if this were admitted, it
■whole of it together, as best suiling the would be a plain intimation that John ac-
design of this work. knowledged himself a disciple f Christ.
^ This man ijas also ivith him.} Her But it must be owned that the other et'a«-
sex, and perha])s we may add, her o^ce, ^e//^^^ used the same word [a/.yo], though
will not permit us to suppose that she hc'id threy say nothing- of John's being with Peter.
498 Peter denies his knowing" him ; and the cock crows.
SECT. There is a great deal of room to think it ; yea^ P^es ?]And thou also
clxxxiv. I ^^ni fullv satisfied that thou zvast also ivith Z^'^ ^ll^rH'^'r f
1 • ■ • 1 1 • cs- , ^T r^ ,' Nazareth [ot Gah-
_L,jj^g iiim, even with this yesus the Nazarene oj Gah- lee.] [Mat. XXVI.
xxii. 57 it'e^ who is now on his trial. And Peter was —69. Luke xxii.
so surprised at this unexpected discovery, that ^^.7^^;^^ XVIII^
he roundly and confidently denied him before Luke xxii. 57.
them alU^ and said., Woman., I profess that / am And he denied him
not his disciple ; nay, that I do not so much as l^''^.^"^^ ^^^J]J ^^^^»
knoxo him^ nor do I understand xvhat thouT^^^^^ j animJrn
meanest in charging me with being one of his i know him not,
associates ; for I am sure thou mightest as well [Mark, neither un-
have fixed on anv other person in the company, derstand Uvhatthou
. A J y . • . ^ i*-^ sayest.J [Matth.
Mark And upon this, turning away as one who was xxvi. 70. M a r k
xiv. 68 affronted at the charge, he went out into the Xiv. 68.— J o h n
portico / a;i^ while he was there the cock crew,^ ^ m^^ ~ xiv —68
John And the servants and officers who had brought ^n^i he went out in-
xvui. 18 Jesus thither, and were now waiting for the to the porch, and the
issue of his trial, still stood there in the hall, ^^"^ c^"^^^- ^
having (as was before observed) made a large And" thfVervams
pre of coals ; for they had been abroad in the and officers stood
night, and it xvas cold} and theij xvere xvarming there, who hadmade
themselves at the fire. And Shnon Peter, hav- ^ ^"^ f ,^"^^' $^;f 'l
^ .J 1 M * 1 • 1 1 was cold), and they
mg staid a while in the portico, where he not warmed themselves:
only must have been incommoded by the and [Simon] Peter
sharpness of the air, but was, no doubt, in a ^^^^^ '^j^^' ^\^^"''^V?
.„^„«.i x' r • 1 r ^ warmed himseli.
restless commotion ol mind on account 01 what rjoHNXVIII 25.—]
8 He denied hini before thetn all.'] How of truth, it was more like to entangle and
must these people be surprised when they discover him than to clear him.
saw (as, no doubt, some of them did) this , jj^ ^,^„, ^„^ • ,^^ the portico.-] I appre,
umorous d.saple withm the compas. of a ^end that the word ^J.uuc. most exactly
iZnT.f ; Tk " T' ^'''''t' '''•'^' answers to the-Latin word ^e../Z,./.m, by
John before the council, not only mam- ^.^ich many interpreters render it. And,
Sr^ k' cause and honour of Jesus but considerin/the mas^nificence of the >xu-
bol llv charging the murder of this Frtnce -,;, ^^-^j- % ^^ .^j^ ^- ;, j, reasonable to
o/i^fe on the chief men of the nation, conclude, that M/., which belonged to the
and solemnly warning them ot their high priest^, palace,^v^s some st^telx piazza
guilt and danger in consequence of it, or coL^a^e/ and therefore I chose i-ather to
Acts IV. 5-12 Perhaps, when it is said ^.^^^^^^ \t portico, th^u porch, a word equal-
there (ver. 13) that they took kno.dedge of 1^ appl.cible to the meanest buildings of
Feter and John that they had been ivtth that kind.
yesiis, the meaning may be, that some of
them, or their attendants, remembered ^ The cock crew.] It is strange this cir-
Peter and John as the tivo persons who cum stance did not remind him of our
Iiad followed Jesus thus far, when the rest Lord*s prediction, and bring him to some
had forsaken him. Compare Joim xviii. sense of his sin : perhaps it did ; and he
15, 16. might return persuaded that he sliould be
^ Ido ?iot knotv him.] Jesus was so pub- n^ore courageous if he met with a second
lie a person, and so well knoivn to thousand's, attack.
not at all in his interest, that this addition- 1 For it was cold.] It is well known that
al falsehood was most unnecessary ; and, the coldness of the nights is generally more
as it frequently happens, when people sensible in those hotter countries than
allow themselves'to transgress the bounds among us.
He IS again taxed ivtth it, and denies him with an oath. 499
Mat. XXVI. 71. had passed, came in again, and, having min- sect.
And when he was gjed with the servants, stood iW. the fireside to ^^^^^iv.
porch [Luke? after ^^'«^''" himself amongst them. And rvhen he had ^at.
a little while] anoth- thus been gone out into the portico, and was re- xxvi.71
er [maid] saw him turned into the hall, after a little zvhile another
[again], and said un- -^ ^^^^ j^- ^ -^ ^^^^^ ^^ -^ ^^ ^y^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^.^^
to them that were , , , p., 111 • 1
there,This/'e//oiDwas there (as her lellowservant had done just be-
also with Jesus of Na- fore), Whatever he pretends, I verily believe
zaretly L_^»"^^^^^^^^^- this man was also with Jesus of Nazareth : and
diTtslood by^Thisi's presently she began to say openly to them that
o;ieof them.][lviARK stood by. Surely this is [one'] of them that have
^^-^ ^K Luke endeavoured to bring all the nation into con-
■""^ fusion, and while he would pass for a friend is
JoHNXVin.— 25. c^^P^ ^" hither as a spy. They therefore, tak- J^Jm^
—They said there- ing notice of w^hat both these women had spoken, x\iu. 2o
fore unto him. Art began to tax him with it, and said to him, What,
hL' d\'^dp\lT> "'' ""^ h''^^^ ^""^ ^ ^^^^^ s° ^^^^^ ^^s ? Let us know plainly
who thou art ; art not thou also^ who pretendest
to enter these doors as a friend, [one] of
his disciples who has been doing so much
Luke xxiL— 58. mischief ? Ajid, as he seemed in great contu- j^^^^.^
—And another saw sion, another man that stood bv saxu Iwn per- xxii. 58
ar^lso of ?hem^^'^^ and therefore charged 'it home upon
him, and said. It is certainly so ; thou art aUo
[one] of them, and deservest to suffer with thy
Mat. XXVL 72. Master. And Peter, as he could not bear his Mat.
And [Luke, Peter] being taxed SO closely with it, that he might take xxvi. 72
again denied [it] off all suspicion of his beloncriDtr unto Jesus,
withan oath,rjoHN, . j • j n • ^ - .1. 00 ^
and said,] [Lu K e! ^^^^^^ ^-^"^^^ [^"'^0 ^ the strongest manner,
Man,l amnot;] Ido even 7vith an oath,"^ and said, Man, why dost
not know the man. thou talk thus ? I solemnly assure thee, and
K kVxxil— ^57 ^"^ ^°^ ^° witness to it, that lam not one of
John XVIIL— 25.] them ; and that indeed I do not so much as
know the man, but came in hither out of mere
curiosity, to learn the occasion of this public
alarm, without the least interest in him, or any
concern at all on his account, whatever may
become of him.
L ukexxii. 59. And as he still continued there, imagining Luke
And [after a while] that he should now be safe from any further ?ixii. 59
onrLurafte^^n- ^^^all^"g^> ^f^^^ ^ -^^'hik, about the sp'ace of one
other confidently af- hour after he had thus denied him, another man
in the company confidently affrmed ih^l the for-
^ With au oath."] Dr. C/ar/fe conjectures we might thus be cautioned against that
that Peter was suffered toya//y(/«/er than extravagant regard which would after-
any of the rest of the apostles (except wards be demanded to him and his pre-
Judas the traitor), and to make more re- tended successors. Clark^s Seventeen Ser-
m^rkable mistakes in his conduct, that monsy No. x. p. 236.
500 He denies him a third time with cursi7ig and swearing'.
SECT, mer charge was just, sayings Of (^ truth ?Ai.y firmed, saying, Ofa
clxxxiv. man was also xvith him^ and is a follower of this ^luth this/eZ/ow ul-
7;;^ Jesus ; /.. it is plain he aho i. a Galilean, and t^lXTl^Zl
3xii. 59 every one knows that, most of his disciples are [Mat. XXVI. 73.
Mark of that country. And^ upon this, they that stood Mark XIV.— 70.
^^' '^^ by came to him^ and said to Peter again^ Surely ~J^ XIV— 70
it is as this man asserts ; and, notwithstanding And they that stood
thv denying it, there is no room to doubt but by [came unto him,
thou art also [one'\ ofthe.m.for thou ar^ certainly ^^jj^^ 'surertho\^
a Galilean: and I know it, said one that was faiso] art one of
there, by thy speech ; for such I have observed fhem ; for thou art
to be thy dialect and accent, as agrees [to that] ^ Galilean, and thy
country', [and] plainly discovers thee to he of'^^J^f^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^
Galilee, as most of this man's seditious follow- eth thee]. [M a t.
John ers are. And o?ie of the domestic servants o/" XX VI.— 73 ]
xviu. 26 ^1^^ ^- ;^ priest, beinp-'a relation of his whose ear ^^^°"/,,^^^"' ^f*
tj 1 > ^ %j One 01 tlie servants
P^^er /za<fcw?(?^, pressed the charge home upon of the high priest
him, and said^ How can you have the assurance (being his kinsman
to deny it ? Take heed v/hat you say : did not ^'jj-Ysaitlf Uid^no't'l
Mark / myself see thee in the garden with him ? Then ^^J ^j^g^ 'j„ ^l-,g ^j^^..
XXVI. 74 p^ter^ being terrified to the last degree to think den with him ?
of the danger to which he should be exposed if Mark XXVI 74.
he was discovered to be the person that made Sed \°g"ahi, ^and]
the attack on the servant of the high priest, began to curse and
which might in such a circumstance expose to swear, sayhig,
him even to capital punishment, fi^^?2ie^ it r/p-^m [LuKE,Man,lknow
. , , t ^ 7 11 <5 not what thou say-
more violently than ever ; and, that he might ^^^ .-] i know not
not any more be called in question, he began to [this]man [of whom
curse and to szvear, and solemnly to imprecate y^ speak]. And im-
the judgment of God upon himself if it were Xlelfe^t spake]
so ; [saying] as he had done before, I tell thee, the cock crew [the
man, I knoxv not what thou meanest by such a secondtime].[MAR.
false and groundless accusation ; / do not so ^^^^ ^ ^ "-, ^^\
much as know this vian ofrvhom you speak, and XVIII. 27]
was so far from being in the garden with him,
that I am absolutely a perfect stranger to him.
And he had no sooner thus denied him in this
shocking manner, but immediately, while he yet
spake, the words of Jesus were fulfilled, and
according to the warning he had given him,
the cock crew the second time,^
" The cock crew.] To reconcile this but this is so unnatural an interpretation,
with wl^at the Jews pretended, that all the that rather than admit it, one would ques-
cocks used to be removed out of Jerusa- tion the truth of that yeunsh tradition;
lem at the time of the passover^ some or conclude, that if the custom it asserts
■would render 0 ethiKlcof i<paiv>io-iVy The did prevail in Christ's time, some cock
vxafchmen proclaimed the hour of the night : was accidentally left behind, or returned
The cock crows again ; ayid Jesus looking on hhn^ he repetits. 501
Luke xxti. 61. ^/2<r/Jesus having been examined by the coun- sect.
And tlie Lord turn- ^il in a more retired room, was now brought dxxxiv.
PeteT;\in^d Peter^e" ^^^^ *"^° ^^^ ^^^''» while they were consulting Luke
memb'ercd the word what they should do with him, so that he stood xxii. 61
ofthe Lord [Jesus], within hearing when Peter thus ungratefully
lrhim,'Befi,rL'*ri'.e denied him; and hearing such shocking Ian-
cock crow [Mark, gi-^^ge from a voice so familiar to him, just as
twice], thou shalt those dreadful words proceeded out of his
??r ^J.r/'i"-''''' mouth, the Lord turned about, ajid looked upon
[Mat. XZVI. 7^. — 7-. . •^l • , r 1 1
Mark XIV.— 72.--] -^^^^^ with a mixture ot earnestness and tender-
ness in his countenance, which, through the se-
cret energy of the Spirit that went along with
it, pierced him to the very heart : and then
Peter recoHtected the word of the Lord Jesus ^ hoxv
he had said to him but that verv evening. Before
the cock croxu tiuice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
62 And Peter went (See Mark xiv. 30, p. 477.) And Peter could 62
out, and [M a r k, ^o longer bear the place, nor stand in the sight
thereon!'\e] "wept^f ^'^^ ^PJ^^^^ ^^^^er, but immediately xvent
bitterly.* [M a t. ouf^ quite overwhelmed with grief and shame ;
XXVI.— 75. ^KUK and covering \Jiis head] with his mantle,? he
XIV^.— 72.J seriously reviewed that heinous crime in which
he had discovered so much weakness and in-
gratitude ; and when he attentively thought
thereon, and entered into all its aggravating
circumstances, he xvept bitterly^ and most earn-
estly entreated the Divii>e pardon for so great
and inexcusable a sin.
unobserved to this place. The hurry of Raphellus, and some learned c/vV/c^-, would
such a nig'ht as this might have occasioned render iTri^AKocv, throiving hnnselfoiit ofthe
much greater neglects than this supposes, company in a passionate manner, which it
^ ,„ n T. • 1 x.-> is very probable he did : but others, and
o And Peter 'aent o«0 It is observable p^rticularlv Eisner fOUerv. Vol. I p 165.
that Luke m tvvo or three hues here calls j^g^^ ^,^j Lambat Bos rExcrcit. p. 21, 22),
him fWrn/ie. by the name of Peter; that ^^ith much better authiritv, would trans-
memorable name which Christ had given j^^^ j^^ ^^^,^. ;^ -^ ^^^^^ ^j- j^j^ ^^^^^ ^ ^^^^^^
him,w.th a particular vie vy to that fortitude of mourning and shame well becomin-
and resolution with %vhich he w-jis to de- pg^er on this occasion. (Compare 2 Sam.
fend the gospel : perhaps thereby intend- ^^ 3Q . e^^,^ ,,; 13 ; and Jcr! xiv. 3, 4.)
mg to inUmate A.u' lo^ this courageous As for our version [W;e;z/:eMo».-AfMfremn,
hero was now fallen, and yet to what a j ^^„ ^^^^ „^ 3^^ ;,, antiqufty in which
height of holy magnanimity he was after- the word has such a signification ; thougli
wards raised, and thereby enabled to stand ^^ ^e sure that plirase expresses what was
as a rock m that sacred cause, and so fully ^^^^^ ^^^ ^.^^^ I have therefore inserted
to ansr^er the name v^ith which his Master -^ ^^ the paraphrase, as I would take eveiy
had honoured him. opportunity of paying all the respect to so
F And coz-erhig his head with his mantle.] valuable a translation as ours is in the maiiv.
502 Reflections on Peter^s denial of Christ.
IMPROVEMENT.
SECT. How loudly does this affecting story speak to us in the words
'^^^^' of the apostle, Let htm that thinketh he standeth^ take heed lest
Mat. he fall (1 Cor. x. 12). Peter professed the warmest zeal ; and
xxvi. gave his Lord repeated^ and, no doubt, very sincere assurances
69—74 ^£ ^^^ firmest resolution in his cause ; and yet, except Judas
the traitor, none of his brethren fell so low as he. But a few
hours before he had been with Christ at the sacred table^ and had
heard from his own lips those gracious discourses which, as
echoed back from his word, do still strike so strongly on the
heart of every true belieVen He had just seen those words re-
markably, and even miraculously, verified, that Jesus having
loved his oivn that xvere i?i the xvorld^ loved them to the end. (John
xiii. 1.) How reasonably then might it have been expected that
his 0ZV71 should also have continued their most zealous and con-
stant affection to him ! But Peter, who, if possible, was more
than doubly his as a disciple^ as an apostle^ as a distinguished
Mark intimate, most shamefully denies Iwn ; and that not only o?ice^
xiv. but a second, yea, and a third time, even with oaths and curses,
66—71 as if he would by that diabolical language give a sensible proof
that he did not belong to Christ: and who indeed, that had heard
John it, would have imagined that he did ? Nay, to aggravate it yet
ifTe f^^t^^^i it ^"^^^ done in the presence of the other disciple, and even
Luke of Christ himself, who surely was much more painfully wounded
xxii. 61 by this perfidiousness of Peter than by all the rage and fury of
his enemies. Lord, JVhat is inan / What is our boasted strength
but weakness ! and, if we are left unto ourselves, how do our
most solemn resolutions melt like snow before the sun ! Be thou
surety for thy servants for good ! (Psal. cxix. 122.)
ibid. The Lord turned and looked upon Peter, So may he gra-
ciously look uponus if we at anytime make any approach towards
the like sin ! May he look upon us with a glance which shall
penetrate our hearts, and cause floods of penitential sorrcnv to
62 flow forth ! Peter zvent out, and zvept bitterly. He quitted that
dangerous scene where temptation had met and vanquished him j
and chose retirement and solitude to give vent to his overflow-
ing soul. Thus may we recover ourselves ; or rather, thus may
we be recovered by Divine grace from those slips and falls which
in this frail state we shall often be making ! Let us retire from
the business and snares of life ; that we may attend to the voice
of conscience, and of God speaking by it ; and may so taste the
•wormwood and the gall, that our souls may long have them in
remembrance. To conclude ; let us express the sincerity of our
godly sorrow by a more cautions and resolute guard against the
occasions of sin, if we would not be found to trifle with God when
we pray that he would 7iot lead us i?ito temptation, bi{t xvould
deliver us from, evil.
yesus is examined at the high priest'' s halL $0^
SECT. CLXXXV.
yesus is examined at the high pries fs halU and afterxvards con'
demned by the sanhedrim on confessing himself to be the 3Iessiah,
Mat. XXVI. 59—68. Mark XIV. 55—65. Luke XXIL
63, to the end, John XVIII. 19—23, 28 —
John XVIII. 19. JoHN XVIII. 19. ^
npHE high priest TyiTE now return to the examination of Je- sect.
X then asked Je. yy ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ council, the thread of the ^^-^^^^^
SUS or his disciples, ^ • ^ ^^ ^ • i i
and of his doctrine. Story having been a little interrupted on the john
sad occasion of Peter's fall. The high priest xviii. 19
therefore asked Jesus^ as he stood before him,
concerning his disciples^ and concerjiing his doc-
trine ; what it was that he taught, and with
what view he had gathered so many followers.
20 Jesus answer- yesus answered him ^ and said. What I have 20
ed him, I spake o- taught has been delivered in the most public
I ever tauffht^i^ the inanner, and / have spoke it openly and freely
synagogue, and in to the zvorld ; I have always^ as I had proper
the temple, whither opportunity, taught in the synagogue^ and in
6ort,^'and1rsecret f^^^ ^^""'P^'^ whither the yews continually resort
bave I said nothing, in the greatest numbers ; and hove said noth-
ing in secret^ even to my most intimate friends,
but what has been perfectly agreeable to the
21 Why askest tenor of my public discourses. Why dost thou 21
thou me ? ask them therefore ask me, whose testimony in my own
^^hltl have'aid un: "Use will not, to be sure, be much regarded
to them : behold, in such a circumstance as this, when I am
they know what I standing as on a trial for my life ? Ask those
^^^'^' that heard [me], what I have spoken to them
in the whole series of my ministry ; for be-
hold they know it, and I am willing to appeal
to any impartial person among them as to the
innocence, propriety, and usefulness, of zv hat I
have said.
22 And when he Such was the calm and rational reply which 22
had thus spoken, one j^^^g ^^^^ ^^ ^Yiosq that examined him. But
stood by striKklesus ^^'hen he had spoken these things, one of the offi-
with the palm of his cers belonging to the court, who then stood by^
hand, saying, An- rudely gave yesus a blow^ saying. Dost thou
'Gave yesus a hlow.'] As the word to he derived from e^^C(i(§;'y a staff, or sticij,',
^ATTtc-fxA is supposed by many etymologists Beza would therefore render it, he emote
^04< Falsexvitnesses are sought to put him to death.
SECT, presume to anszver the high priest thiis^ by send- swerest thou the
^^^^^'^^ ing him to others for a reply to his question ? ^^S'^ P^^st so ?
JqJi,^ Andjesus^w'wh his usual mildness, ansxvered 23 Jesus answer-
xviii. 23 him. /Tthou hast been one of mv hearers, and ^^ ,^^""» ^'^ \^"^^
^ T r . ,•' J J '1 spoken evil, bear
canst say that / at any time nave spoken evil^ witness of tyie evil •
either of God or man, in the course of my but if well, why smi-
preaching, thou wilt do well to bear thy testi- ^^st thou me ?
7nony coricerm?ig that evil :^ but if I have spok-
en zuell^ why dost thou strike 7ne f Can reason
be answered by blows ? or can such a sober
appeal to it deserve them ?
M-at. Now the chief priests and the elders of the Matth. XXVI.
xxvi. 59 people, and the -whole sanhedrim, with all its ^^iest^^and' dderf
officers, not being able to make out a sufficient and \ii the council*-,
accusation against Jesus from such answers as sought [ for ] false-
these, maliciously endeavoured by the vilest vvitness agauist Je-
means to have something criminal alleged death.*[MARK XIV\
against him ; and as they vv^ere determined to ss.'^
condemn him, that they might colour over their
proceedings with some form of law, they 5o?y^/zt
for false evidence a gainst Jesus, that they might
put him to death ; and managed the trial in so
partial and unjust a manner, that they did in
effect invite any of the most infamous of man-
kind to come and depose against him, with the
60 assurance of being favourably heard : But they 60 — But found
found none that fully answered their purpose f none •• [for] thougb.
Aim Hxith a staff : but the word is appa- the language of the Z»/oto was in effect as
rently used for any bloxv ; and to limit it, as if he had said, *' This is what I think your
our translators do, to what we commonly preaching deserves." But as he himself
call a slap on the face, does not seem rea- seems toassig-nanotherreason for thisZ>/ow,
sonable ; though Suidas explains it so ; and even the pretended rudeness ofthe answer
Mat. V. 39, intimates it may have that Christ had made to the /2/^/2/>r/e5?, I have
sense. not followed Mr. Bo?wel in my paraphrase
^ If I have spohn evil, either of God or on the preceding verse. See Bonnel''s
man, in the course of my preaching, ^c] Harmony, page 362.
The pious and ingenious Mr. Bonnel
(whose exemplary ///e deserves frequent '=■ Sought for false evidence, — but found
reading, and whose harinony is in the main nojie.'\ As this was a great proof of Christ^s
very judicious) is the only writer I have irinocence (for otherwise his confederates
met with who seems to give the true sense might have been glad to purchase their
of this clause He urges the use of the own security by impeaching him), so it is
word iKAKii<r:t for Christ's teaching (ver. 20, a singular instance ofthe pov:er of God over
21), and observes, that bearing luitness wen's 7ni«o'^, that for all the rewards these
could not refer to the a/^su-er he had just great men could offer, no two consistent
made to the high priest ; but might prop- witnesses could be procured to charge
erly be used as tothe course ofhis/)?-eac/2- him with any gross crime. Possibly the
ing, which the high priest had not heard, exertion of his miraculous power in strik-
He also supposes that in Christ's appeal to ing to the ground those that were most for-
his hearers the person who smote Christ ward to seize him, might intimidate the
•was singled out by his eye, among others, spirits of some who might otherwise have
as one wjio had been his auditor ; and that be<in prevailed upon.
But they could find none xvhose testimony xvas sufficient. 505
many falsewitness-yc/r though matiy falsewitnesses came^ [and] sect.
fou'wimoL^'aRai"';/'-''^^';/ testified at;:ainst him, yet they foxmd none f™-
Ilim,] yet found they sufficient ; [/or] the testimonies they gave did j^^^.
none ; \^for their not SO far agree together, as that a capital sen- xxvi!
witness aj,n-eed not ^^.j^^e coLilcl be passed upon him on that evi- 60
tog-ether.] [iMark , \ ^ i . i . r
XIV. 56.1 dence ; since such a case required, at least, the
concurrent oath of two persons. (See Deut.
xvii. 6, xix. 15.)
-— 60 At the last ^^ /r^^.^ there came two falservitnesscs, \xvho\
I there] came two ,- • , - ^ i t v i r
talsewitncsses,[iu/^c> "^-'^hciously wrestmg some words he had torm-
arose, and bare erly spoken relating to his own death and resur-
falsewitness against rection, roseup^ and falsely testified against hifu,
57-y ^^^'''' ^^' '^'^y'^'i^^ ^ipoi^ their oaths, This fellow said, in 61
61 And said, This our hearing, / am able to destroy the temple of
fellovj said, I am a- God, and to build it up again in three days : and
ble to destroy the ^^Q^ld any one talk of destroying it, unless he
temple of God, and - , ^^'^^^^'^,c^
to build it in three ^^'^'^ ^^ enemy to that holy place : or thmk oi
days. building it again so soon, unless he was in
Mark XIV. 58. leao^ue with Beelzebub ? \Tea\ one of them, Mark
We heard him say, ^ ■ - ^ ^ ^i .. r j ^i ^-^ cq
I will destroy this designmg to aggravate tne matter, confidently xiv. 58
temple that is made affirmed,^ We heard him say, I will destroy this
with hands, and temple that is made with hands, and in three
wlll"biild\nSheJ '^^^'■' ^'^^^ I will build n^ another, which shall
made without hands. t)e made xvithout the help oi hands, in obedience
59 But neither so to my command. Tet neither thus did their 59
dici aieir witness a- testimonii exactly a^ree, nor was sufficient to
gTee tog-etlier. • i- ' ■^ \ c
convict him ; as evidently appears irom com-
paring the different w^ords in which it was ex-
pressed : and as this difference was observed
in court, they could not for shame proceed up-
on the evidence so as to condemn Jesus to
death for words which no two persons could
pretend to ascertain ; nor would they indeed
have amounted to a capital crime if they had
jointly been charged upon him.
Luke XXII. 66. However, they resolved to try him in full Luke
And as soon as it council, even on this slender evidence, hoping xxii. 66
that some further discovery would arise in the
process of the examination. And accordingly,
^ Designing to aggravate the matter, spoken by Christ at least three years be-
^c] This is one instance, among many fore. (Compare John ii. 19, Vol. I. p. 144)
others, in which the Z'owr^^na/ice has been Their going back so far to find matter
broke by overstraining it, and iivwcence for the charge they brought was a glori-
cleared up by the very extravagance of ous, though silent, attestation of the uncx-
those charges which had been advanced ceptionable manner in which oz/r Z,o;t/ had
against it. It is observable that the words behaved himself during all the course of
'vhich they thus misrepresented were his public ministry.
506 He is led axvay from thence before the sanhedrim,
SECT, as soon as it was day^ after a very short recess, was day, the elders
clxxxv. the elders of the people, andthechiefpriem and'^l^^^Vl^'^'^^^^^^
Luke ^^^ scribes, who made up the sanhedrim, as- and the scribes
xxii. 66 sembled together ; and they led J esus away from came together, and
[the house oH Caiabhas the high priest to their i^^^. U^^".% ^^"^
^ ,, ^'-^i'^ -r 11 \. Caiaphas] into their
council, or to that magnificent chamber where council. [John
their court used to sit for the dispatch of pub- XVIII. 28.—]
Mark lie business. And, producing what imper- ^^^\•■^l^■ -^^1
xiv. 60 fgct evidence they had, to give some colour to ^^^^^ ^^ '^in^The
their proceedings, while no regard was shewn midst, and asked Jer
by Jesus to such false and frivolous accusa- sus, saying, Answer.
tions, the high priest stood up in the midst of the ^yh^t^^^g irwllicli
council, and asked Jesus, saying, Ansxverest these witness a-
thou nothing f What is it that these men testify gainst thee ? [Mat.
61 agaiiist thee ? Is it true, or false t But Jesus, ^^]_^'\ rr -i
knowing how vain it would be to plead for j^^j^^ ^\^ peace, and
himself in so unrighteous a court, whose mem- answered nothing.
bers came determined to condemn him, was [Mat.XXVI. 63—]
silent, and made no reply.
^■•^67 '^^^ ^^^y said to him. Why art thou so much Luke xxii. 67.
upon the reserve ? Dost thou j2:ive up the pre- [And they said],
4. • i,u.r 1 J A ^ }u Art thou the Christ?
tensions thou hast formerly made, or dost thou ^^^^ ^^ And he said
still maintain them? If thou art indeed Me unto them, If I tell
Messia/i, tell us plainly, and it w ill bring mat- you, you will nqt
ters to a short issue.® And he said to them, TjT^^^^^^*
/ tell you ever so plainly, I know that you will
68 not believe: And if I also ask [you']. Wherefore gg And If I also
it is that you persist in this unreasonable infi- ask jow, you will not
delity, you will only overbear me with renew- answer me, nor let
ed violence, and will neither answer nor dismiss ^^ ^^'
me.
Mat And again the high priest anszvered and said Mat. XXVI.—
xxvi. to him. Think not that such evasions will suf- 63. And [again] the
^3 fice in an affair of such importance as this : thou eJ^JJ^ 'lid"' unto
knowest I have a way of coming at the certain him, I adjure theehy
truth, and therefore / adjure thee in the most the living God, that
solemn manner, by the name and authority of ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^
the living God, whose high priest I am, and to
whom he has committed the power of ad-
ministering this oath,^ that thou tell us directly,
^ If thou art the Messiah, tell us."] Prob- to maintain the pretentions he had made.
ably these wretches hoped to gain a great ^ To whom he has committed the power
advantage against Jesus either way : if he of administering this oath.] That the ^eu)-
confessed it, they would condemn him on ish high priests had indeed such a power
that confession ; and if he denied it, they may appear from comparing Exod. xxii.
-would expose him on that denial as afraid 11 ; Lev. v- 1 ; and Prov. xxix. 24; xx$. %>
Being adjured to tell whether he be the Christy he owns it. SOT
thou be the Christ, in the plainest terms, ivhether thou be the Mes- sect.
the Son of [the bles- ^^^/^^ ^/^^ ^-^^ qJ ihc ever blessed God, or not ? c\xx\v.
xfv.f 61.] ^^'^'^''^ ^'^^ y^'*^'""^ ^"^^^^y ^'"^ '^'^ ^^"'' ^^^^" ''^^■'■^ -^^'"^ "mIT
64 [And] Jesus [ri^/i?], and mentioned me by my true and xxvi. 64
saith unto him, Thou proper title ;S for I am indeed the Messiah,
hast said: [I am:] ^^^ ^y-|| j ^^^^ recede from that claim : and
nevertheless, I say . , ,
unto vou, Hereafter moreover, though you may now condemn me
shall'ye see the Son to death for asserting it, yet /solemnly declare
of man sitting on the .^ y^^^ ^^ That At^ref^/rr the day will come,
u\?'power oVood], when ye shall see the Son of man, who now
and coming in the Stands in this despised and lowly form at your
clouds of heaven, tribunal, exalted to all the dignity and glory
L^KE XXn.^69]^^ '^^^'^^ ^^^^ ^^^S^ ^^^^^ imports, sitting' at the
right hand of the power and majesty o/'G'o<3^, and
coming with irresistible strength in the clouds
of heaven, to take vengeance on the proudest of
his enemies.^
Luke XXII. 70. And \x^on this, as they were willing to make Luke
Then said they all, sure of so important a confession, they pressed ^^^' "^^
Art thou then the ^ -^j^ ^}^^ question ap^ain, and all said, as in
Son of God ? and he ^ /.w w^ u .i o r r- j
said unto them, Ye amazement, Art thou then really the ^on oj hod^
say that I am. "who is promised under the character of the
Messiah ? and Avilt thou actually abide and
stand by this profession, that thou art ? And he
said to them, I w^ill never retract it ; ye say
right, and may be assured that J am.
Mat. xxvi. 65. Then the high priest, with all the hypocriti- Mat.
Then the high priest cal forms of pious indignation, rent his clothes, ^^^^i- ^^
yenthis clothes, say- ^^ -^^ -^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ dishonour done to God
mg. He hath spoken <=> o .
blasphemy ; what by SO lalse an oath,^ and so presumptuous a
further need have claim, as he pretended this to be ; and he saidy
we of witnesses ? j^g /^^^ riow spoken the most direct blasphemy^
in professing himself to be the Son of the most
high God J What further need have we of wit-
g Thou hast said right.'] See wofe ', Mat. /)ou'cr is a phrase equivalent to the r/^Af*
xxvi. 25, sect. clxx. hand of God.
' Hent his clothes.] Though the high
^ Ye shall see the Son of man, &c.] There priest was forbidden to rend his clothes in
seems a plain reference here to the view in some cases, when others were allowed to
which the 5'o«o/'wian is represented, Dan. doit (Lev. xsi. 10), yet in case o^ blasphe-
vii. 13, 14, where he is said to come with m-y, or any public calamity, it was thought
the clouds of heaven to receive a. do^ninion, allowable. (See 1 Mac. xi. 71, and j^o-
Sec. or to appear, as God did on mount seph. Bell. Jud. \\h. ii. 15, §2, 4.) Caia-
Sinaiy in 3i chariot of clouds attended by an- phas therefore by this action expressed in
gelic hosts. Our Lord looked very unlike the strongest and most artful manner his
that person now; but nothing could be horror at hearing so vile a wretch, as he
more awful, majestic, and becoming, than pretended Jesus was, thus claiming the
such an admonition in these circumstances, sovereignty over Israel, and a seat at the
Dr. Whitby excellently proves, in his Note righthand of God ,• and this when adjured
on Mat. sx,vi. &*; that the righthand of upon oath on so solemn an occasion.
S08 They all declare he is worthy of deaths and abuse him,
SECT, nesses P Behold norv ye have heard his blasphemy Beliold,now ye have
clxxxv. ^\x\y your own ears. What think ye therefore ^^^''^ '"^ blasphe-
jvjj^t_ as to the punishment he deserves ? They an- 63%4 — ]^^^
Xivi. 66 sxvered and said^ He is guilty of the most noto- 66 What think ye ?
rious of all crimes, and deserves immediately '^'?P answered and
to be put to death ;^ what need have xve indeed deihf[LuK?!what
of any other testimony ? for we ourselves have need we any further
heard [it'] from his own mouth. And thus they witness ? for we our-
all condemned him as guiltu of a capital crime ; '?^^^' ^^"^ heard of
, T 1 ^ :y J r 'his own mouth.!
and accordmgly sentence was passed upon him, [And they all con-
no witness appearing in his defence, and none demned liim to be
daring to plead his cause -^ though some of ^!^^^^ "^vTv^^^fii
the council, who had a friendship for him, and luke xxii. 7\R
particularly Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicode-
mus, disapproving these unrighteous proceed-
ings, either absented themselves, or withdrew.
(Compare Luke xxiii. 50, 51, and John xix. ^^^^^ ^^"- ^^•
SRsertr^rii^ CThen]the men that
oa, sect. CXCll.; l^^l^ jgg^g^ mocked
Luke Then the men that attended the court, and him, [iMark, and
xxu. 63 }i(-if;i yesus in custody^ finding he was condem- some began to spit
ned by the s2in\iedv\mAnsidted him with renew- '"Jj^^ ^l^ ff-^f'^'^''^*
, . / . 1 rr . • 1 1 • ^"^^ ^o bufiet him ; J
ed injuries and atrronts, «72^ carried that inso- and [others] smote
lent usage yet further than they had done him. [Mat. XXVI.
before f Jor some of them with rude indignity TZ^^-, ^^^^ '^IV.
began even to spit in his face ^ and to buffet him ; 54 ^^d when they
and others scornfully abused and beat him: had blindfolded him,
64 And^ in derision of his title to the character he [Mark, the ser-
claimed, Aa;z>z/2^ covered his eyes^ the officers and q^" ^^^ ^^^^^ Vwith
servants struck him on the face with the palms the palms of their
■If They answered and said^ He is guilty of led to the council, in which he tells us he
death.'] A man who did not know the was examined on oath, as above : but
mig-hty influence of attachment to an hypo- Matthew and Mark mention them as im-
thesis by frequent observation, would be mediately succeeding his being condemned,
astonished that any learned, accurate, and as guilty of blasphemy in the answer he
candid li^riter, should not be able to see the made when adjured by the high priest ; and
msivk of a judicial process and 5e;!fe«ce here ; do not so particularly as Luke distinguish
and yet should see them in the case of what happened in his exam,ination at the
iStephen. Yet this is really the case. house of Caiaphas from other subsequent
* No witness appearing in his defenccjl^'c.] circumstances. The attentive reader will
Dr. Samuel Harris, in his Observations on observe how they are formed in our com-
the Old Testament, (p. 109, Ijf seq. quarto pound text into one consistent narration. I
edit.) has, with much greater learning and do not see it necessary to suppose that
ingenuity than solidity, endeavoured to Christ answered to ?^uo rt£/;Mrrt?/o/z5, the one
prove this circumstance referred to in some hours after the other. Matthew and
Isaiah's words, chap. liii. 8, Who shall de- Mark naturally enough relate the whole of
f/are his generation ? and his first and his examhiation together, though carried
second dissertation prefixed to his essay on in two different places ; and it is prob»
chiefly center in this point. able some insults preceded, and others, yet
™ Carried that insolent usage yet far- more violent, folloived, his being thus
ther than they had done before.] Luke solemnly condemned by the sanhedrim as
mentions these indignities before his being guilty of death.
Refections on the examination of Jesus by the yews, 50%
hands], and asked of their hands^ and on the head with staves ; sect.
him sayinj,^Prophe- ^ in a scoffing and contemptuous manner, ^^•'^^^^•
sy [unto us, thou ' , , . • -vt i. l i
Christ,] who is it asked htm^ sayings JNow shew us now thou l,,^^
that smote thee ? canst divine ; and, if thou art indeed the true xxii.
[Mat. XXVI— 67, Messiah, /;r5/?/ie'Cz/ to lis, 0 Uhou] Christ, zvho 64
6?-, ^''^'' ^^^•~" is he that .smote thee P Such were the vile 65
65 And many oth- indignities they offered him, and many other
er thing-s bkisphem- f/iin^s they blafiphemously spake against him :'*
^"?!-!/l'ri:^ ^^^^ ^' so that, on the whole, hkd he been the vilest
malefactor, they could not have used him
worse ; and common humanUy, even in that
case, would not have allowed of such barba*
rous insults.
IMPROVEMENT.
Thus was the patient Lamb of God surrounded by his blood- Luke
thirsty enemies : Thus did the dogs encompass him, and the strong ^^^g-
bidls ofBashan beset him on every side, (Psal.xxii. 12, 16.) Thus
was he brought as a lamb to the slaughter ; and as a sheep before
her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth, (Isa. liii. 7, 8.)
He was taken froui judgment , and suffered the worst kind of mur- j^ark
der, even that which had the appearance of being legal. But xiv.
those gentle words which he dropped in the midst of all the in- ^^> ^^
juries which were offered him are surely worthy ever to be re- j^j^j^
corded and remembered. It had always been his care to pro- xviii. 23
vide things honest in the sight of all men: and as he answered with
a most graceful and coiu'ageous appeal to all that heard him, as
to the innocence and usefulness of his doctrine ; so it is well
worthy our observation and reflection that God so far restrained
the rage and malice of hell, that no such falservitnesses arose ^^^<'
against him, as could on the whole asperse his character, or bring ^^^qq
it under any brand of public infamy ; though Judas, as well as
others, might have sought a reward, or at least an indemnity, for
their own villan^•, in accusing him. And indeed it is no incon-
siderable instance of God's providential government of the
world, that wicked men are restrained by this one remainder of
reverence for the Divine omniscience, and dread of his ven-
geance,from destroying the reputations and lives of his children ;
especiallv in countries where (as in our own) the punishment
which human laws inflict on perjury is so much below its desert.
When Jesus was exammed on oath he witnessed a good co?i' 63, 64
fession, and cited those that were now his judges to appear at
his bar. Nor Avas it a vain boast ! The Son of man is now sitting
^ Many other things they blasphemously himself to be the Son of God ; but the
spake against hini~\ There is sometliing evange/ist fixes that charg-e on them, be-
very remarkable in this expression. They cause he really \Yas so.
charged him with blasphemy in asserting
-510 The Jews consult how to put Jesus to death.
SECT, at the right hand of Power ^ and will ere long come in the clouds
^^^^^^' of heaven : and then thei/ that condemned^ and insulted^ ?iXidL pierc^
ed h'lm^ shall mourn because of him, (Rev. i. 7.) May we be
now so -wise as to kiss the Son in token of our humble allegiance
to him, lest he he then justly angry with us : yea, lest we imme-
diately perish from the way^ when his wrath is but beginning' to
be kindled! (Psal. ii. 12.)
SECT. CLXXXVI.
Jesus is brought before Pilate : The Jews demand judgment
against him^ and Pilate examines him. Mat. XXVII. 1, 2,
11_14. Mark XV, 1— -5. Luke XXIII. 1—4. John
XVIIL— 28— 38.
Mat. XXVII. 1. Mat.XXVII. l.
SECT. Q U C H were the vile proceedings of this f A ^^ straight-
cUxxv, ;^ ^^^,.ij ^„j malignant night, and thus was ."[.f^J^ "^^^
Mat. Jesus condemned, and treated as a malefactor come, all the chief
XXV ii. 1 bv the Jewish rulers. And as soon as morning priests [held a con-
^as come, all the cA;e//,W.... having put Jesus ^^^f-i^^'l^f.^
out ot the room where the sanhedrim met, con- [and scribes, and the
sultedxviththe elders ofthepeople^and the scribes^ whole council,] a-
and the zvhole sanhedrim,^ what method thev P^"f^ i^'Tv^fJ P""^
1-111 ^ -uil' . ^.u u J himtodeath.rMARK
should take to execute this sentence they naa ^v. 1.—]
passed against Jesus^ and hoiv they might con-
trive to put him to death in the most severe and
contemptuous manner.
2 And^h^rht had been insulted by the servants 2 And when they
at the council chamber, when for the greater J.'^^ ^°^Vt !h'T'
security they had bound him again,^ the zuhole j^u[[iJucle orthem^a^-
multitude of them arose ^ and led him away from rose, and] they led
thence to the prcetoriuyn (as it was pronerly call- /"'maway [JoHN,im-
ed), or to the judgment hail, in which the Ro- ^« ^^^ ^'"^^ «^ J^^S"
man magistrate was used to sit for the dispatch
of public business : for the Jews being now a
» All the chief priests consulted^ Sec] Many wliicli they are explained in the paraphrase. .
critics explain this of their adjourning to Compare Luke xxii. 66, page 506.
consult together, from the house of Cniaphasy
to the place where the saiihedrim used to ^ When they had boujid him again.] They
meet : but it appears from Luke this was boundhim when he was first apprehended,
ihe. place where they had before assembled but had, perhaps, loosed him while he was
and passed sentence upon Jesus after his under examination : or else 1 hey now made
first examination in the house of Caiaphas ; his bonds stricter than before, that so they
and his account of this matter is so cir- might secure him from any danger of a
camstantial, that I think it more reason- rescue or escape as he passed through the
able to take the$e words in the order in streets of Jerusalejn*-
They carry him to Pilate^ to order his execution. 511
ment and delivered conquered people, and not having the pow- sect.
him to Pontius Pi- er of life and death in their hands, they clxxxvi.
late the srovernor. ^ \ ^ ^ t • i "^ . -,
[ Mark XV. — 1. could not execute Jesus without a warrant ^^^
Luke xxiii. 1. from the Romans f and therefore, to procure xxvii.2
John xVIII.— their order for his death, as well as to render
^ J it the more ignominious and painful, they de-
termined immediately to carry him to them ;
and to ask, not a confirmation of the sentence
which they had passed upon him as a blasphe-
mer, but a new sentence of crucifixion against
him, as a seditious enemy to Cesar's govern-
ment. Accordingly, having conducted him to
the prsetorium, they in a solemn way delivered
him^ as a state prisoner of considerable import-
ance, to Pontius Pilate the procurator or goV'
ernor^ whom Tiberius Cesar had, some years
before this, sent among them*
John XVIII.— 28. And though by this time it was broad day- John
And it was early, light, yet it was very early in the morning, o/z^ xviii.28
'v"e'!,t'7ot"'in"o"';hl ^'''^h sooner than the governor used to appear:
judgment hall, lest he was therefore called up on this extraordina-
they should be defil- ry occasion, but they themselves went not into
^1.;ht''eat*U.e pas's': ^"^^ P^'^*^^' "''.''vliich the judgment halt was
over. apart, because it was the house of a Gentile,
and they were apprehensive lest they should be
polluted^ and so prevented from eating those sac-
rifices which were offered on this first day of
unleavened bread, and were looked upon as a
*^ Not having- the power of life and death occasion ; since the rendering* the execution
in their hands, SjT'c] That the Jev^'ish itseif precarious would have balanced the
sanhed'hn had a power of trying ana con- argument their cruelty might find, in the
c/e7M«z«^ mew for crimes whicli tlie yenxtish contingency of its ht'xw^ ti. ore paiifidy if it
luHu made capital, cannot I think be doubt- should in fact be obtained Compare John
ed, and has all along been taken for granted xviii. 31, p. 512. (See Dr. Lardner^s Credib.
in this work : and since the publication of part i. book i. chap. 2, § 5, 6, Vol. I. p. 65
the Jirst edition it has been abundantly con- — 106, and Joseph. Antiq. yud. lib. xx. cap.
firmed by Mr. ^/jc&e'i- learned and elabo- 9 (al 8), §1.) And indeed the ^e^vish
rate dissertation on the subject, in his ivriters own that no such power was exer-
Sermons at Boyle's Lecture, chap, vi part i. p cised by the sanJiedritn for forty years be-
12o,l:fseq. Butthatthey hadatthistimea fore the destruction of the temple, as Dr.
power of executing such sentences without Lightfoot shews by several quotations
the express co«^e/2« of the i?oman governor, from the Tahnud ( Hor Heb. on Mat.
neither Mr. Manners remarks (Essay i. p. xxvi. 3, and John xviii. 31) ; though he sup-
13, — 19), nor Mr Biscue's mucli larger ar- poses it was only lost by their disuse of
gumentation, seem to me satisfactorily to it, and was not taken from them by the
prove I still think wliat Dr. Lardner has Romans. The chief arguments for their
written on the other side of the question having such a power (from Mat. xxvi. 66 »
unanswerable; and indeed wonder that John viii. 33 ; xviii. 31 ; Acts vii. 57, 58 ;
any can doubt of the matter after reading xii. 2 ; xxii 4, 5; xxiii. 27 ; xxiv. 6 ; xxvi.
this story. For surely nothing but a sense 10) are either directly answered in the
of necessity could, on the whole, have noteSf or obviated in the paraphrase^ on
brought the Jewish rulers to Pilate on this those places.
vo L. 2. 66
512 But Pi/ate endeavours to shift off* the affah\.
SECT, very considerable part of the passo'oer^ of which
clxxxvi. the paschal lamb, which they had eaten the
"Tj^ evening before, was only the beginning.
xviii. 29 Pilate therefore^ willing in this instance to 29 Pilate then
oblige the heads of the nation he governed, weM out unto them
complied so tar with their religious scruples cusation bring- ye
that, leaving the prsetorium, he came out of his against this man ?
house to them ; and finding it was an affair of
solemnity, he erected his tribunal in an open
place adjoining to it, as the Roman magistrates
often did : and when Jesus was presented as a
prisoner before him, Pilate said to them. What
accusation do you bring against this man f
30 They answered and said to him^ with some in- 20 They answered
decent smartness in the expression (the conse- and said unto him, if
quence of a secret indignation to find themselves f^etorTwrwoXnot*
curbed by a superior power), We could not have delivered him
but have hoped you were so well acquainted up unto thee,
with the sanctity of our court, and the integrity
of our character, as to conclude, that if this
man were not a notorious offender ^^ xve xvouldnot
have brought and delivered him to thee ; for as
we would be far from any thought of punish-
ing an innocent man, so if his crime had not
been very great, we might have dealt with
him ourselves without thy concurrence.
31 Then Pilate said to them^ Take ye him back 31 Then said Pi-
to vour own court aj2:ain, andjudsce him accorain^ late unto them, Take
■^ , r?t- i-ye him, and judge
to your law ; for I am by no means desirous j;-,^ according- to
of interfering with you in the regular exercise your law.—
of vour judicial power. And this he said with
a view of shifting off from himself an affair to
which in the general he could be no stranger ;«
^ A notorious offender "^ So I render ka- cerning him, he had, no doubt, been In-
y.oTToi^ in this connection, because they formed at large of his public entrance into
had still the power of inflicting slighter Jerusalem the beginning of the week ; and
punishments ; so that their bringing him also of liis apprehension, in which the Jeiv-
to Pilate was a proof that they judged him ish riders were assisted by a Roman cohort ^
to have incurred a capital sentence. The which could hardly be engaged in that
•word malefactor has much the same sense service without th&goverjior's express per-
in our ordinary speech. mission It plainly appears by his whole
e With a view of shifting off from him- conduct how unwilling he was to engage
self, tfc.'] Pilate could not be entirely in this cause ; he seems therefore cautious
ignorant of the case before him ; for he be- not to enter into the full sense of what the
gan his government at Jerusalem before Jewish rulers intended when they called
Jesus entered on his pubhc ministry; and, him a malefactor ; and answers them m
besides many other extraordinary things ambiguous language, which they might
•which he must formerly have heard con- have interpreted as a warrant to execute
They accuse him to Pilate as setting' up for a king. 612
and which he easily saw would be attended sect.
with many perplexing circumstances. clxxwi.
—The Jews there- Then the Jezus said to him again. You well ""TJ^
fore said unto him, know that it IS not now Unvful for US to put xviii. 31
It is not lawful for ^^ ^^^^^ without vour concurrence
us to put any man to , "' ^ _ • • ^ ' ^ ,.\ i • •
^eath. (compare Mat. xxvii. 2, p. olOj: but it is a
capital crime of which the prisoner here be-
fore you is convicted, and as, after a fair tri-
al, he has received such a sentence in the san-
hedrim, we only wait your warrant to proceed
to execution.
Luke XXIII. 2. And^ as Pilate could not but inquire of what Lvike
And the> began to ^^-^^^^ j^^ j^^j l^^^^^ convicted, they resolved to ^^''^^-^
accuse him, sa\ir.e', . , , , . , . . -^^ i i •
We found this/e//o°y mention that charge which might render him
perverting- the na- most obnoxipus to the Roman power, and to
tjon, and forbidding represent the matter in its most malignant
Ces£rsaving?^tha° ^iew ; and accordingly they began with great
he him self is Christ, violence to accuse hi?n^ sayings It is not merely
a Kinij. on a religious account that we have brought
him before you, but we have also found this
seditious [fellow] perverting the whole Jewish
nation^ from one end of the country to the
other, aj2d in G^cct forbidding to pay tribute to
Cesar^ by sayings that he himsef is Messiah^ a
King^ whom many of the Jews have expected
to rescue them from all subjection to a foreign
power : and this claim he has had the assur-
ance to avow in open court ; so that it is but
a necessary piece of respect to thee, and to
the emperor, whose lieutenant thou art, to
bring him hither to be condemned, and indeed
John XVIII. to leave him to be executed by you. And John
32. That the saying though they aimed at nothing more by this xviii. 3^
of Jesus might be ^^^^^ ^^ make sure of their murderous designs,
fufilled, which he , , . . ^ p , " ,
spake, signif}ing and to add new^ Circumstances ot shame and
■what* death he agony to the execution, yet Providence was
ehould die. pleased to overrule it with a wise intent, ?/ia^
the saying of Jesus might xhus be fulfilled^ which
he spake more than once (see John iii. 14 ; xii.
32, 33 ; and Mat. xx. 19), signifying or im-
plying by what kind of death he should die ^ even
by being lifted up from the earth, or by cru-
cifixion, which was a Roman punishment ;
whereas according to the Jewish law (Lev,
Christ, if they found it necessary, and yet, which a man of his cliaracter might hav&
which would have left them liable to be wished. Their reply shews tliey were
questioned fordoing it, and might have more aware of tliis artifice than cowz7?:c?i;a^.
given him some advantage against Uiem ; for« have generally been.
514. As Jesus xvas silent ^ Pilate takes him and examines him.
SECT. xxiv. 16) he would have been stoned (as his
*^^^^^^'' servant Stephen afterwards was), having been
impiously adjudged by them to have deserved
death as a blasphemer. (Compare Mat. xxvi.
65, 66, and Mark xiv. 64, p. 50/, 508.)
Mat. Arid XV hen he xvas thws accused by the chief Mat. XXVII. 12.
^""fl- priests and elders,^ who ajroravated the matter ^"^^ ^}^r ^^ 7".^%
12 1, .1^ J i-.^- /> ° 1 ./ • -I accused of the chief
by the addition of 7nany other things, either pj.jests and elders
entirely false, or grossly misrepresented ; re- [of many things],
proaching him as a blasphemer, a sabbath- ]'^ answered noth-
breaker, and a magician ; and, in a word, omit- "^S" L^^^'^ ^V. 3.]
ting nothing which they thought might blacken
his character, he made them no ansxver at all.
^3 Then Pilate said to him^ Dost thou ansxver noth- 13 Then saith PI-
ing to all this ? Hearest thou not the several l^te unto him, [An-
charges they produce against thee, or hast thou -T]"Lt"t"ht
no concern to vindicate thyself from what they not ? [Behold] how
have alleged ? Behold^ and consider, hoxv many things they
many and how great thins^s they xvitness against witness against thee.
14 */ D * •// T 1 • 1 'i'^^ n [Mark XV. 4]
^^ thee. But still, as Jesus knew how little all '" 14 ^nd [Jesus
his apologies would signify, he continued si- yet] answered him
lent, and did not ansxver him to any one xjuord ; ^^ "^^'^^ ^ word, in-
so that Pilate the governor xvas greatly aston- i^f the ^gover^Jr"
tshed^ and knew not how to account for so un- marvelled greatly,
common a behaviour. [Mark XV. 5.]
Jf>!i[i But yet, as the governor had heard an hon- John XVIII. 33.
xvni^ ()u,.j^[3|g report of Jesus, and observed in this Then Pilate entered
"3 silence an air of meek majesty and greatness 1,"^;? ^^JlS:
or spirit, rather than any consciousness of guilt ed Jesus ;• [and Je-
or any indication of a fierce contempt, he was sus stood before the
willing to discourse with him more privatelv ^^j^^'I?!"'? [Luke,
rrv iiri -r.., *. n ^ ai^d Puatc asked
betore he proceeded farther. Pilate therefore him, saying,] Art
entered again into the prcetorium, which he had thou the king of
quitted to oblige the Jews (ver. 29, p. ^12), Jj J^J^s ? [Mat.
and called Jesus in : and [as] Jesus stood before x v 2.-.' Luke
the governor there, Pilate asked him, saying,xxiu.3.—']
Art thou indeed the king of the Jexvs, and dost
thou really pretend to any right to govern them ?
^^ Jesus ansxvered hijn, Dost thou say this of 34 Jesus answer-
thyself from the knowledge of any seditious ^^ him, Sayestthou
practices uhich thou hast ever observed in i';'li^«„"|:;3";fu^'fj
me i or is it only what thou hast gathered from thee of me ?
the present clamour made against me, and
have others told it thee concerning me f
^ And luhen he loas thus accused, &c.] other e'pan^e//5/5 relate '^he story in such an
The reader may perhaps observe that I order, as to shew the propriety of this little
have transposed Mat. xxvii. 11, and Mark transpositioti.
XV. % But it is only because I think the
Jesus declares his klngdotn is not of this world. 515
35 Pilate answer- Pilate immediately replied^ Am la Jexv f or sect.
e<l. Am I a Jew ? Jo I know anv thing of your peculiarities, fur- clxxxvi.
Jnliotecrfp^Sl™: 'her than I am informed by others ? I do not J^
have delivered thee at all pretend to it : but thou knowest that xviii. .35
unto me: What hast thine oxvn nation^ and xho^id who are esteemed
thou done ? ^j^^ most sacred persons in it, even the chief
priests themselves, have delivered thee to me as
a malefactor, and have charged thee, among
other crimes, with treason against Cesar, in
setting up for king of the country : tell me
therefore freely Tuhat thou hast done to deserve
such a charge ? for the more frank thou art in
thine acknowledgment, the greater favour
mayest thou expect.
36 Jesus answer- Jesus anszvered\nm^ My kingdom is not of 36
ed, My kmgdom is f^^^s world, nor is it my business or desic:n to
not of this world : if ^ ^ •• i • • i^ ^ i t u
my kingdom were of ^^^^^ ^ temporal dommion, and to establish any
this world, then claim which should at all interfere with that of
would my ser\'ants Cesar, or of which any prince has reason to be
nf'be'delUereTloJ^lous. Indeed if I would have entertained
the Jews ; but now such views, I might have found support and
is my khigdom not encouragement from the very persons who are
trom hence. ^^^y ^^y accusers : and if I had asserted that
mif kingdom zuas of this world, and had favoured
such methods of defence, my servants^ who
professed of late so great and so public a re-
gard to me, xvoidd resolutely have fought, that
I might not have been delivered to the fews^ or
would attempt even now to rescue me out of
their hands : hut now yny kingdom is not from
hence, nor to be erected here ; and therefore
I have been so far from arming my followers
"with secular weapons, that the guard who came
to apprehend me know I forbade their making
use of those they had.
s My servants nxiould have Joughu &c.] populace appeared zealously on Christ's
Though our translation o^i\yu)\i^ovlo may be side but a few days before ; and the reason
more literal, yet, considering that owriorc^ of their turning against him was his not
was now actually in the hands ot his en- assuming a temporal kingdom, as they cer-
emies, I think it plain that it is to be taken tainly expected he would have done. (See
in such an extent. It may be objected, Lardn. Credit, part i. book i. chap. 5, Vol L
that the number of Christ's disciples, had p. 301) And we may farther add, that a
all the^Te hundredheen assembled in arms, very small body of forces, under a leader
could have been no match for the Jewish endowed with such miraculous power as
and Roman power at Jerusalem. Butitis Jesus lately exercised, might have been
to be remembered, that (as Dv. Lardner sufficienttovanquish all the Roman legions,
with ^is usual good sense obser>'es) the Compare note • on Johnvi. 14, Vol. I, p. 436,
516 Pilate comes out and tells the Jews he found no fault in hm>
SECT. Pilate therefore said to hhn^ Thou speakest 37 Pilate therefore
clxxxvi. however of thy kingdom and thy subjects : ^^^^ ^"^o him, Art
-J-^ art thou then really a king ? '^°^ ^ '^^"^ '^^" •-
;sviii. 37 And Jesus answered him and said^ therein —[And] Jesus an-
courageously witnessing a good confession (l swered[Lt<KE,him,
Tim. vi. 13), Thou say est fright]; /«m indeed, ^"f.f'f ^'II'T^^'"
, , ^ . , „•/ , "^ , .-' r ^ -r ' est that I am a kinff.
as thou hast said, a King ; the kmgor the Jews, to this end was I
and the appointed Head and Governor of the born, and for this
whole Israel of God ; nor will I ever baselv ^^^'^^^ ^'^'P^ \ ^"^^^
, r X u • T^' • 1 • ' the world, that I
seek my safety by renouncmg my Divme claim should bear witness
to the most excellent majesty and extensive unto the truth. Eve-
dominion : nav,/or this purpose was Iborn^ and ^T o"^ ^^^^ ^s of the
for this end I came into the zvorldhom another ^^^^ [uT^ t™h!
and much better abode, that I might bear wit' xxvil.-ll. Mark
ness to the cause of truth in general ; and in XV._2. ^ Luke
particular to this great and fundamental branch X^lll'— '^•J
of it : and I have given such ample proof of
this, that every honest and well disposed per-
son, who is indeed a friend of the truth, hear-
eth my voice, and pays an entire deference to
my instructions.^
38 Pilate says to him. What is the truth which 38 Pilate saith un-
thoureferrestto,andspeakest of as thy business Y* ^,"1' A^^h^ \^
to attest ? And when he had said this, as Jesus had said this he
made a pause, and did not immediately make went out again unto
him any answer, his hurry would not allow him ?^ J^^^. a"d saith
♦^ •, <• • , , , • X ^L cv rto the chief priests,
to wait for It : so he went out again to the Jews, ^ ^^ ^^ ^,,^ v^o^Aei
and said to the chief priests, and the people as- I find no fault at all
sembled with them abroad, I have examined [in thisman.][LuKE
the prisoner you brought me in private ; and ^'^"^- ^-1
I must freely declare that I find no fault at all
in this man, nor can I perceive that he is any
enemy either to the rights of Cesar, or the
tranquillity and happiness of the Jews ; and
therefore do not see how I can with any justice
condemn him to die. But his accusers refus-
ed to acquiesce in this, and advanced a more
circumstantial charge against him, which gave
occasion to that examination before Herod,
which will be related in the next section.
'' E'oery person 'who is a friend of the truth all simplicity, depending on the evidences
heareth my voice.'] Wh-dt our Lord here ssLys which he and his brethren had given of
incidentally is to be regarded as an univer- their mission from Christ, lays down the
sal maxim ; all sincere lovers of the truth will same test. 1 John iv. 6, We are of God:
hear him : and accordingly St. John, with he that knov^eth God heareth us.
Reflections on Christ's examination by Pilate. SiT
IMPROVEMENT.
How much exactness in the ceremonials of religion may be sect.
found in those who have even the most outrageous contempt *^^f^^'
for its vital principles and essential duties ! Yea, how much of j^^^^
that exactness mav be made subservient to the most mischiev- xviii. 28
ous and diabolical purposes ! These ivohes in sheep's clothing'
would not enter into the house of a heathen, lest they should be
polluted^ and become unfit to eat the passover ; yet they contrive
and urge an impious murder, which that very heathen^ though
he had much less evidence of Christ's innocence than they,
could not be brought to permit without strong reluctance, and a
solemn, though vain, transferring of the guilt from himself to
them.
Justly might our Lord say in the words of David^ They laid Luke
to my charge things which I knew not, (Psal. xxxv. 11.) But xxm. 2
what can defend the most innocent and excellent against mali-
cious slanders and defamations ! Or who can expect, or even
wish, wholly to escape, when such accusations are brought
against Christy even by the rulers of his nation, who should have Mat-
been men of distinguished generosity and honour ! But instead xxvii.12
of this they were all an assembly of murderers^ and lay in wait
for their prey ^ like so many devouring /io;2.9.
Pilate would renew the examination of the cause ; and so far John
he acted a cautious and an honourable part. Yet, alas, how ^J^"^:,
many that set out on such maxims, want courage and resolution ""^"^
to pursue them ! But the courage of Christ never failed. He 37
witnessed before Pontius Pilate i\iQ good confession we have now
been reading (l Tim. vi. 13); and owned himself a King^
though at the same time he declared (what it were to be wished
all his followers had duly regarded) that his kingdom is not of
this world, Gready do we debase it, if we imagine it is ; and 36
most unworthy is it of those that call themselves the ministers of
his kingdom to act as if they thought it was. Yet such is the
wickedness of some, and such the blindness of others, in the
Roman churchy that, though of all the churches in the world it is
manifestly the most secular kingdom^^ it arrogates to itself the
name not only of a part, but of the whole, of Chrisfs kingdom
here below.
Christ came to bear witness to the truth ; and a careful attend- 37
ance to his testimony will be the best proof we can give that we
love the truth, and the best method we can take to make our-
selves acquainted with it. And of so great importance is the
truths that it surely deserves the attentive inquiry and the zeal-
ous patronage of the greatest and the busiest of mankind. Let
* It is manifestly the most secular ling- finely illustrated in his mos4 ingenious djs-
dirm.'^ This Mr. Boyse of Dublin has course on these words.
518 The Jews accuse hhn of seditious practices,
SECT, us not therefore, when we begin to ask xvhat it is^ like Pilate^
clxxxvi. hurry on to some other care before we can receive a satisfactory
ygj. 3g answer ; but joyfully open our minds to the first dawnings of
that celestial day, till it shine more and more to irradiate and
adorn all our souls. On the whole, imperfect as the character
of this unhappy governor was, let us learn from him candidly to
confess the truths so far as we have discovered it ; let us learn
Luke more steadily than he to vindicate the innocent and worthy, and
xxiii. 4 on no terms permit ourselves, in any degree, to do harm to
those in whom, on a strict and impartial inquiry, we Q2iXiJindno
fault.
SECT. CLXXXVII.
Pilate sends Jesus to Herod^ who^ having treated him with great
contempt^ sends him back again. Pilate in vain endeavours to
persuade the Jews to consent to his release^ who impiously pre-
fer Bar abbas ^ and persist in their demands of a sentence of cm-
cifixion against Jesus. Mat. XXVII. 15 — 18, 20 — 23.
Mark XV. 6—14. Luke XXIII. 5—23. John XVIII. 39,
to the end.
Luke XXIII. 5. LukeXXIII.5.
SECT. TT was observed in the preceding section, that AND they were
clxxxvii. J[ ^^i^gj^ p.j^^g ^^^^ Q^jt of the palace he bore -^^ the more fierce
. , . *^ r -r sayine-, He stirreth
Luke an open testimony to the mnocence ot Jesus, ^p the people,teach.
xxiii. 5 and declared to the priests, in the presence of ing throughout all
the people, that " he found no fault at all in Jewry, beginning
him :" but they not only continued strongly to p^a^e.^ '"^
urge their accusation, but zvere more violent
than before, sayings We assuredly know that
he stirs up all the people^ teaching the most dan-
gerous and seditious doctrines throughout all
Judea^ beginning from Galilee^ that factious
country, where he has been most busy, and
from thence making a progress even to this
place^ and gathering up followers every where
by the way, to the apparent danger and dam-
age of the state.
6 Afid when Pilate heard them speak of GalileCy 6 When Pilate
he presently inquired if the man whom they had heard of Galilee, he
7 brought before him was a Galilean. Andfnd- ^^^^^ whetlier the
o , „ . 1 1 ^r man were a Galilean.
272g that he 7vas of that country, and theretore 7 ^nd as soon as
that he properly belonged to Herod'* s jurisdic- he knew that he be-
tion, who was tetrarch of Galilee, he willingly '^^dtctron ^rse^nt
embraced this opportunity to clear himself of''" ^^ ic 10 ,
so perplexing an aftair, and immediately sent
Pilate finding he xvas a Galilean^ sends hvn to Herod. 519
liim to Herod, who hitn away to Herod^ xvho being himself 2i Jew, sect,
himself was also at ^^^^ ^/^^ ^^ Jerusalem in those daiis^ havinc: clxxxvii.
Jeusalem at that ^ i i . .u i °
xitne. come up to celebrate the passover there.
8 And when Her- Andxvhen Herod saw Jesus he rejoiced exceed- j^xiii. 8
od saw Jesus, he inglij ; for he had a long time been very desirous
fbr^he^ was dfif rous ^^ ^^^ ^^^^'> '^t'caw.yf /z^ had heard much concerning
to see him of a long hitn in Galilee ; (compare Luke ix. 7, 9, sect,
season, because he Ixxvii.) and he now hoped that he should have
If-'^ y^'f^' ™''^"{ an opportunity so far to satisfy his curiosity as
thing's or nim ; and *■ *■ -i i , • i • i t
he hoped to have ^^ ^^^ some miracle done by him., and might be
seen some miracle able also to determine whether he was, as he
done by him. j^^^j ^^^^ suspected, John the Baptist risen from
the dead. (Compare Mat. xiv. 2, Vol. I. p.
9 Then he ques- 423.) And he examined him in many xvords.^ 9
'Z:f w.irds'f'biJ concerning a variety of particulars, both as to
he answered him no- "^^ pretentions and the proof of his mission, as
■-hing-. well as the tenor of his doctrine : but as Jesus
knew this was not a proper time and circum-
stance to enter into those questions, of which
Herod might long ago have been sufficiently in-
formed, he made him no answer,
10 A-nd the chief And the chief priests and scribes .^'w\iOSQ vcidXict lo
priests and scribes ^^d prompted them to attend him thither, 5/0^^
?™ed h'm""'' i« the presence of the king, eagerly accusing
him of the same crimes which they had before
charged him with in their application to Pilate.
11 And Herod And Herody zoith those of his soldiers who li
with his men of war now attended him as his lifeguard, looked upon
set him at noug>ht, j j^j^ disdain, and treated him in a very
and mocked Ajw,and J i-i • • , , /
contemptuous manner., like a poor inconsiderable
creature, who no way answered the account
they had heard of him, neither saying nor do-
ing any thing to gratify their curiosity ; aiid
having derided [him] for pretending to be a king
(as it was urged by his accusers he had done),
* Ife sent him to Herod.'\ It may not be who was eaten by worms (Acts xii. 2, 3,
improper, for the sake of those who are 23) ; and great uncle to that Ag-rippa who
less acquainted with the yewish history y to was by Paul's discourse ahnost persuaded tt
observe, that this was Kerod Antipas, the become a Christian (Acts xxvi. 28). Christ's
fefrarcA of Galilee, by whom yoAn fAe 5ap- arraignment before liim, when he was
list had been beheaded, and whom Christ sent back uncondemned, was a great
had justly represented zs a fox. (Luke additional proof of the falsehood of those
xiii. 32, p. ISZ.) He was sonto Herod the accusations which the Jews had brought
Great, under whom Christ was born ; and against him as a seditious person, and par-
uncle to Herod Agrippa (by whom James ticularly as one who had stirred up the pea-
■was beheaded, and Peter imprisoned), pie in Gahlee-
VOL. 2, 67
520 Herod having treated him with contempt^ sends him hack again.
SECT, in public contempt of that claim, whatever it arrayed him in a
clxxxvii. ^^as, Herod clothed hrm with a splendid r oh e^ .^or^eous robe, and
,' ,. , , TTi 1 1 • • • sent him again to Pi-
Luke and sent him hack to Pilate; thereby mtimating, j^^^^ ^
xxiii. 11 that he left him to do what he pleased with his
prisoner, but that for his own part he appre-
hended his pretentions to royalty worthy of de-
rision rather than serious resentment.
12 And^ whatever Pilate's real intentions were, 12 And the same
the compliment of sending Jesus to be examin- ^^^^^.^^^^^^^
ed by him, was so well taken by Herod ; and together ; for before
Herod's sending him back to the Roman gov- they were at enmity
ernor was, on the other hand, such a public in- betweenthemselves.
stance of regard to him ; that the same day Pi-
late and Herod hecame friends^ and were recon-
ciled to each other : for before this, they were
at enmity between themselves.'^
13 And Pilate^ having received an account of 13 And Pilate,
what had passed before ^^^xoA, called together ^^-^^:^^^ ^tht'ctff
the chief priests^ and the rulers^ and with them p^ests, and the ml.
the rest oi the people who had appeared against ers, and the people,
14 him as his accusers; Arid said to them^ you 14 Said unto them,
have brought me this man, Jesus of Nazareth, Ye have brought this
5 , J ,' man unto me, as one
as one that has perverted the people, and taught ^y^^x perverteth the
doctrines injurious to your religion, and also to people : and behold,
the civil peace and the Roman government ^ J^^^'^ examined Aim.
and behold, I have examined [him] both in your foun?noYault in iMs
presence, and in private, andhQ^Lvd all that could man touching those
be alleged against him ; but I must solemnly things whereof ye
declare that I have found no crime in this man ^^^^^^ ^""^ »
£75 to the things that you have charged him with ;
nor can I in my conscience think that you have
made good any of the accusations you have
15 brought against him : Nor yet has Herod been ^5 ^^^ ^^^ y^j.
able to make any such discovery ; for I sent Herod ; for I sent
^ A splendid robe."] This expression The cause of this enmity can only be con-
"Eo-d-Hla. \et/ui7r^Av does not so properly sig- jectured : perhaps it might be the slaugh-
nify (as Le Clerc renders it) a ivhite robe ; ter which Pilute had made of some of the
nor was it, as he supposes, intended as a Galileans who had come up to sacrijise at
declaration of his innocence. It was rather Jerusalem. (See Luke xiii. 1, sect, cxvi.)
fiome gorgeous garment which belonged to But Mons. Saurin truly observes, that, con-
Herod or some of his officers) and was, sidering on the one hand the jealousy of
perhaps, grown old, and they clothed him the Jews where any foreign power was
with it in derision of his having pretended concerned, and on the other the oppressive
to be a king This usage was exceeding measures generally taken by those who
insolent : perhaps the remorse of con- are invested with commissions like this
science w lich Herod had felt on account which Pilate bore over conquered coun-
of the murder of John the Baptist might tries, and especially the accounts we have
render him cautious how he joined in any of his own bad character and conduct,
attempt on the life of Jesus, which we do tlieir reconciliation is much more wonder-
not find that he did. ful than their enmity. See- Saur, Serm'
" They Kcre at enmity betnue^n themselves.'} Vol. X. p. 246, 247-
Pilate proposes to scourge^ and discharge him, 521
you to him, and lo, you to him with the prisoner, that you might do sect.
nothing worthy of ^.q^^. utmost to convict him before that prince, clxxxvii.
death is done unto " i i • r i- • \
him. ^vho being a person ot your o.vn rehgion, and l^,]^^
well acquainted with your laws and customs, xxiii.15
might have known more of the matter than
myself i a7idyet behold^ it appears to have been
Herod's judgment, that nothing- worthy of
death has been done by him^^ for, instead of
sending him back like one who deserves a cap-
ital sentence, he has treated him like an idiot
rather than a traitor, so as plainly to shew that
he thinks him merely the object of ridicule, or
to deserve at most but some slight punishment.
161 will therefore And therefore^ xvhen I have chastised him by 16
chastise him, and scourging, which will be an admonition to him
re ease um. ^^^ ^j^^ future not to use those wild enthusias-
tical expressions which have given so much
umbrage and suspicion, Izviinet[him].g'o: and
Mark XV. 6. ^ believe you may depend upon it that he will
^Now at that feast give us no farther trouble ; nor would behave
[the governor was interest enough to do it if he were inclined to
wont] [Luke, am^of.i^ „.. ^^.
necessity he must the attempt. , ^ ^
release unto the peo- -^oiu it ivas usual at thejeast ot the passover, Mark
pie] one prisoner, \and'\ even was grown by custom in a manner xv. 6
whomsoever they ^^ecessary^^ for the Rom2iX\ governor^ when such
XXVII. 15 Luke multitudes were assembled irom all parts, to
XXIII. ir.] release to the people any one prisoner^ xvhom they
7 And there was desired to be set at libertv, whatever crime it
^"^r] Lted Bi'rab: ^as that he was charged with. And there 7
bas,whichlay bound was then in Pilate's custody a very infamous
with them that had and noted prisoner^ rvhose name was BarabbaSy
wi^th\im"rTurE!'in ^^'""^ ^^y ^^'^^'^ ^'^^ ''^'''^ °^^^^ ruffians who had
the city], who had made an insurrection in the city in conjunctioij
committed murder with him^ and who had also committed murder
m the insurrection ^j^ f/^g insurrection; «/2(^, besides the part he had
j JoH^r, and was a ^i- i- !•,• -^i rn r
robber] [Matt, ^^ted in this seditious not, he was a lellow ot
XXVII. 16. Luke a most abandoned character, and known to be
xxiii. 19. J o H N ^ robber^ who had infested the hipfhways with
XVIII— 40.] ' ^ ^
^ Kothing worthy of death has been done by « Usual, — and in a manner necessary J
him.'] The phrase ^f^r/jsti/^asv A-Jla must There was no iaiu to oblige him to this ;
here have this signification, as the margin but as acts of grace are generally popular
cf our Bible renders it ; for though this is things, this seems to have been hrstjreely
something of an unusual construction, yet used by the Romans to please their tributa^
as Rapheliiis fAimot. ex Polyb. p. 259) has ries, and now by custom was in a manner
produced many instances of the like na- established. I find no substantial reason
tare, it would be much harsher to suppose to believe there was in the original of this
that a capital sentence, or any treatment custom any reference to the deliverance
from Herod which should intimate he of Israel from the Egyptian bondage at this
thought Jesus deserved it, should be called time.
^lov^AVAjaf sornethiiig ivorthy of death.
522 It was usual at the feast to release a prisoner to the^n*
SECT, his villany ; so that it was generally concluded
^"^^ "' he would receive sentence of death, and would
Mark be executed that dav. And^ as the power of . 8 And the mui^
XV. 8 reversing or executing such sentences then lay ^^^,"^^ [therefore
in the Romans, the people therefore^ when they g-athered together,]
rvere gathered together about the tribunal, be- crying- aloud, began
^an with a c^reat noise and clamour to demand ^^ ,deslre him to do
C •0'^ 4. r^'aL } 7 J t ^^u- as he had ever done
CI Jrilate \_tnat he xvould do^ at this passover as ^^^^^ them. fM^T.,
he had ahvays done to them upon the like occa- XXVII. 17.— ]
sions, and would discharge a prisoner.
9 And Pilate hoping that he might preserve 9 But Pilate an-
the life of Jesus, whose innocence he so clearly swered them, say-
saw, determined to attempt it by this method ; a^^cusi^onT' that^^I
and accordingly, that he might induce them to should release unto
choose him, he proposed no other alternative you one at the pass-
than that scandalous and outrageous criminal ;r[Jo^„t;jyt!;refotl
whom we have just now mentioned, and an^ that I release unto
sweredthem^ sayings You A«y^ indeed a custom^ you ? [Barabbas ? or
that I should release to you one at the passover^ J^^^f.' .^'^^'^1^^'^.^?^^-
j T , "^11. .''^ , . ' ed Christ,] the kmg
and 1 am ready now to oblige you in this at- of the Jews \ [Mat.
fair : whom will you therefore choose that Ire- XXVII..-17. John
lease unto you P Barabbas^ that seditious and ^VIII. 39.]
barbarous robber ? or this Jesus^ xvlio is called
Christ, who in I know not what strange sense
is pretended to be the king of the Jexvs, and
whom you see before you in the fine robe in
which Herod has thought fit to array him ?
10 For he kneiv that the chief priests and rulers had 10 (For he knew
not delivered hiin 2(p into his hands from a re- J^^^ the chief priests
, . . , ^ , ^ , . had delivered him
gard to justice, but merely out oj envy at his fQj, envy.) [Matt
popularity ; and therefore he was willing to XXVII. 18.]
make the proposal to the people in such a form
as might be most likely to secure his life.
11 But the chief priests and elders, who were ex- 11 But the chief
ceedingly solicitous to obtain their end, lest ^""g^ed r^aT^ elw
this artifice of the governor should defeat all g^j-] the people, that
their laboured scheme, excited the most for- they should ask] that
ward of the people, [and] effectually persuaded ^ ^^^^"^"^ y^f ^^^ ^^'
the mob they had brought with them, that they t^enl'^rlnd destroy
should ask the governor, with a continual noise jesus.]" [Matt.
and clamour, that he would rather rf/d-cf^e XXVII. 20.]
Barabbas to them ; that by this means the
point they had in view might be secured,
and they might be sure to destroy Jesus^
Mat. And therefore when the governor answered Mat. XXVII. 21.
^svii.2l them in this manner, and said to them again, "'^^^^ S'T""- ^.n!):
rr , . , ' 1 • V 11 ' s were d and said unto
1 ake notice that your choice lies only be-
tween these, and therefore nov/ 4etermine for
The Jexvs prefer Barahbas to Christ. 523
them, Whether of yourselv^es, xvhkh of the two do tjoic desire I sect.
the twain will ye ^/^^^^/^ release unto ijou ? The)i, as their prin- clxxxvii.
>tu ?^ ^ ''''''' ciples had prompted them, thetj all cried out -^-^
Luke XXIII. IS. ag-ai?i ivith one consent y in the same noisy and xxiii. 18
And [JoiiN% then] tumultuous way as before, sayings We will not
cHe^d olrTjoHl"! ^^^^ ^^'^ [man], but Barahbas ; azvaij with this
again] all at once, [man], and release unto US Barabbas, And thus,
saying, [John, Not when Pilate would have let him go, they denied
this man, but Barab- ^^^ j^^j q^^^ ^^^^ ^j^e j^g^ ^^^d desired a mur-
has:] Away with , ^ , ,*' , / \ ^ -■' ^ a \
this man,and release derer to he granted unto them. (Acts. in. 14.)
unto us Barabbas. A?id Pilate, to divert them from the purpose Mark
[Mat.XXVIL— 21. i-i^ey were so unreasonably set upon, again an- ^^- ^^^
■^^IvLrk XV. ~12 swered and said to them. What therefore zvould
And Pilate answer- you have 7ne do zvith this Jesus, who is called
ed, and said again ^Qhrist^ and whom, if I may believe vour own
«nto them, What ^^^ go many of ijou are ready to call and
will ye then that I , / • -^ y / cv ^? a j *u ii it
shall do [with Je- own as the king oj the Jews /* And they all i^
sus, which is called presently renewed their clamour, and cried out
Christ,] whomi ye ^a^^^^n, as before, [and] with one voice said to
call the kins- of the ,^ ' . n , - j ^ j • • j-^i ;
Jews ? [M A T T H. ^^""i Crucify hnn : let him immediately be cru-
XXVII. 22] cified; for he is fit to be treated as the vilest
13 And they [all] slave, rather than to be called our king.s
sai'untoV'C] Cm"^ ^^^^^^ therefore, being still desirous to release Luke
cify him : [Let him Jesus, spake to them yet again ; urging them ^^i"- 20
be crucined.][MAT. seriously to consider what they did, in thus
XXVil.--^2.] preferrine: such an abandoned miscreant as
Luke XXIII. 20. i' , , o . r> ^i ^^
Pilate therefore, wil- rJarabbas to SO innocent a person. I5ut ttiey, 21
ling to release Jesus, without SO much as offering any farther reason,
spake again to them, persisted in their importunity, and cried out as
saying,'crudfy a'^^w,' before, saijing. Crucify [him], crucify him.
crucify him. And Pilate was so intent on delivering him, 22
22 And [Mark, that he said to them the third time. Why will you
t^iem^'^ tE'"^ tmrd ^e so cruel as to insist upon it ? zvhat evil has
f JFhom you call the king of the ^ews."] your slaves, who has committed the most
Pilate often repeats this title ; and it may enormous crime." To have inflicted such
seem strange that he should use it so fre- a punishment as this on any free ye=w would
quently. Probably he might do it partly probably have been sufficient to have
to ridicule those pretences, and bring con- thrown the whole city and nation into an
tempt on the scheme of a Messiah ; and uproar ; but now they were deaf to every
partly to procure from the Jews, in their thing but the clamour of passion, and in
zeal against Jesus, the strongest and most their madness forgot with how dangerous
public professions of their subjection to a precedent they might furnish the Roman
Cesar. governor. And indeed it turned dread-
g Z^et him be crucijied.'] By this cry they fully on themselves, when such vast num-
declared the greatest degree of rage that bers of them were crucijied for their oppo-
can be imagined j for it was as Vf they sition to the Romans, during the time of
had said, *' Let him whom you call our their last war. See }wte « in the next see-
king be tre?ited like one of the vilest of tion, on Mat. xxvii. 25.
524 Refiections on their violence in persecuting yesus»
SECT, he done P^ I declare to you all, as I told you but time. Why ? what
*!!f^^* "°^ (y^^' ^"^^ P' -^^O), that I have found ?2(3 evil hath he done?
Luke capital crime in him: I will therefore, as 1 said Ltlsrof^ra'lh Z
sxiii.22 (ver. 16), chastise him by scourging, and then him : I will there-
1 hope vour rage will be moderated, and you f^re chastise him,
ivill be 'prevailed upon to agree that I should tmat! XXVn. 23.
let Ijiiml go without any farther punishment. —Mark XV. 14— 5
23 But they, without pretending to answer the 23 And they were
argument he had alleged, overbore it by a instant with loud
•witti Loud and importunate voices ; and the more exceedingly, ] re-
he opposed them, they cried out the more abun* quiring- that he
danth and violentlv, demanding that, whatever ^'f^^^^e crucified :
;:i '' r • 1 • f 7 • and the voices oi
was the consequence or it, he might be cruci- them, and of the
fed : and, on the whole, notwithstanding the chief priests, pre-
farther remonstrance of Pilate on the admoni- vailed. [M a t t h.
lion of his wife (which will be mentioned in the Iv^l^lf ^' ^''^°
next section), their voices, and Ithose] of the
chief priests (who, to encourage the cry, had
so little sense of common decency as them-
selves to join in it), prevailed with the gover-
nor, though contrary to the convictions of his
own conscience, to comply with their request.
IMPROVEMENT.
Luke Behold, how all imaginable circumstances seem to conspire
I^^' to increase the infamy thrown on that sacred head, which now
most worthily wears a crown of eternal glory ! Of a truth, O
Lord, against the holy Child Jesus, both Herod and Pontius Pi-
late, xvith the Gentiles and the chief priests, and the people of
Israel, xvere gathered together, to do zvhatsoever thy hand and thy
11 counsel had determijied before to be done (Acts iv. 27, 28). The
wisest person on earth was by Herod and his soldiers derided as
a fool ; the most deserving was condemned by the chief priests ;
and the most innocent was treated as a criminal by Pilate, and
furiously demanded as a public victim by the Jews, All the
proofs of his innocence are overborne by a loud and a senseless
cry ; and those hosannas with which the streets and temple
were so lately echoing, are exchanged into Crucify him, crucify
il— 23 him. So uncertain is human applause, and so unrighteous may
human judgments be !
^ Why P nx)hat evil has he done P] It ters, and particularly Xenophon, as an
y^t^ KAitov i7roi»a-iv; Raphelius f Annut. ex ele.^ant ex/)/ef/i;e, especially to introduce a
Xenoph. p. 64) has well proved, that yitf> is question.
often used by the correctest Greek wri-
verse
18.
19
Mark
XV.
13,
14
yesits is scourged, 525
But in the midst of all the blessed Jesus stands collected in sect.
himself. Firm as a rock he bears the violence of the storm, and clxxxvu,
is not moved by all the furious waves that beat upon him ; and
when he saw a robber and a murderrer preferred before him, and
a seritence of the most cruel death clamorously called for and de-
manded against him, he silently commits himself to hhn that
judgeth righteously^ who ere long brought forth his righteousness
as brightness^ and his salvatiofi as a lamp that burneth, (Com-
pare 1 Pet. ii. 23 ; and Isa. Ixii. 1.)
Lord^ if thou callest us out to share in thy sufferings, may the
Spirit of God and of glory thus rest on us ! And may neither the
scorn nor the rage of our enemies separate us from thee, who
did so courageously bear all this for us ; nor may they ever
sink us into any weakness of behaviour unworthy of those who
have the honour to call themselves thy followers !
SECT. CLXXXVIII.
Pilate^ having again and again renewed his efforts to persuade the
Jews to consent that Jesus should be released^ at length yields to
their importunity^ and delivers him up to be crucified: Mat.
XXVII. 19, 24—31. Mark XV. 15—20. Luke XXIII.
24, 25. John XIX. 1—16
John XIX. 1. JOHN XIX. 1.
T^H E N Pilate 'TH H E N, as the priests and people of ^^^^;..
X therefore took J^ the Jews continued their clamorous de- ^J^^fl!! '
jesus, an scourge ^^^^^ ^)^^^ Jesus should be crucified, Pilate John
thought it most advisable to seem at least to ^^^- ^
consent to it, and therefore took Jesus and
scourged him ; hoping that, after he had been
severely scourged, the rage of the populace
would be something abated, and they might at
last be prevailed upon to consent that he should
Mat XXVII 27 ^^ dismissed.
Then the soldiers of T^l^en the soldiers of the governor^ knowing Mat.
the governor took that it was the Roman custom to scourge pris- xxvu. 2?
« Then the soidiers» &c ] The etangelist the whole series of these cruelties tog-eth-
John so plainly speaks of their croiiming our er : or the word Toli, then (which is used by
Lord vjith thorns, and these other indigni- Matthew), may only signify that it was
ties, as previous to Pilate's last attempt to done about that time, not determining the
save him, that I think it proper to tra?2spose order of each particular so absolutely as
those verses in Matthew and Mark, which to be inconsistent with tlie most accurate
mention these circumstances as after his and distinct account which John gives
condemnatio7i, and immediately precedhig of the whole process of this aftair. Many
the execution. Some of them might prob- instances of the indeterminate use of that
ably be repeated after Pilate had deliver- particle occur in the evangelists. See
ed him to be crucified, while the instru- Mat. ix. 14 ; xxiv. 40 ; Mark xiii. 14,
ments of death were preparing; and 26; Luke xxi. 10, 21; and John xix.
therefore Mattliew and Mark mention 16.
526 He IS croxvned with thorns^ knocked, and smitten*
SECT, oners just before they were put to death, inter- jesus and [led him
clxxxviii. preted Pilate's order on this head as a declara- away] into the com-
■77— tion that he was immediately to be crucified : J«onhall[called pre-
Mat. r TT f 7 » • toriuml, and erather-
sxvii. 27 ^^^ tnereiore they took Jesus \a7ia\ led him away ed unto liim the
2/2^(9 ?A^C(?mm(j?2;^fl// in Pilate's palace, which was whole band of sol-
called the prcetoriuin (as being the place where ^^Cl* ^t^^^^ ^^'
the praetor, a Roman magistrate, used to keep ' *^
his court) ; and there they gathered to him the
whole band^ or cohort, to insult and torment him,
not being concerned to keep any measures with
a person whom they looked upon as entirely
28 abandoned to their will. And having stripped 28 And they strii?-
him of that splendid garment in which Herod pedhim, and [cloth-
had contemptuously dressed him, in order to ^"^^^^"^ ^^^'^ P^FP^^'
, ^ , 1 rr .» 1 «««] put on him a
vary the mockery and affront, they wantonly scarlet robe : [Mar.
clothed him in a vest of imperial purple^ [and] XV. 17.— John
put on him a scarlet robe over it, that in this ^^^' ""^-^
gaudy dress he might have something of a mock
29 resemblance to a prince : And, farther to ridi- 29 And when
cule his pretentions to royalty, which they con- [John, the soldiers]
aidered as an affront to their nation and empe- '^^^.f^^^^^?; '''°'^';
, , ,. , . ,. . , , A of thorns, they put
ror, the soldiers having maliciously platted a ^f upon his head, and
crozvn of thorns, put it upon his head^ and put a reed in his right-
a lare;e reed, or cane, into his ri^hthand, to rep- '^^""^ * and they [be-
° *. \7 *u */ / • 1 firan to salute him,
resent a sceptre ; and then they began in a lu- S„^] bowed the knee
dicrous manner to pay their homage and salu- before him, [a;zc/wor-
tations to him, as to a new created prince on his shipped him,] and
coronation day ; [and] bowing the knee before "^""""^^^l^Z'^TI'
livn, they did him reverence in a scoffing way, jews : [John, and
and 7nocked him, saying. All hail, thou most they smote him with
magnificent king of the Jews / Hail mighty ^y"^|'"'^^•^ ^^^^•
]VIonarch ! we give thee joy on thine accession john xix^^'—S]
to the crown ! and then approaching him as if
they would have offered him some present, as
is usual on such occasions, they smote him zvith
30 their hands ; And procetdtd so far as to spit ^q Andthevrdid]
upon him, even in his very face ; and at last spit upon him, and
took the reed, or cane, out of his hand,*^ and bar. took the reed, and
^ Having platted a crown of thorns, &c,] the eastern thorns are to be credited, they
It is certain they intended hereby to ex- are much larger than any commonly known
pose his pretended royalty to ridicule and in these parts.
contempt ; but had that been all, a crown <= Took the reed, ovcsine, out of his hand.]
of straws might have served as well. They The word y.a.xdLy.®' does indeed some-
undoubtedly meant to add crue/fy to their times sitrnify a slender reec^ (Mat. xi. 7 ;
9Corn, wliich especially appeai'ed in their xii. 20 ; and 3 John, ver. 13) ; but it
striking him on the head when this croxm includes all kinds of caties ; and it i?
was put on. If the best descriptions of most probable this was a walking staff,
Pilate^ s wife sends to hhn to let Jesus alone, 527
smote him on the barously struck him with it on the head; and so, sect.
head. [Mark XV. as it ^^gi^e, nailed down the thorns into his clxxxvui.
■■"^ forehead and temples, and occasioned thereby jyjj^
exquisite pain, as well as a great effusion of xxvii. 30
blood : all which this holy Sufferer bore with
the utmost meekness and composure, neither
reviling nor threatening them, but silently
committing himself to the righteous invisible
Judge. (1 Pet. ii. 23.)
Mat. XXVII. 19. In the mean time Pilate was taken up with Mat.
down" on\hT^ucr^ trying and condemning some other prisoners xxvii. 19
nient seat, his wife' ^^^^ ^^'^^^ ^^ ^^ executed that day ; and while
sent unto him, say- he thus xvas sitting on the tribunal he had erect-
ing, have thounoth- ed, hisTVife^ havingby this time been informed
juftman: foflha^e *« Jesus had been brought before him, and
suffered many things vvas going to be given up to death, sent a very
this day in a dream importunate message tohim^^ sayings I beseech
because of him. ^j^^^ g^^ ^^ j^.^ ^|^^^. ^j^^^ ^^.^^ nothing to do with
the blood of that righteous One^ against whom
the Jews are now demanding judgment ,• for I
have suffered many things today on his account
in a dream^^ and have had such terrible views
represented to my imagination in my sleep this
very morning, that I cannot but look upon it as
something Divine ; and conclude that if thou
doest upon any terms consent to his death, it
will be attended with dreadful consequences to
thyself and thy family.
John XIX. 4. Pi- Pilate therefore^ alarmed by such a message John
late therefore went ^^ ^^^^ ^^gj-^j. ^^to the common hall himself to xix.4
see what they were doing with the prisoner ;
and when he beheld with strong emotion all
which they put into his hand as a sceptre, about hreah of day, she might on that ac-
for a blow with a slight reed would scarce count lay the greater stress upon them,
have been felt, or have deserved a mention Jansenius thinks she had now a representa-
in a deia 1 of such dreadful sufferings. tion of those calamities which afterwards
<5 His Tvife sent to him^ While Rome befel Pilate and his family. (See note^ in
was governed by a co7?^mo«TCea/f/^ it was the iviprovement.) But itis anunaccount-
unusual for the governors of provinces to able thought of Mr. Fleming, that the devil
take their vjives with them ; but after- might be the author of this dream, by
wards it grew customary, and the motion which he might endeavour to prevent the
made against it in the fourth year of Tibe- death of Christ according to the prophecies.
rius was rejected with some indignation. His two arguments, from her calling
See Tacit. Annal. lib. iii. cap. 33, 34. Christ a man (which is merely taken from
e I have suffered many things today on his our version, for in the original it is only tw
account in a dreain.'] Perhaps the word S^ikaio sxs/ya, that righteous One), and from
tra/mipcv, today, may imply, that she had the disquiet which this dream gave her,
dream,t these things that m.orning, since are too inconsiderable to need a partic-
Pilate rose ; and as the Heathens imagined ular reply. See Flem. Christol, Vol. II. p,
those dreams most significant which came 325.
VOL. 2. 68
ij28 Pilate again declares he found no fault in hint.
SECT, those indignities and torments which Jesus had forth again, and salth
clxxxviii. borne, and saw how severely the soldiers had V"^« ^^^fV"^ behold,
' , 1 . 1 . -I • 1^1 • T-^ r !-• I brine- him forth to
John scourged him, uhmkmg that the sight ot him y^^^ ^j^^^ ^^ ^^y
xix. 4 in so bad a condition might move the Jews to know that I find no
compassion, he determined to make one trial fault in him.
more. And accordingly he catJie out agai?i
to the public tribunal where the Jews were as-
sembled, a?id having ordered Jesus to be led
thither, he said to them^ just before he appear-
ed, Behold I am bringing' him out to you again,
that ye may knorv and observe it, that I can
find no fault in him^ though the tortures he has
now undergone are such as must surely have
brought him to confession, if he were indeed
guilty.
5 Then^ as he spake these w^ords, Jesus came S Then came Je-
out of th^ pr^tork™ wearing the thorny crown, 'Z iT^'i JS::^!,
and the purple robe^ now also died in his own ^nd the purple robe,
blood, which streamed forth from all parts of And P/toesaithun-
his body: a?id [Pilate] said to them, ^^./^o/^ to them, Behold the
the man ! view him attentively ; and when
you see what dreadful things the poor unhappy-
creature has suffered, let that content you ; for
surely, considering his innocence, he has suf-
fered already much more than enough.
6 When therefore the chief priests and [their] 6 When the chief
attending officers sazv him^ fearing lest the peo- pnests therefore and
pie should relent, they presently renewed their Oiey^cried ouit, say*
exclamations, and eagerly cried out as before, ing. Crucify him,
saying, We know the man sufficiently ; away crucify /lim.—
with him to the cross ; crucify [him], crucify
l^him] ; and immediately order the wretch to
be executed.
Pilate on this said to them^ If ye are thus —Pilate saith un-
resolute and inexorable, I leave him in your ^? them, Take ye
11 T c\.- xu- 1 n^ \ t bim, and crucify
hands, to dispose of him as you think fit ; take j^-^ . f^j. j g^d no
ye him therefore, if it must be so, and crucify fault in him..
Xhim] yourselves; but I desire to discharge
myself from having any thing to do in it, either
by myself, or by my Roman guards ; for, as I
have told you again and again, / find ?io fault
in him worthy of any such punishment.
'^ The jfews then answered him. There is no 7 The Jews an-
room to represent him as a faultless person, swered him. We
nor any reason to be backward to condemn
him ; but these objections you have made
oblige us to mention one circumstance which,
for the horror of it, we would willingly have
PUate is afraid, and examines him again. $29
have ala\v,andby our concealed : zve have a Divine lazu which we sect.
law he ought to die, received from heaven, by which blasphemy is clxxxviii.
because he made r ,.,, ^i. u- u / i.- »7 i-
himself the Son of ^*^^°^^"^" ^^ ^^^ highest penalties ; and by this
God. our law he ought to die, though he were not
chargeable with sedition and treason, because
he has- made himself the Son of the most high
God, in such a sense as no creature can be ;
and this he declared but this morning in open
court. (Compare Mat. xxvi. 63, 64 ; Mark
xiv. 62 ; and Luke xxii. 70, p. 507.)
8 When Pilate When Pilate therefore heard this expression, he ^
therefore heard that ^,^^ gtill more afraid than before ;^ for the Ro-
savin e-, he was the i t i • i • r
more afraid ; mans believed many poetical stories of men
begotten by their deities, and thought them a
kind of demigods, who could not be injured
w^ithout engaging their divine parents in the
9 And went a,^ain quarrel. And therefore apprehending that his 9
into the judg-ment wife's dream might also take its rise from such
hall, and said unto / ^ j • • ^ ^i . i 7^1
Jesus, Whence art ^ ^ause, lie entered again into the palace^ and tak-
thou ? But Jesus ing him aside, he said to Jesus, Tell me plain-
j^ave him no answer, ly from -whence thou camest, and from whom
art thou descended ? and what is this Divine
original which thou art charged with claim-
ing fs But Jesus, knowing that his innocence
was already apparent, even to the conviction of
Pilate's conscience, gave him no answer to that
question.
10 Then saith Pi- Then Pilate in surprise said to hi7n. What, 10
late unto him, ^Q^f ff^^^ make me no reply, and not so much
unt? me ? Knowest ^^ Speak to me in such a circumstance as this,
thou not, that I have in which thy life is so evidently concerned ?
Dost thou not know that I have power and
f He ivas still more afraid than before.] g Whence art thou .?] It is strange Mr.
Thoug-h I think, wiih Mr Cradock, and Locke should think (as he does in his Rea-
several others, the interpretation given in sonablentss of Chtistia7iityy Vol. I p. 133)
the paraphrase the most natural ; yet I can- that Christ declined giving him an ansxver,
not forbear mentioning that of Dr. Lard- lest, when he heard he was born at Bethle-
ner, who thinks he ii-as afraid of a seditiori hem, he should have any such apprehen-
among the Jews, from his knowledge of sions as Herod had entertained. Pilate
their great obstinacy in any thing in which probably knew nothing at all of that proph-
religion might seem to be concerned : and ecy, as Herod himself indeed did not, till
he adds, he might be the more reasonably he had learnt it from the ^ewsh scribes
alarmed on this head, as since the begin- whom he consulted on Christ's birth. (Mat,
ning of his government he had met with ii. 4, 5,6, Vol. I. p. 81) The atisiaer
tiyo remarkable instances of their stiffness ; which our iort/ had made to his former in-
one in an attempt he made to bring the quiries shewed how far lie was from de-
image of Cesar into Jerusalem ; the otJier dining any danger ; and the true reason of
in a design he had formed of supplying his present silence was that Pilate's un-
the city with water at the expense of the steady conduct rendered him unworthy of
sacred treasury of the temple. See Lard, any farther information.
Credib. part i. Vol. I. p. 330—:"
-OC)i
530 Pilate, conmnced of his innocence, sought to release him,
SECT, authority to crucify thee^ a.nd have jjoxver to re- power to crucify
clxxxviii. i^ase thee, if I please, notwithstanding all the ^^^^e, and have pow-
, 1 1 r 1 • • -h er to release thee I
Tyj^j^ clamorous demands ot thme enemies.^
six. 11 Jesus calmly replied. Thou couldest have no ii Jesus answer-
power at all against me, except it xvere given thee ed, thou coulJst
from_ above, from the God of heaven, ,vhose '^ -P^^^cVpl
providence I acknowledge in all these events :^ it were given thee
therefore he ivho has delivered me to thee, even from above : there-
the Jewish high priest with his council, having ^7 .'^^'''^^J.f "Xee
far greater opportunities of knowing him and hath the "-reatersin.
his law, hath the greater and more aggravated
sin ; yet thou thyself canst not but know that
on the principles of natural equity an innocent
person ought not to be given up to popular fury.
12 And from this time Pilate \y?is so far satis- ISAndfromthence-
fied of the injustice of the prosecution, and of fo^'^^'P'^^.^e soughtto
1 • r T *u /u ; ^ *u release him: but the
the mnocence oi J esus, that he endeavoured the
more earnestly to release him. But the Jexvs
still insisted on his passing sentence on him to
be crucified j and apprehensive of the gover-
nor's design, that they effectually might put a
^ Dost thou not hioiu that I haz-c power to ' Thou couldest have no poiver at all
crucify thee P &c.] Even they who main- against me, except it ivere given thee from
tuin that the Jews had a power ai executing above7\ Some have thoug-ht that the word
capital sentences in Christ's time, acknowl- oiva'^iv^from above, refers to the situation
edge that power to have been under the of the temple, which stood much higher
control of the Roman governor ; and that it than the prcetorium ; and that it is as if Je-
■was in fact *o often controlled, that at last sus had said, " I know that whatever thou
the Jewish sanhedrim removed from the dost ag-ainst me is oi.ly in consequence of
chamber in which alone they could regu- tlie sentence passed in yonder court held
IsLvly pass them, that they might not have above ; so tliat their guilt is greater than
tlie mortification of seeing continually how thine " But though this would very well
little their decisions availed, when the account for the connection of the latter
most notorious criminal, if he had but part of the verse, I cannot think it alto-
money, could buy a pardon from their gether just ; for had Providence permitted
common masters. So that the dispute, af- Pilate to seize Christ as one dangerous to
ter all the noise it has made in the learned Cesar's dignity, he would have had as
•world, seems at last to terminate in this much poxaer of putting him to death as he
nicety, *' whether the consent of the Ro- now had. It is therefore much more rea-
'nian govcTnor were expressly askedhe^ove sonable to suppose it refers to the per-
the Jews proceeded to an execution, or mission of God's providence. No thought
•were taken for granted if the contrary did was more proper to the occasion; and I
not appear ?'■ Or, in other words, " Whe- think the interpretation I have given to the
ther the efficacy of a sentence passed by latter clause in this view is natural, though
the Jews were owing to the express con- not very common. But if any are not sat-
^ent or the connivance of tlie Romans ?" isfied with it, they may consider whether
The conduct of the Jews in this case seems Siu. thIo may not be connected with the be-
to pi'ove the former of these to have been ginning of the versCf so that it might be
the true state of the affair ; and vindicates translated, Thou couldest have no power at
not only the substance of what Dr. Lard- all against vie, unless it were given thee from
ner has maintained, but the particular above for this purpose. (Compare no^f ^ on
manner in which he expresses it. See John vii. 21, sect, xcix.)
note c on Mat. xxvii. 2, p. 511.
About the third hour Pilate brings him out as their king, 531
Jews cried out, say- stop to his intention of discharging him, they sect.
ing-, If thou let this tTi^trXy cried out, saying, Jf thou let this man ^o dxxxviii.
man s-o, thou art not fP .•'■, , • i-r X *! ^ r< "> r • j
Cesa?'sfriend: who- off With his hfc, thou^ art not Cesar sjriend, j,,,^„
soever maketh him- though thou bearest his commission, and rep- xix. 12
selfaking, speaketh resentest his person ; for every one that snakes
against Cesar. himself a king of Judea speaks against Cesar our
emperor, and in effect arraigns the legality of
his government here.
13 When Pilate When Pilate therefore heard that speech^ he 13
therefore heard that ^yas very much alarmed, as he well knew how
jesus^forth, ^an°dlat suspicious a prince Tiberius was, and how many
down in the judg- Spies he kept on all his officers, that nothing
ment seat, in aplace might be done or permitted by them in any of
that is called the ^^^ provinces, which could at all interfere
pavement, but m the • -, ^, • ^ . , , , i • i
Hebrew Gabbatha. ^^^^^ "^^ authority : ^ and, that he might not
then be charged with anv want of zeal for Ce-
sar's interest, he brought Jesus out of the palace
again, and once more sat down on the tribunal^
which was then erected (as was said before,
p. 512) without the palace, in aplace called m
Greek, Lithostraton, or the Pavement^ on ac-
count of a beautiful piece of Mosaic work
with which the floor was adorned : but in He-
brezv it was called Gabbatha^ or the High place,
because it stood on an eminence, so that the
judge, being seated there on his tribunal, might
be heard and seen by a considerable number
of people.*
14 And it was the And it was then the preparation of the pass- 14
preparation of the ^^^^^ q,. ^\^q gixth day of the week, and conse-
passover, and about ^^^^^1^ ^j.^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ f^H before the paschal
sabbath, which was observed with some pecu-
liar solemnity ; (see John xix. 31, sect, cxcii.)
and t\iQ. morning was so far advanced, that it
{_was'] drawing on apace tozvards the sixth hour,
and was now about the third hour, or nine in
the morning,"^ which obliged them to dispatch,
^ As he w^ell knew how suspicious a governor might place himself on public,
prince Tiberius was, ^jfc.] Every body and especially on judicial occasions. It
that knows the character of Tiberius, es- plainly a])pears from the connection of the
pecially as illustrated by Suetonius in his words that it was not in liis house, but
excellent History^ will see how naturally somewhere ivithouty probably in some
Pilate might be apprehensive on this head, open place.
1 In HebreiVf Gabbatha.'] There are va- «« jrrni- drawing on apace towards the sixth
nous efj'^no/o^/ei of this word. I think the hour^ and was now about the third hour,
mostprobableisthat which derives it from is'c.'] DifHcvdties, which seem to me
naa elevavity and so it intimates its being quite invincible, attend the reading which
' raised on high. It was, perhaps, a kind of is generally received, [^Ifwas about the sixth
stagey or scaffold, in the midst of a spacious hour,'] whether we reckon it, according to
crea belonging to the palace? in which the the Roman method of computation, six in
532 But they cried out^ Away with him^ Crucify hi?)!.
SECT, that they might have execution done, as usual, the sixth hour : and
cxxxvm. bgfQj.g j^QQj^^ ji^^^ Pilate, finding he must, af- ^^ saith unto the
John ter all, yield to the people, and consent to j^fTj ^^^'""^"^ ^''''^
^^' 14 the death of Jesus, lest his former struggle
should be misrepresented at Rome, was resolv-
ed to manage this incident so as to procure frorri
the Jews a public acknowledgment of Cesar's
authority : a?id therefore, pointing to Jesus,
as he now appeared in this mock pomp of roy-
alty, he says to the Jews^ who were present in
vast numbers, Behold your king^ if you think fit
to own him, as it is said many of you have
15 done* But they again cried out with indig- 15 But they cried
nation and disdain, Away rvith [him\ «w^z^ o"^' A^v-'^y withA/?;i,
roM [«,„]/ we are so far from owning -j^'ili^.^i^™'--
him, that we desire thee to crucify him, unto them. Shall I
Pilate says to them^ What, shall I crucify crucify your king- ?
your king? How strange, and how extrava- '^^^ ^^^^^P"^^^^^ ^'^■
gant a demand is this ! And the chief priests
answered^ in the name of all the people, We have
f Re morning, or according to the Jewish o^/owjof him, and con/ercncw with the Jews
computation, ^we/w afnoo;j. The best C07JI- about him, as also the change of dress,
wenifaforjlknow(and among-the rest of late scourging, crorcning ivith t/wrnsy &i.c. should
Dr. G^wj/ie) think the whole difficulty ofre- be dispatched by six? The very contents of
conciling these words of John with Mark, the. preceding sections seem to demonstrate
■who tells us (chap xv. 25, sect, clxxxix.) the contrary. On the other hand, it could
that Christ was crucified at the third hour ; not now be" tviehe at noon^ since Mark as-
and with Matthew and Luke, who exactly sures us tothe contrary, and his account is
agree with him in fixing the time of that confirmed both by Matthew and Luke.
darkness which happened while Christ (See the places just now quoted, and ?2ofe«*
bung upon the cross; (compare Mat.xxvii, on Mark xv. 25,. sect clxxxix.) I cannot
45; Luke xxiii. 44 ; and Mark XV. 33, sect, therefore but conclude with Columelus
cxci.) is easily solved by understanding- (Observ. p. 77), Beza, and Erasmus, that
it, according to the Roman account, of six instead Q^the sixth we should read the third
in the morning. But as John was a Jew, houri that is, nine in the mormng. For this
and elsewhere seems to use the Jewish we have the authority of the Cambridge
account (John i. 39, iv. 6, 52), that very tnanuscript, 2iX\(l. o^ Peter of Alexandria, who
supposition is in general improbable. Or expressly asserts it was Tp/7«, the third, m
if, out of regard to the considerations the original copy, which he says continued
which the learned, hut here dubious and till his time ; and though, as Dr. Mill
perplexed, Zeltnenis has urged, (see Zelt- abundantly shews in his Annotation on this
ner. Hor. Pilat. p. 14, ^ seq.J we were to place, all the best manuscripts and ancient
grant in general a supposable case, very 'versions are on the other side, I am obliged
strong objections will lie against suppos- here to follow the superior authority of
ing- it here. For though we should, with common sense ; however, in submission
many critics, take it for granted that the to the greatest number of copies, I have
j&rt**o=t;e;- here fell late in April (which was still retained the coonmon reading in the
the latest it could fall), the sun would version, and have only given what I appre-
not rise at Jerusalem till near five o'clock, hend to be the true reading in the para-
and one cannot suppose the sanhedrim as- phrase. Some other unsatisfactory hypoth"
sembled till about break of day. How then esis will be touched on in the note last re-
is it possible that their condemnation of ferred to. See a large and accurate view
Clirist, his arraignment and examination, of them in Wolf Cur, Phil. Vol. J. page
fii'st before Pilate, then before Herod, 969-*9r6.
together with Pilate's repeated examine
Pilate washing his hands^ they wish his blood on themselves. 533
swered, We have no no king but the emperor Tiberius Cesar ^ whose sect.
king but Cesar. royal authority we all of us acknowledge, and clxxxvut.
will always maintain. jvi^t.
Mat. XXVII. 24. Atid Pilate^ seeing that it signified nothing xxvii.24
When Pilate saw any longer to oppose the popular torrent, but
nodi'm Tut'^thaTr^ji^ ^^"^ ^^^ rather grezv more tumultuous by the de-
ther' a^'tumult^was lay, was determined however to do all he could
made, he took wa- to make his own conscience easy in complying
ter and washed his ^yi^^ ^^^^5 their unjust request ; and therefore
Shade! saying, I f'^ ^^^^ ^^'^^^^^'^ ^"^ XV ashed his hands in the pres^
am innocent of the ence of the multitude:^ sayings I call heaven and
blood of this just per- earth to witness that I am innocent of the blood
son : see ye to it. ^j ^/^^.^. ^^^/^^^^^^^ lman'\ ; look ijou [to] the con-
sequences of shedding [i?], and remember you
are ansv/erable for them, whatever they may
25 Then answer- prove. And all the people answered^ sayings 25
ed all the people, and We will venture those consequences : 77iay his
said,His blood ie on ^i^^j if innocent, be on us, and on our children !
us, and on our chil- ,' , ri-ji • ^ ^'
(l/en. ^^^ J^ay ^^^ curse of sheddmg it lie upon us
throughout all generations V"
n He took ivater, and inashed his hands, it undoubtedly was of many of their chil-
Sec] 'It is well known that tlie Jews in dren. For Josephns, who was an eyewit-
some cases were appointed to 'ivash their ness, expressly declares, *« that the num-
AaW* as a solemn token that they were not ber of those thus crucified was so great,
themselves concerned in the oiiurder com- that there was not room for the crosses to
mitted by some unknown person (see Deut. standby each other; and that at last they had
xxi. 6 — 9) : but, as this was also a rite that not rjood enough to make crosses of" A pas-
was frequently used by the Gentiles in to- sage which,especlally when compared with
ken of injiocence, it is more probable that the verse before us, impresses and aston-
Pilate, who was a Gentile, did it in con- ishes me beyond any other which I recol-
formity to them. See Grotius, in he. and lect in the whole story. If this were not
Eisner, Observ. Vol. I. p. 122, 123. the very finger rf God, pointing out their
° May his blood be onus, and on our chil- crime in crucifying his Son, it is hard to
dren /] As this terrible imprecation was say what could deserve to be called so.
dreadfully answered in the ruin so quickly Eisner has abundantly shewn, that among
brought on the Jewish nation, and the ca- the Greeks, the persons on whose testimony
lamities which have since pursued that others were put to death used, by a very
wretched people, in almost all ages and solemn execration, to devote themselves to
countries ; so it was peculiarly illustrated the Divine vengeance, if the person so
in the severity with which Titus, merciful condemned were not really guilty, f Eisner,
ashe naturally was, treated the Jews whom Observ. Vol. I. p. 123 — 125.) We are told
he took during the siege of Jerusalem ; of by Grotius (de Jure Bell. \sf Pac. lib. iii,
-whom yo.se/>Aw* him self writes (Bell.jud. cap. 4. § 9, N«. 2) that Titus commanded
lib. V. cap. 11 (al. vi. 12), § 1), that/xatr/- the Kvovien and children of the Jews to be
ynfAivo: AviTiive^al:, having been scourged and exposed in theatres, and there to be de-
tortured in a very terrible manner, they were voured by wild beasts : a fact which I
crucified, in the view, and near the walls of should have thought it extremely proper to
this city ; perhaps, among other places, mention here, if any authority were pro-
on mount Calvary : and it is very probable duced to support it. But as I cannot
this might be the fate of some of those meet with any such account in Josephus,
very persons, who now joined in ?/;/; cry, as I am ready to ascribe what Grotius says of
5S4f Pilate condemns him, and delivers him to be crucified.
SECT. J^^whenthey had said this, Pi/^^^', who now Luke XXIII. 24.
clxxxvui. ^^g something easier in his own mind, and was ^nd Pilate [wil-
L^,l^. desirous to satis fu the people,"^ since he perceived l!"? J^ <^°"^^»t ^^^
••• \. -^ 1111 r r •> r people] gave sen-
xxui. 24 It couia be done no other wav^ pronounced sen- tence that it should
tence., that xvhat they demanded should be done^ ^^ as they required,
and that Jesus should be put to death. [Mark XV. 15.—]
25 And^ in pursuance of that sentence, hereleas- 25 And he releas-
ed to them Barabbas^ ivho (as was said before) ^^ ^^ them [Barab-
-was thrown into prison for sedition and murder ; ^:^!:^ .,!}'!! ^T ^'^^^'
, , 1 1 • • ^'O" a"<i murder was
but xvhom^ aggravated as his crimes were, they cast into prison,
had importunately desired in preference to whom they had de-
Christ : and having (as we related above, John ^^^^,^1 t^"^ ^^l^"
A v..-»^'^ 11 7 Of 1 I- I he hadscoursred Je-
XIX. 1, p. 525; already scourged Jesus^ he did gus,] he delivered
not renew that torture ;i however, he delivered him to their will [to
him to their will to be crucified^ with such cir- be crucified] [Mat.
cumstances as they thought proper ; and they xv^l5^ J^ h^n
soon shewed that their tender mercies were XIX. 16— ]
cruel.
Mat. And when the Jewish mob had thus prevail- Mat. XXVII. 31.
xxvii. 31 ed, after they had mocked and insulted him for And after that they
a while, just as the Roman sofdiers had before Jj^fy .^^^^^f^ ^^^^
done in the prsetorium, deriding his pretences pie] robe off from
to a kingdom, and abusing him like the vilest him, and put on his
slave, they took the purple robe offfrom hifn,' and ^^^ raiment on him,
having dressed him again i?i his own garments,
it to a slip of memory in that g-reat critic ,• but as Jolm, who is most exact in his ac-
especially considering how improbable it count of this part of the story, mentions his
•was that so humane a prince as Titus hwoing been scourged he^ovey ^nd s^iys r\Q\h-
should be guilty of such almost unexam- ingofthe repetition of it (which, consider-
pled cruelty. On the contrary, in the only ing Pilate's conviction of his innocence, he
passage I recollect, where Josephus speaks would probably spare), I choose to inter-
of exposing the Jewish captives to wild pret the word in this manner, which the
beasts (yoseph. Bell. Jud. lib. vi. cap. 9. original will very well bear,
[al. vii. 16], § 2), it is expressly said that ^ fhey took the purple robe offfrom Jiim.'\
Titus sold all who were under seventeen It is observable, as we have seen above,
years old. p. 526, that Matthew (chap, xxvii. 28)
P Desirous to satisfy the people : <ro iicdLvov mentions a scarlet robe, kokhivsv yKftyLvS^diy
Ts-oiTiiTAt.'] As his former administration had and Mark (chap. xv. 17, as well as here)a
given them a great deal of disgust, he might purple garment, t«v 7ro^<pugAv. I take not up-
very probably think it absolutely necessary on me to determine whether either of these
thus to appease them : yet they afcerwards words be used for the other, waving, as in
followed him with their accusations to his some other cases, the most exact significa-
ruin ; and thus, by the righteous judgment tion ; or whether there were txvo garments
of God, he lost all the advantage which he used, a purple vest, and over that a scarlet
hoped to gain by this base compliance, as robe. However, it is probable, whatever
Felix did when he afterwards injured Paul they were, Pilate, or any of his chief offi-
on the same unworthy principles. Acts cers, would not cover his bleeding body
xxiv. 27. with any thing better than an old, and per-
1 Having already scourged jfesus : <ppst- haps tattered habit, which answered their
ytK>aTAi.'\ Mdny critics, p.nd SLmong the rest contemptuous purpose much better than
Eisner fObserv. Vol. I. p. 125), have shewn the best which \.\\e governor'* s voardrobe could
that scourging used to precede crucijixion ,- have afforded.
Reflections on the conde7nnation of Christ. 335
and led him away to thev kd him axvay to be crucijied^ in the manner sect.
crucify him. [Mark ^hich vve shall presently relate. clxxxviii.
IMPROVEMENT,
Let us now, by a lively act of faith, bring forth the blessed John
Jesus to our imagination, as Pilate brought him forth to the ^^^' ^
people. Let us with affectionate sympathy survey the indigni- verse 1
ties which were- offered him, when he gave his back to the smit-
ers^ and his cheeks to them that phicked off^the hair ; and hid not his
face from sharne and spitting, (Isa. i. 6.) Behold the man^ wear- Mat.
ing his purple robe and thorny crown^ and bearing the reed which xxvii. 29
smote him iiv his right hand for a sceptre ! Behold^ not merely
the man^ but the Son of God^ thus vilely degraded, thus infa-
mously abused ! Shall xve^ as it were, increase his sufferings, joha
and, while we condemn the fury and cruelty of the Jezvs^ shall xix. S
we crucify him to ourselves afresh^ and put him to an open sha7ne f
(Heb. vi. 6.) Or shall we overlook him with slight and con-
tempt, and hide our faces from him^ who for our sake thus
exposed his own ? (Isa. liii. 3.)
Let the caution even of this heathen judge^ v^\io feared^ when 7 3
he heard he so much as pretended to be the Son of God, engage
us to reverence him, especially considering in how powerful a
manner he has since been declared to be so, (Rom. i. 4.) Let Mat.
us in this sense have nothing to do with the blood of this just xxvi. 10
Person. Let his example teach us patiently to submit to those
sufferings which God shall appoint for us, remembering that no
enemies, and no calamities we meet with, could have any power
against us, except it were given them from above.
How wisely was it ordered by Divine Providence that Pilate john
should be obliged thus to acquit Christ, even while he condemned xix. 11
him ; and to speak of him as a righteous person, in the same breath ^^}'
with which he doomed him to the death of the most flagitious 24 26
malefactor I And how lamentably does the power of worldly
interest over conscience appear, when, after all the convictions of
his own mind, as well as the admonitions of his wife, he yet
gave him up to popular fury. O Pilate, how gloriously hadst Luke
thou fallen in the defence of the Son of God! and how justly did xxiii.
God afterwards leave thee to perish by the resentment of that *
people whom thou wast now so studious to oblige !'
« Leave thee to perish, ^c] Josephis Eusebius tells us fHist. Eccles. lib. il. cap.
CAntiq. lib. xviii. cap. 4 [al. 5], § 1, 2) ex- 7),that quickly after (havingjas others say,
pressly assures us that Pilate, having slain been banished to Vienne in Gaul) he laid
a considerable number of seditious Sama- violent hands upon himself, falling on his
ritans, was deposed from his government own sword Agrippa, who was an eye-
by Vitellius, and sent to Tiberius at Rome, witness to many of his enormities, speaks
who died before he arrived there. And of him in his oration to Cains Cesar as one
VOL. 2. 69
5S6 Jesus is taken to be criicijied with txvo malefactors ;
SECT. Who can without trembling read that dreadful imprecation,
c xxxvm. j^^^ ^^^ blood be on 7A9, a}id on our children ! Words which, even
Mat. to this day, have their remarkable and terrible accomplishment
xxvii. 25in that curse^ which has pursued the Jews rhron^ seventeen
hundred yt^Ys. Lord^ may it at length be averted, and even
turned into a blessing ! May they look on him whom they have
pierced^ and mourn^ till all the obstinacy of their hearts be subdu-
ed : till they bow down in glad submission to that King whom
God has set on his holy hill^ and thus are brought themselves to
reign with him in everlasting honour and joy !
SECT. CLXXXIX.
Jesus ^ being delivered up by Pilate to the rage of the people^ bears
his cross to Calvary^ and is there nailed to it. Mat. XXVII.
32^34, 38. Maik XV. 21—23, 25, 27, 28. Luke XXIII.
26—34 John XIX 16—18.
John XIX — 16.
.K^S Xr^W after Pilate hadpassedsentence upon ^ri^^\7lto\.
nxx.\iA. _i_ ^ Jesus, to satisfy the restless clamour oi ±\, jesus, and led
John ^^ Jews, and had delivered him to the soldiers him away,
xix. 16 to be crucified, his prosecutors, having gained
their point, hastened his execution ; ^/z^sf hav-
ing insulted and abused him (as was said be-
fore), they took Jesus and led him away to that
terrible punishment.*
Luke And^ to expose him to the greater ignominy Luke XXIII. 32.
jtxiii. 22 ^Yid reproach, and to prejudice the people more And there were also
strongly against him, there xvere also two other ^^^'^ ^^^^^ malefac-
\men^ who were] condemned to die upon the m
cross for a robbery, and were well known to be
great malefactor s^ that were led out of Jerusalem
who had been a man of a most infamous the exact place of Mat. xxvii. 3 — 10, in
character (Fhilo. yud. iii Leg. p. 1034); which the ea)a«^e//5? relates the tragical end
and by that manner of speaking-, as Vale- of Judas ; but I hope I shall be indulged in
sins well observes, it is plainly intimated transposiiig it, partly that I may preserve a
he was then dead. Probably the accusa- better proportion in the length of the sec-
tions of other Jews following him, had tions, and chiefly that I may not interrupt
before that proved his destruction. the important story of Christ^ s passion : and
* They took yesus and led hhn aiiiay.'\ It I more easily allow m\ self to do it, because
is evident this text is parallel to Mat. xxvii. probably the very same consideration en-
— 31, and Mark XV. — 20. But I have here, gaged Matthew a little to anticipate it
as in some other instances of two or more Let it only here be observed, that the
j6arrt//e/ passages, put one at the conclusion death of this traitor seems to have happen-
of a former section, and the other at the ed before that of his Master : so speedily
beginning of the next, for abetter connec- did the Divine vengeance pursue his ag-
j.ion. I may also add that this seems to me gravated crime.
and bearing his cross, is kd arvay to Golgotha* 5Z7
tors led with him, with him, to be executed at the same time ; that sect.
to be put to death. \^ g^^h company he might be thought to suffer clxxxix.
for the worst of crimes. "idirr*
JoH>j XIX. 17. And Jesus, thus attended as a criminal, was xix. 17
And he bearing his j^j ihrough the cit}^. Carrying a heavy part of
to a place called the ^^'^ Cross on his shoulders, according to the cus-
place of* a scull, tom of those who were to be crucified : and in
which IS called in ^j^ig manner he xvent out of the citv to a place
Iha.'^^^''* which lay on the western side of 'Jerusalem,
but a little without the boundaries of it,^ zuhich
7vas called in the Hebrew language Golgotha,
[or] the place oj a scull ; because the bodies of
many criminals, having been executed on that
little eminence, were buried there.
Luke XXIII. 26. And as they led him on^ Jesus was now so Luke
^vf ^V^utJv^foun'd^^'^"^ ^^^^^ the loss of blood, so very sore with ^^'"-^
a^^Hmn of^^Cvrene, ^^^ lashes and bruises he had received, and so
Simon by name,] fatigued with the load of such a large piece of
[Mark, the father timber, that he was not able to proceed so fast
Ruf^s^whf ^as^^d f.%Aey desired, especially considering how
by, coming out of httle time they had before them to finish their
the country, and~\ work. And as he was advancing slowly to the
they laid hold on pj^^e of execution, they met on the road a poor
hnn ; I a«a him they \ ^ • 1 ' '^ . r> /-^ j
compelled to bear A-irican, who was a ?iative OJ Cyrene, natnecl
his cross]: and on Si mon^ the father of Alexander and Rufus, who
him they laid the afterwards became Christians, and were of
he^r 'it after^ Jes^s^ some note in the church : this Simon at that
|;Mat. XXVII. 32. time w^as passing by, as he came out of the
Mark XV. 21.] country to Jerusalem ; [and] they immediately
laid hold on [him] as one fit for their purpose,
finding him a strong man, and it may be sus-
pecting that he was a favourer of Jesus ; [and]
pretending that the authority of the Roman
governor impowered them to press any they
met for this service, they compelled him to carry
at least one end of his cross ,• and accordingly
on him they laid the cross, that he might carry
it after 1 esus»
lowed\" m^a'^t ^"'^ « S^^^t multitude of people crowded af- 27
company of people, ter him to see the crucifixion j and particularly
^ Carrying a heavy part of his cross, p. 354, 355) What our Zorc^carnW, was
•wenf out of the city, Isfc ] Dr. Lardner not the v:hole cross, but only that transverse
has abundantly proved, from many quota- piece of wood to which his arms were after-
tions, that it was customary not only for wards fastened ; and which was called
the Jews (Numb. xv. 35; 1 Kings xxi. an^erzn^, or/wrca, going cross the *f//&ei', or
13 ; Acts vii. 58), but also for the Sici- upright beam, which was fixed in the
Jians, Ephesians, and Romans, to execute earth. This the criminal used to carry,
their malefactors tuz7/iou^ tAe^a^e* of their and therefore was called ywrcZ/er. See
cities, (See his Credibility, part i. Vol. I. Bishop Pearson on the Creed, p. 203, 204.
538 The women xveeptngfop him, are bid to weep for themselves,
SECT, a considerable number of women^ who had at- and of women, which
clxxxix. tended his ministry with great A^Xi^X followed ^^^ bewailed and
Luke ^'^'^ *^" ^^^ ^^^ occasion ; who were so tender- ^"^^"^^ """•
xxiii. 27 ly affected with the moving sight, that they not
only pitied him in their hearts, but also vented
their concern in tears, and bewailed and lament-
28 ed him in a very affectionate manner. But 28 But Jesus turn-
yesus turning to them, said, Alas, ye daup-hters '"[S ""to theni, said,
*^/'cy ; ■ J \r V ^-w Daughters of Jeru-
of Jerusalem, weep not for yne, who am wilhng s^lem, weep not for
to submit to all the sufferings appointed for me, me, but weep for
as what I know will issue in the salvation of yourselves, and for
my people, and in my exaltations to the high- ^'°"^' children,
est glory ; but rather weep for yourselves, and
for your children, in consideration of the dread-
ful judgments that these crimes will quickly
bring upon this wretched people, whose calam-
ities will be of much linger duration than
29 mine. For, let it be remembered by you as 29 For behold, the
my dyine^ words, behold the days are surely and ^^^'^ are coming, in
. ,i ° ' , p-^ ,.- the which they shall
quickly cojjimg, and some of you may live to ^^y. Blessed ie the
see them, in which the innocent blood which barren, and the
this people have imprecated upon themselves wombs that nevei?
shall come down upon their heads in so terrible ^fhTch^^neve; gave
a manner, that they shall have reason to say, suck.
Happy [are] the barren women, and the wombs
which never bare children, and the breasts that
never suckled them : for as relations are multi-
plied, sorrows shall be multiplied with them,
and parents shall see their children subject to
all the miseries which famine, and pestilence,
and sword, and captivity can bring upon them.
30 Then shall they who are now triumphing in my 30 Then shall they
death be trembling with horror, in expectation begin to say to the
of their own ; and, considering present calam- "^"""^^i^s. Fall on
^i. r r r ^ us; and to the hills,
ities as the forerunners of future, yet more Cover us.
intolerable miseries, shall begifi, in despair of
the Divine mercy, to say to the mountains. Fall
on us ; and to the hills. Cover us, from the more
dreadful pressure of God's wrath, which is
31 kindled against us. For if they do these 31 For if they do
things in the green wood, zuhat shall be done in ^^^se things in a
the dry? li such agonies as these fall upon ^^V 'done inthe
me, who am not only an innocent person, but dry ?
God's own Son, when I put myself in the stead
of sinners, what will become of those wretches
who can feel none of my supports and consola-
tions, and whose personal guilt makes them as
They gave hhn mnegar to drink mingled with gall 539
proper fuel for the Divine vengeance, as dry sect.
wood is to the consuming fire ? clxxxix.
Mat. XXVII. 33. At length they arrived at the place of execu-
And when they were tion : and when they zuere come thither, even to xxyH 33
STedSofgSaflhat th'^P'"'' ^^-l^'^h (we before observed) ^vas called ' '
is to say, [the] place in Hebrew Golgotha^ that is to my, the place of a
of a scull, [Luke, or scull^ a little without the city [/??/] mount Cal-
Calvary], [Mark y^^^y ^^yhich was the usual place for executing
XxillTlio.— ] criminals, and seemed a proper spot of ground
for the purpose, as on account of its eminence
the malefactors crucified there might be seen at
a considerable distance, and by a great number
34 They g:ave him of spectators) ; They proceeded to the fatal 34
vinegar to dnnk,mm- purpose for which they came : and as it was
gled with g-all : and ^ * ^ • . j • • • , • n
when he had tasted customary to give to dymgcrimmals a potion of
thereof, he would not Strong wine mingled with spices, to cheer their
^ink- spirits, and render them less sensible of their
sufferings, the soldiers who attended him gave
him nothing better to drink than vinegar mingled
zvith gall, by that odious mixture farther ex-
pressing their cruelty and contempt : and xvhen
he had tasted [of it'], that he might submit to
every distasteful circumstance which Provi-
dence allotted to him, he xvould not drink any
large draught of it, as knowing it would an-
Mark XV. 23. ^^'^^ no valuable end to do it. And, as some Mark
And they [a/^oigave of his friends had on that occasion provided a xv. 23
him to drink, wine cordial cup, they gave him {also] a draught of
mingled with myrrh: generous xvine to drink, mingled ivith myrrh and
but he received it °, . u- u.u 1 "^ i " "* awu.
not. other spices, which they thought proper on that
sad occasion ;^ hut he did not receive [it], deter-
mining to bear the full force of his pains, unal-
layed by any such preparation, and to maintain
his thoughts in the most vigorous exercise.
25 And it was And it xvas now the third hour of the day, or 25
the third hour, and nine o'clock in the morning,^ when they thus
brought him to mount Calvary ; and there ^ when
"They gave him a.]so ivine to drink, min- low him to Calvary, and afterwards so
gled -with onyrrh.'] Some tliink this was liberally to prepare unguents and aromatic
sour 'wine, called viiiegar by Matthew ; but drugs for his embalming, had provided on
I apprehend the reasons which Dr. Ed- this sad occasion some rich ivine tempered
ivards has produced fExercit. part. ii. No. with choice spices, which with perfect
2, p. 178— 188) sufficiently prove that this propriety he refused to taste, lest malice
n-vine mingled ivith onyrrh was a different should insinuate he intended thereby to
mixture from the vinegar and gall, which render himself insensible of the terrors of
he received so far as to taste it. Probably death.
those pious laomen, some of them (as the "^ 4 Itvjasrxo^ff the third hour oi ihe dav,or
story shews) persons in plentiful circum- nine o'clock in the morning.] I can by no
stances, whose zeal engaged them to fol- means agree with Vossius, and some other
540 He prays on the cross for his enemies*
SECT, all things were made ready, they nailed his [there] they cmci-
clxxxix. hands and his feet to the cross, and crucified ^f^JV^oT t^^^^
jy^^j,j. hiyn. And they also crucified with him the two ^ix. is.— 1
XV. 27 malefactors^ [or] robbers^ that were mentioned 27 And with him
before, the one on his rzghthand^ and the other on tl^ey crucify [Luke,
the left ,■ anJ they placed ye.«« in the mid.t, as a f^.ThttrtS on^
mark of the greatest indignity, to prejudice the on his right hand, and
multitude the more against him, and to induce the other on his left,
them to regard him as the most inf^imous crim- fJ^^^'^N^rn ^flT ^^
, ^ - o A J f J • the midst] [Mat.
28 mal or the three. -d;?a thus the .scripture was xXIL— 38. Luke
remarkably fulfilled (Isa. liii. 12), in which xxiii — 33. John
the prophet Isaiah, speaking with an amaz- ^^90""!^^ u
ing plainness of the sufferings of the Messiah, ^u^g J^s fulfilled,'
saith^ " And he xvas numbered with the trans- which saith, And he
p-fessors.^^^ was numbered with
Luke A?id Jesus made no manner of resistance to ^ luke ^xx^iil^34.
xxiu. 34 ^hjg cruel violence, nor did he revile them even —Then said Jesus,
when they were distorting his limbs as on a Father,forgivethem;
rack, and nailing his hands and his feet on the ^"f ^^,f ^"^^ "''^
r ni 1 1 1 1 . •. what they do.
lull stretch to the accursed tree ; but, m the
midst of his anguish, he breathed out his soul in
a compassionate prayer for his murderers ; and
pleading the only excuse which the most exten-
sive charity could suggest, he said^ Father ^for-
give them^for they know not what they are doing :^^
er'iticsy to read it here the sixth hour ; for ^ And he was numbered ivith the transgres-
their ought to be very cogent reasons for sors."] I choose, in (Quotations from the Old
departing from the authority of all the best Testament, to keep as close to our English
copies and ancient versions. (See Dr. Mills^ version of the passage quoted as the Greek
in loc.J Nor can I think, with Heinsius, will allow me, that the memory of the
that tliese words in Mark refer, not to the hearer may assist him in distinguishing
hour of the day in which Christ was cruci- the text ; else I should have rendered
fied, but to the length of fzme he had been <tvofj.a)v, criminals, as the word Qiytt^fj,
upon the cross when his garmeiits naere di- which Isaiah uses, seems also to signify.
videdf which Mark had spoken of just be- The least offence is a transgression of the
fore in ver. 24. For as Mark mentions law of God, or a stepping over the boun-
the sixth and the m?ith hour (ver. 33), this daries he has prescribed; but this imports
interpretation would oblige us to conclude, much more,
either that Mark used fwo very different
ways of computation within the compass ^ Father, forgive them,. Sec] This Is one
of a few verses, or else that Christ did not of the most striking passages in the world,
expire till he had been nine hours on the While they are actually nailing him to the
cross. And as these objections equally cross, he seems to feel the injury these
lie against Godwyn's Hypothesis, f Moses poor creatures did to their own souls,
and Aaron, book iii. chap, i.) that we are more than the wounds they gave him ; and
here to distinguish between \he four larger as it were to forget his own anguish, in a
and twe/^uc .s77ia//er Aowrs into which the day concern for their salvation. I render t/
was divided, I do not think it necessary 'a-oiac-t, what they are doing, as thinking that
more particularly to consider it, though version most expressive of the present cir-
the learned Gerhardus in his Harmony pre- cumstance ; and indeed it is the exact im-
fers it to all others. Compare note "» on port of what grammarians call the present
John xix. 14, sect, clxxxviii. tense.
jReflections on the crucifixion of Christ. 54t
The Roman soldiers, who were the imme- sect.
diate instruments of his death, having indeed *^^^^""^
but little knowledge of him ; and the Jews,
who were the authors of it, through their ob-
stinate prejudices not apprehending who he
was ; *' for if they had known him, they
would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
(1 Cor. ii. 8.)
IMPROVEMENT.
Here let us pause a while, and make a few serious reflections
on this amazing story, which the evangelists rt\2iit with so much
simplicity. Behold the Son of God bearmg his cross^ fainting John
under the load of it, and at length extended upon it, and 7iailed ^^^'
to it. Him they took^ and with wicked hands crucified and slew *
him (Acts ii. 23). Blessed fesus^ was ity^^r this that thou didst
honour our nature by a union to thine own, and come from thy
throne of glory to visit these abodes of misery and guilt ! Was
\tfor this that so many gracious discourses were delivered, and
so many works of love and power performed ! for this^xh^t thou
mightest be treated as the xvorH of criminals^ and suspended on Mark
a cross in the air, as if unworthy of a place on earth even to die xv.
upon ! Amazing and lamentable sight ! Justly, 0 snn^ mightest '*
thou blush to see it : justly, 0 earthy mightest thou tremble to
support it !
Lord^ like these pious women, who had the zeal and fortitude Luke
to attend thee, when thine own apostles forsook thee and fied, we ^''^"'•
would folloxv thee xveeping : yet not for thee, but for ourselves ; " '
that our guilt had brought us under a condem?iation, from which
we could be redeeiiied by nothing less than the precious blood of
the Son of God : that Lamb xvithout blemish and without spot
(1 Pet. i. 19). We would behold herein the goodness and the
severity of God (Rom. xi. 22) : for while the riches of his good-
ness are displayed in his providing a ransom for the redemption
of lost sinners, an awful proof is given of the severity of his
justice, in his not sparing his own Son, nor exempting him from
the sorrows and sufferings due to sin, when he came to put
himself in the stead of sinners : and mav we not in such a view
tremble for fear of him, and be afraid of his judgments P (Psal.
cxix. 120.) Who can support the weight of his indignation,
especially when it shall come aggravated by the abuse of so
much love / If these things be done in the green wood, what shall 31
be done in the dry ? And if such sufferings be mflicted, where
there was not ^r\y personal guilt to k^indle the flame, on one who
only answered for the sins of others ; what then will be the end
542 Reflections on Chrises praijer for his enemies,
SECT, of those who, by their own iniquities^ are become ^Lsfuel prepared
clxxxix. fQj. the fire, and are as vessek of wrath fitted to destruction 7
ygj. oo How shocking is it to behold the vile indignities that were put
upon a suffering Jesiis^ and to reflect upon the cruel treatment
that he met with from his insulting enemies ! Yet have not we
been verily guilty concerning this matter ? (Gen. xlii. 21.) Are
we not chargeable with despising Christ ? and have we not crU'
cifed the Son of God afresh^ and put him to a7i open shame P (Heb.
34 — vi. 6.) Oh may that apology be heard in our favour ! Father^
forgive them.^for they knozv not what they do ! For surely sin-
ners do not knoiv what they do^ when they pierce Christ by their
sins, and tur?i axvay their faces from him. But under all his
suiferings, how amazing was his meekness I and how compas-
sionate the concern which he expressed for his most cruel per-
secutors ! May we learn patience^ and lovt to our enemies^ from
so bright an example of it ! May we, like him, bless them that
curse us^ and pray Jor them that despitefuHy use us^ and persecute
us ! (Mat. V. 44.) Instead of being ingenious to aggravate
their faults, and to paint them in the most shocking colours, let
us rather seek for the best excuses^ which even the worst of
causes will fairly bear ; influenced by that charity which uncon-
strained believes no evil, and hopeth all things even against hope.
(1 Cor. xiii. 5, r.)
ibid. Gracious Saviour ! thy dying prayer, and thy dying bloody
were not like water spilt upon the ground : they came up in re
membrance before God^ when thy gospel began to be preached at
^Jerusalem : and multitudes, who were now consenting to thy
deaths gladly received thy word, and xvere baptized (Acts ii. 41) :
and they are now in glory, celebrating that grace which has
taken out the scarlet and crimson dye of their sins, and turned
that blood which they so impiously shed into the balm of their
wounds, and the life of their souls.
SECT. CXC.
Chrisfs garments are divided by lot ; and while he is himself in-
sidted on the cross, he shews his mercy to the penitent thief
Mat. XXVII. 35—37, 39—44. Mark XV. 24, 26, 29—32.
Luke XXIII. —34—43. John XIX. 19—24.
John XIX. 23. TohnXIX.23.
SECT. cfHE '" " - - - -
CXC. ^
had crucinea
soldiers therefore^ when they had thus npHEN the sol-
:ifed Jesus, took his garments, which ^ i^ievs, wheu
John according to custom they had stripped off, that j^sLX'Lk W^g^^
xix.23 the shame of suffering naked might be added to ;
The soldiers divide his garments by lot, ^'43
ments, and made all the agony of the cross ; and^ as it was usual sicT.
lour parts, to eve- {q^ ^\^q executioners to have the garments of ^xc
fMrit'casUnlTots the criminal whom they put to death, they made —
upon them, what /oi/r /;dfrf5 of his Clothes, assignmg ?o fcrc/i 50/^- •'^■3^
every man should {^r of the quaternion employed on that occa- 23
take ;] and also his ^-^^^ ^^ ,^^. ^^^ castitip; lots Upon them which of
coat: now the coat , r ' , j » 7 7 #1 1
was without seam, the four each 7nan should take : ana they took.
woven from the top also the vest^ or inner garment ; now the vest
throughout. [Mat. ^^^ ^^ns curious circumstance attending it,
XV. 24. Luke that it was without any seam at all, bt\x\^xuoven.
XXlll.— 34.] from the top throughout in one whole piece.*
24 They said there- And as this was considered by them as more 24
fore among them- valuable than ordinary, they said therefore one
renUt biit^caS: lots ^° another^ Let us not spoil this coat, as we must
for it, whose it shall do if we go about to tear it into four parts, but
be : tliat the scrip- let us cast lots for it., whose the whole of i? shall
ture [spoken by the ^^ , ^^j accordingly they did so, that the scrip^
prophetl might be , . , ° ■ , ' t\ i • 1
fuimied, which saith, ^"''^ Spoken by the prophet David in the person
They parted my rai- of the Messiah ?night thus be literally fulfilled,
ment among them, ^^^^^h saith (Psalm xxii. 18), " They divided
and tor my vesture ^^ ^, j ^^ 1 '1 r
thev did cast lots. '^''-y S^^^^^'^ts among them, and casts lots Jor my
These things there- vesture^^ These things therefore the soldiers
fore the soldiers did. j;^^ though with the Utmost freedom as to
[Mat. XXVII. 35.^ themselves, yet by the secret disposal of Provi-
dence, which, by an undiscerned influence on
their minds, led them to act in a remarkable
Mat. XXVII. 36. correspondence to the Divine oracle. And, Mat
And sitting down, havine: done thus, they sat down near the cross, ^f^^"'
they watched him , ° 7 7 / • / .u ^u ^ u 36
there: and guarded him, and the other two who were ^^
crucified with him, that none might come there
to rescue them before they were quite dead.*^
3 TFoven from the top throughout in one ferings seems to have borne any resem^
whole piece.] Perhaps this curious gar blance. It therefore seems to me exceed-
ment might be the work and present of in g probable that in f/^/,y jcr//)?wre, and some
some of the pious niiomen wlio attended others, the mind of the /jro/j/zef was thrown,
him, and ministered to him of their substance into a preternatural ecstacy, in which, on
(Luke viii. 3). The hint here given of its some secret intimation given to him that
make has set some mechanical heads to he therein personated the Messiah, he
work to contrive aframe for v:eaving such wrote expressly what the Spirit dictated,
a vest / and a good cut of it ma\ be seen in without any particular regard to himself;
Calmet's Dictionary^ onKhe-wov^vestmentSy so that David might, for any thing I
Vol. III. p. 19. can find, with equal propriety liave writ-
•» They di'vided my garments amn7ig them, ten such a psalm, if his whole life had
&.C.] We are no where told thut David's been as prosperous and peaceable as the
goods were thus divided ; and iliere are reign or Solomon his son. (Compare 1
several other passages in ihe xxii^ psalm, Pet. i. 10 — 12.)
particularly that in which mention is made ' That none might come to rescue them,
of piercing his hands and his Jeety to -which ^c] This was the more necessary iii
no circumstance of David's personal suf- this kind of execution, because the wounds
VOL. 2. 70
:?44 The title of King of the Jews ^6- put over him on the cross,
SECT. And^ as the usual method was in cases of S7 And set up
cxc. crucifixion, they put upon the cross over his °^'^^ ^'^ ^f^^ t^^J^
— — — I J J 'j^' ' V 1 1 X* .1 superscription of J
Mat ? . ^ superscription in capital letters,^ con- ^^,l accusation writ-
^^^,|j" taining the substance of his pretended crime^ ten, THIS IS JE-
^ ' 37^ -written in these remarkakle words, THIS IS ^''US [John, OF
JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING ^^ ?hY IcfNo'^ OF
John THE JEWS. J;2r/ indeed it was Pilate who THE JEWS. [Mar.
xix.ig wrote [this'] title, «7/^ ordered them to put it on XV. 26^ Luke
the cross ; which, howsoever it was designed xix^— 19 1 ° " ^
as a reproach to Jesus, was in effect a de- John xtx. 19.—
claration of his real character; and by the And Pilate -wrote
secret providence of God was overruled in at^^^l/'^^^' a"^ P^t
1,1 1 IT ^ 1 • 1 It on the cross,
remarkable and puolic manner to proclaim the
kingdom of Christ, while it was onlv meant to
20 expose and ridicule his title to it. Many of the 20 This title then
Jews therefore that came up to the feast of the ^^^^ "^^"y of the
passover, read this inscription ; because the ^^^^^^^ ^esus ^Ivas
place rvhere Jesus xvas crucified was near to the crucified was nig-h
city, and lay but just without the gates : and^^ the city : and it
that the inscription might be generally under- ^'^^ written in [let-
stood, it zvas expressed by Pilate's order in [and] Greek, [and!
three languages, and written both in Hebrezv, Latin. [Luke xxiii.
and Greek, and Latin letters, so that it might — ^^J
easily be read by Jews, Romans, and most
other foreigners.^
21 Now when this inscription was drawn up, 21 Then said the
the chief priests of the Jews were ver}^ much c^iief priests of the
ojffended at the form in which it was express- JewstoPilate, Write
d:\ ^j r ^ ' i • • ^- , not, 1 he kins^ 01 tJie
; and therejore objected against it, and said je\\si but that he
to Pilate, Do not xvrite. The king of the Jews ; said, I am king of
for we entirely disown him under that charac- ^^^ Jews.
ter, as thou well knowest ; hut rather write,
22 that he said, lam the king of the Jezvs, But 22 Pilate answer-
Pilate, who was very much displeased at
the importunity by which, contrary to his
inclination and judgment, they had extorted
given in crucifixion were not generally « In Hebreii^, and Greek, and Latin let-
mortal. The person crucified died partly ters.'] It was written in Latin, for the ma-
by the loss ofhlood, if any larg-e vessel was jesty of the Roman empire ; in Greek, for
pierced by the nails, when nails (as here) the information of the vast number of Hel-
were used; but chiefly by the violent distor- lenists who made use of that language, as
tion of the limbs, which were stretched indeed most provinces of the Roman em-
forth as on a rack ; a circumstance which pire did ; (see Breren^ood's Inquiries, chap,
must, no doubt, occasion exquisite anguish, i— iv.) and in Hebrew, as it was the vul-
'1 They put over his head a superscription'] gar language of the place. Thus the in-
Th is Bishop Peor^oM (on the Creed, p.205), scriptiun set up in the temple, to prohibit
and Dr. Lardner (Credibility, part i. book strangers from coming within those sacred
i. chap. 7, § 10, Vol, I. p. oil), have abun- limits, was written in all these three Ian-
dantly proved to be usual in cases of any guages. See Joseph. Bell. Jud. lib. vi.
extraordinary punishment. ' cap. 2 [at. vii. 4], $ 4.
ten.
Mat. XXVII. 39.
The chief priests and rulers mock and deride him, 545'
cd. What I have from him the sentence of death he had passed sect.
written, I have writ- ^po^^ Jesus, answered with some warmth, ^xc.
What I have written^ I have -written^ and, who- ~y^
ever may object against it, I am determined it xix. 22
shall stand as it is.
When therefore they were unable to procure Mat.
An'd^ [Lu^KE,"t1ie ^^"'7 alteration, they were determined publicly *^^'^^-
people stood be- to turn it into a jest ; and therefore some of ^^
holding: and] they t]^em went in person to Calvary to insult and
v'utVhim^ w?fv'crin*^(i^ scoff at Tesus even in his last moments. And
vueci mm, wag-g-ing j » ; / ; /• i
their heads, [Mark the common people^ that stood beholding the ex
XV. 29 — Luke ecution, reviled him ; and even they that passed
XXIII. oj.—j ^^^ ^^ ^j^^ ^,^^j^ blasphemed him^ shaking their
heads at him, in an upbraiding, scornful man-
TAhl t^iou that df "^^ ' ^'^^ saijing. Ah thou vain boaster, that 40
stroyestThe temple, rvouldest destroy the temple ^and build it again in
and buildest it in three days I let us now see if thou canst save
three days, save thy. tj^i.^df; and if thou art indeed the Son ofGod^
Jhi'^^Son^of^G^r, give US a proof of thy power now, and come
come down from the down from the cross ; tor in thy present circum-
cross. [Mark XV. stances that will be the most proper miracle
""??' T^i"-^ • 1 thou canst work in confirmation of thy pre-
41 Likewise also , , . . a i • i-r » ^l 4^
the chief priests, tended mission. And in like manner also the 41
[Luke, and the rul- chief priests^ together rvith the scribes and eU
ers also with thenj ^^^^^ and the rulers also themselves, the malice
rmocking,"^"said" a- o^ whose hearts had made them to forget the
mong themselves,] dignity of their characters, and to attend among
with the scribes and (.j^g ^.^^q^ upon this base and barbarous occasion,
XV^'si.— ''^uKE joi^^*^ ^^'^^ ^^^^^^ i" ^^^i^' scoffs, and with a
xxiii— 35.— ] scornful sneer derided him ; land] mocking^ said
42 He saved oth- q^i^ to another^ Ay, this is he that saved others^ 42
ers, himself he can- and undertook to pcivethem perfect deliverance
not save : it he be , , . ° . r/ xt
[Luke, Christ, the and everlasting happiness ; \but] now you see
chosen of God,] the he cannot save himself i\'ovL\ the most infamous
kingoflsrael,lethim execution : if he be really the true Messiah, the
Srrrs'TLu™ Elect of God, and in consequence of that Di^Mne
and save himself,] choice be the king of Israel, as he has so often
[that we may see,] pretended, let him now come down from the
him'^^-'ML^KXV. ^"-^''-^ [^^^J ^^'^^ ^'"^''V from death, that xve
—31, 32^.— Luke may see a demonstration of his saving power,
xxiii.— 35.] and we will then believe him,^ Nay, they were
f He saved others^ &.C.] Nothing could forced the nails from the hands and feet of
be baser tiian tlms to upbraid him with a crucified person, so that he might have
this saving povjer, which was not a vain leaped from the cross. What Christ had
pretence, but had produced so many noble so lately done before their eyes, and in part
and stupendous effects. And it was equal- on themselves in the garden, \\as a far
ly unreasonable to put the credit ol his more convincing display of a Divine power
mission on his coming dozunfrom the cross : than merely to liave descended now could
a vigorous spring might possibly have have been. And though they promise
046 One malefactor reviles him ; the other is penitent j
SECT, at once so profane and stupid as to borrow on 43 He trusted in
^^^- this occasion the words foretold by David ^od, led him deliver
Mat (Psalm xxii. 8), and to sav, '\He trusted in ^^^^^\ ^^^^^l
sxvii. God^ and boasted of his interest in him ; let him said, I am the Son
43 deliver him 7iow^ if he will have him^ or if he de«. «f God.
lighteth in him '^ for ^e has often said^ tarn
the Son of God: the priests themselves not ob-
serving that this was the very language which
the murderers of the Messiah are there de-
scribed as using.
Luke And the soldiers olso^ who kept guard at that Luke xxiit. 36.
xxiii. 36 time, joined with the rest of the spectators, and And the soldiers al-
mockedhim; coming to him, and offering him ^^^"^^^^^^^^^^^^
vinegar to drink in the midst of his agonies, jng- him vineg-ar,
Sr (Compare John xix. 29, p. 552i^ And saying, o7 And saying, If
as the rulers and people had done, If thou art ^^^^J°^ ^^^ king of
really, as thou hast frequently pretended, the self. ^^* ^^^^ ^"
King of the Jews^^ before thou undertakest to
deliver them, save thyself frora our power, and
so begin to assert thy claim to a supreme
authority.
3'9 And one of the malefactors also^ who hung on 39 And one of the
* the cross xvith him, regardless of that innocence malefactors [also]
and dignity which Jesus manifested under all ^^'""^ ^^^^ hanged
, . fr • J rr ^ J -^u r\ • V"^ crucified with
his suftenngs, and unaffected with a sense oi his hi^n^ cast the same
own aggravated guilt, upbraided hifji with the in his teeth, and']
sam.e \reproach, a?id] scornfully hlaspheined him failed on him, say-
• * • Tr*i * ii 7\f ■ u mg, IfthoubeChrist,
as an imjjostor, saying. If thou art the Messiah, ^^% ^^^.^^^^ ^„^ ^^[
why dost thou not save thyself and us, who are [Mat/xxvil 44.
40 now dying with thee ? But the other, awakened Mark XV.— 32.]
to a sense of his sin, and convinced in his heart ^^ ^^^ the other
_ -111 'iT^/r-i answering, rebuked
that Jesus was indeed tne promised Messiah, him,saying. Dost not
answered his companion, and rebuked him, say- thou fear God,seeing
ifig, Dost thou not fear God, even now Tt/A^/i ^^oy^'^^^.^^^^^same
thou thyself art in the same condemnation P In
upon this to believe hhn, there is no room her, that thethieves cast the. 'tame in histeeth ,<■
to think they -would have yielded to con- and Mark also says, that they that ivere cru-
viction ; but all they meant was to insult cifed'ivith him reviled hi^n,- ^ndhence some
him by it, as thinking it impossible he infer that he who afterwards proved /;<?«-
should escape out of their hands. itent, at first joined in the blasphemy : but
, - , , ,. r » ^ -I « had that been the case, surely Luke, in so
% If thou art tne king of the Jevisr] As particular a narrative as his, would not
ihisclaim seemed tothemthe most deroga- {,ave omitted it. I therefore rather «on-
iory to the Roman authority, it is no won- ^j^^ ^,y^^^ ^^^^ ^^-^.^^^ that it is what is
der that the .oWrers grounded their msults commonlv called an enallage of numbers,
on this, rather than on bi« professing hira- ^^^^ ^,^^J^ ^eing (as elsewhere) put for
self tne Son of God. ^j^^ singular. (See note f on Mark xiv. 5.
^ One of the malefactors also."] We ar® sect. cxlv. p. 276, and note » on Mark i. SI*
told indeed by Matthew, in the plural num-^ sect. xxxv. Vol. I. p. 198.)
«nd is told he should be that day in paradise. 547
such an awful circumstance as this, dost thou sect.
dare to increase thy crimes with thv dying ^^c-
breath, and to behave thyself so insolenttv in ~~"""
the immediate view of God's righteous tribu- xxii^
41 And we indeed nal ? And we ifidced a.re ji/st/y thus condtmr)itd; ^l
justly ; for we re- r^^ ^^ receive no more ihan zvhat is due for the
cene the due reward^ . . , . , X . .
of our deeds : but notorious Crimes we have committed : but this
this man hath done \7nan'] has done nothing by any means rt??2 2.95, nor
nothmg amiss. \^ there the least insolence or absurdity in that
high claim which he has made, though appear-
ances be for the present so much against it,
42 And he said And^ having thus rebuked his companion, and 42
"etenlSe wt.; ^'^^'^^ his full persuasion of the innocence of
thou comest into thy J«^sus, he then directed his discourse to him,
kingdom. * and said to Jesus ^XooWrx^ upon him w^ith the
humblest and the most contrite regard, Lord^
though this wretch deride thy mission, I firm-
ly believe it ; and I beg that thou wouldst
graciously remember me when thou comest into
that thy kingdom^ to which I doubt not but God
43 And Jesus said will raise thee in spite of death and hell.^ And 43
unto him, Verily, I Jesus. turnincr towards him, said to hi?}i. with
say unto thee. To- ^ ' \ r 1 . t • 1
day Shalt thou be ^ fixture of the greatest dignity and mercy,
with me in para- r(?rz7z// 50^2/ W72?(? f/z^^, and solemnly assure thee
dise. of it as a most certain truth, that This very day
thou shalt be with 7jie in paradise^ sharing the
entertainments of that garden of God, the abode
of happy spirits when separate from the body -^
' When thou comest into thy kingdoon.'] small a space, and which were eminently
Some have inferred from hence, tliat this manifested in his confessing his own guilt,
wia/e/nc?or had learnt something- of Christ in his admonishing his companion for a
in prison, and have urged the possibility crime which he feared would prove fatal
of his having exercised, perhaps, along to him, in his vindicating tTie character of
and deep repentance there, against the sup- Christ, and reposing his confidence in him
position of a sudden change that most have as the Lord of a kingdom beyond the
supposed in this case. But Christ^s king- grave, when his enemies, were triumph-
c/o7?i was now the subject of so much dis- ing over him, and he himself, abandoned
course, that he might, on that day, indeed by most of his friends, was expiring on a
in a few minutes of it, have learnt all that cross. The modesty as well as the faith
was necessary, as the foundation of this of his petition may also deserve our atten*
petition. I cannot therefore but look on tive remark.
this happy man (for such, amidst all the _ ^ Thou shalt be ivith me in paradise.'] Bos
ignominy and tortures of the cross, he has shewn (in his Exercit, Philol. page 49,
surely was) as a glorious instance of tlie 50) that this expression, //«t' ifua £<r«, thou
power as well as sovereignty of Diinne shalt be ivith me, was the language used
grace, which (as many have observed) when inviting guests to an entertainment;
perhaps, taking the first occasion from the and the word paradise originally signified
preternatural darkness, wrought so power- a garden of pleasure, such as those in which
fully as to produce, by a sudden and aston- the eastern monarchs made their magnifi-
ishing growth in his last moments, all the cent banquets. See Raphei Anno*, c'4
yirtijjes which could be crowded into so Xenoph. p. 119.
548 Reflections on the mercij of Christ to the penitent thief,
SECT, and there shall thy departhig soul, as soon as
^^'^' thou hast breathed thy last, immediately begin
to reap the fruits of that faith which breaks
through so dark a cloud, and honours me in
the midst of this infamy and distress.
IMPROVEMENT.
jolin How great and glorious does the Lord Jesus Christ appear in
^'x. the midst of all those dishonours which his enemies were now
'^^'^'^ heaping upon him ! While these rapacious soldiers were divid-
ing the spoils, parting his raime?it among them^ and casting lots
for his vesture^ God was working in all to crown him with a
glory which none could take from him, and to make the lustre
of it so much the more conspicuous by that dark cloud which
now surrounded him.
Mat. His enemies upbraided him as a.Y\ ahando7ied 77iiscrea?7t, desert-
xxvii. e(i bQti^ by Qod and man ; but he (though able to have co772e
39—43 j^^y^^ fro77i the cross in a moment, or by one word from thence
to have st7'uck these insolent wretches dead on the place, and to
have sent their guilty spirits to accompany the fe7ids under
whose influence they were), yet patiently endured all, and was
as a deafman^ who heard not their reproaches, and as adu77ib772an
that opeiieth not his mouth, (Psal. xxxviii. 13.) But as soon
Luke the penitent thief addressed him with that humble supplication,
xxiu.42 the language of repentance, faith, and hope, Lord^ remember me
ivhe7i thou co77iest into thy khigdom^ he immediately hears and
answers him : and in how gracious and remarkable a phrase !
43 This day shalt thou be zvith me in paradise / What a triumph
was here, not only of 7nercy to the dying penitent^ but of the
strongest faith in God, that when to an eye of sense he seemed
to be the most deserted and forgotten by him, and was on every
side beset with the scorn oi the7n that were at ease^ and with the
co72tempt of the proud^ he should speak from the cross as from a
throne^ and undertake from thence, not only to dispense pardonSy
but to dispose of seats z?z paradise !
Most ungrateful and most foolish is the conduct of those who
take encouragement from hence to put off their rej^entance per-
haps to a dying moment : 77iostimgratefid in perverting the ^r^cc
of the Redee7ner into an occasion of renewing their provocations
against him, and hardening their hearts in their impieties : and
77iost foolish to imagine that what ot^r LorddXd in so singular a
circumstance is to be drawn into an ordinary precedent. This
cri77iinal had, perhaps, never heard of the gospel before ; and now
how cordially does he embrace it ? Probably there are few saints
in glory who ever honoured Christ more illustriously than this
dying sinner, acknowledging him to be the Lord of Hfe^ whom
yestis^s mother and other women standi?!^' near the cross, 549
he saw in the agonies of death ; and pleading his cause when his sect.
friends and brethren forsook hJ7n^ and stood afar off, (Compare c^c.
Mat. xxvi. 56, and Luke xxiii. 49.)
But such is the corruption of men's hearts, and such the arti-
fice of Satan, that all other views of him are overlooked, and
nothing remembered, but that he was a notorious offender, who
obtained mercy in his departing moments. The Lord grant that
none who read this story here may be added to the list of those
who, despising the forbearance and long suffering of God, and not
hwwirig that his goodness leads to repentance, have been embol-
dened to abuse this scripture, so as to perish, either without cry-
ing for mercy at all, or crying for it in vain, after having treas-
vred up an inexhaustible store of xvrath, misery, and despair ;
(Rom. ii. 4, 5.)
SECT. CXCL
Jesus, having recommended his mother to the care of John, and
suffered many agonies and indignities on the cross^ expires ;
amazing prodigies attendi?ig his deaths and alarming the con-
sciences of the spectators. Mat. XXVIL 45 — 54. Mark XV.
33—39. Luke XXIII. 44 — 48. John XIX. 25 — 30.
John XIX. 25. JOHN XIX. 25.
"Vrow there stood AND while he suffered all these insults and sect.
J.^ by the cross of Jl. sorrows, there stood near the cross of Jesus, xci.
Jesus, his mother, ^_ ,. ' ^ ,,. ^, , - ^ '^ r y
and his mother's sis- Mary lus mother ,^ and his mother s sister (whose ^^^^_^
ter. Mary the iu//eof name was also Mary J, who was [the ivife] c/'xix.^S
Cleophas, and Mary Qleopas,^ and 3Iary Magdalene ; and with them
* His mother."] Neither her own danger, Andreas Cretensls, a writer of the seventh
nor the sadness of the spectacle, nor the century, does indeed tell us she died with
reproaches and insults of the people, could John at Ephesus, many years after this,
restrain her from performing the last office in an extreme old age; and it appeai-s,
of duty and tenderness to her Divine Son from a letter of the council of Ephesus in
on the cross- Grotius justly observes that the ffth century, that it was then believed
it was a i^oble instance of fortitude and she was buried there. But tliey pretend
zeal. Now a ^toorc/ (according to Simeon's to shew her sepulchre at Jerusalem, and
prophecy, Luke ii. 35) struck through her many ridiculous tales are forged concern-
tender heart, and pierced her very soul ; ing her death, and assiimption, or being
and perhaps the extremity of her sorrows taken up into heaven, of which the best
might so overwhelm her spirits, as to ren- Popish authors themselves appear heartily
der her incapable of attending the-ye/jz/Zc/zre, ashamed. See Calmet's Dictionary, Vol.
which we do not find that she did ; nor do II. p 141.
we indeed meet with any thing after this ^ His mother^ s sister, Mary {the i?//e] of
concerning her in the sacred story, or in Cleopas.'] It is not determined in the oW^-
early antiquity ; except that she continued inal whether she was the nx-ife, or mother,
among tiie disciples after our Lord's ascen- or daughter of Cleopas ; but critics gener-
sien, which Luke observes. Acts i. 14. ally suppose she was /«> wZ/e ; and that hp
550 he recommends his mother to the care of Johtim
SECT, also John, his intimate friend, the relater of
^^ this story.
Tohn Jens therefore seehig his mother^ and John 26 When Jesus
xi\.26 the disciple zvhom he peculiarly loved^ standing therefore saw his
/ r J 1 , u .u n^other, and the dis-
near^ his affectionate care and regard to both ^ipie standing by
so wrought in his heart in the midst of all his whom he loved, he
agonies, that he said to his mother^ Woman^^ be- ^^^^^ unto his moth-
hold thy son ; consider that dear friend of mine ^^^^ ]^^^''''' ^'^''^^
as thy own child, and treat him with the same
affection and care which thou wouldest shew
27 to me under that near relation.*^ And then 37 Then saith he
he said to that disciple^ Behold thy mother^ and to the disciple, Be-
entertain towards her that reverence and love *''^^'^ ^^^y mother.
v..hkh a child owes to a worthy parent ; for I ,^^fi™rpletokhS
now solemnly with my dying breath bequeath unto his own Aowe.
her to thy care. And from that hour that dis-
ciple took her home to his own \house\ and main-
tained her most cheerfully and respectfully, as
if she had indeed been his own mother.
Mat. And Jesus having hung upon the cross about Mat. XXVII. 45.'
xxii. three hoars, it was noiv near noon, or, accord- Now[Luke, it was
A.K . 1 TT • 1 r • 1 ♦ about the Sixth hour,
ingto the J ewish manner 01 expressing the time, and] from the sixth
it was about the sixth hour ; and from the sixth hour there was dark-
hour^ there was an amazing and supernatural "^^^^J'^^^.^'Jjj^J^"*^
darkness over the rvhole land of Judea till the r m a r k"xv. Ss!
ninth hour^ or till three o'clock in the after- Lukexxiii. 44.]
■was also called Alpheus, and was the choose to do, to avoid exposing her to the
father, 2LS this Mary was the tnothery of abuses of the populace, by a discovery of
yames, and ^oses, and Simon, and yudas-, her near relation to him. But luor/ian was
•who are therefore called our Lora*s brethren a title he before had used in speaking' to
or kinsmen. (Mat. xiii. 55) See r.ote « his mother where no such caution was nec-
cn John xiv. 22, p. 441. Grotius indeed essary ; and it was frequently applied in
thinks that Cleopas was her father, and ancient times, even to persons that were
Alpheus her husbajid. After all, we can- the most respected. See t\ote '^ on John
not certainly determine it ; but, like most ii. 4, Vol. I. p. 137.
other undeterminable points, it is a matter d Behold thy son.'\ Some have explained
of no great importance. I know none these words as if they only sig'nified, " J?e-
■who has set it in a plainer and juster light hold a person who will carry it to thee as
than Dr. £dwards, Exercit. part ii. N°. 1, thy son, and will take care of thee " But
p. 163, Ijf seq. as the tenderness of Jesus for his mother
<= Said to his mother. Woman."} We have is expressed in the 7iext verse, in the direc-
observed elsewhere that Joseph probably tion that he g-ives to John to treat her as
was dead some time before (compare note *» his viother, it seems more natural to under-
on John ii. 1, Vol. I. p. 136, and nofe ^ on stand this former exhortation as expressive
John vi. 42, Vol. I. p. 450) ; and as Jesus of his kindness for John, and so take it as
now shewed the tender concern he had for a direction given to his ■ynother \o re^&r^.
Az5 wofAer in committing her to the care of him as her son with all the affection of a
John, so this concern that he expressed tender parent.
for her support must have affected her no " There luas darkness over the nx^hole
less than if he had called her 'mother; latid.'] There are so many places in which
which some have thoug-ht he might not jun signifies a particular country, and not
Jesus cries out of Go(Ps forsaking hlm» 551
noon ; durJng which time it was as dark as if sect,
there had been a total eclipse of the sun, though ^^^^•
in a natural way it was impossible, as it was ~^
46 And about the now full moon.* A)id this darkness, with ^^^.-^^
ninth hour Jesus cri- -which the face of nature seemed overspread, 45
edwith_a loud voice, ,.^,^j emblem of the darkness and dis-
saying \h.\o\, EloiJ, { . .ii'i^it ^ c
lama sabachthani ? tress of Spirit With which the J^ord ot nature
that is to say [being was then overwhelmed, and with which he
mterprcted ], My struggled in the solemn silence, and unutter-
hast' thou forsaken ^hle bitterness of his soul. But about the ninth
me ? [Mark XV. hour^ jfesus cried with a hud voice^ saying in
2^-3 the Hebrew, or rather in the Syriac language,
Eloiy Eloi^ lama sabachthani ? s that is^ being
interpreted mto other words. My God^ my Gody
why hast thou forsaken me ? which was as if he
had said, O my heavenly Father, wherefore
dost thou add to all my other sufferings those
"which arise from the want of a comfortable
sense of thy presence ? Wherefore dost thou
thus leave me alone in the combat, destitute of
those sacred consolations, which thou couldest
easily shed abroad upon my soul, and which
tie ijhole earth, that I have chosen here to Profane History of the World, has advanced
follow our translation ; and the rather, be- some important considerations to prove,
cause the farther we suppose this darkness that it is at least very uncertain whether
to extend, the more unaccountable it is, the Jevjish months, according to the Mo-
that no Heathen ivriters should have men- saic institution, began with a ne'ui moon,
tioned it except Phlegon ; if he is indeed and consequently whether their passover,
to be excepted. A darkness over the whole which was fixed to theyy«r?ee;;rA(/qy of the
^arf A at once must have been preternatural frst month, must always happen aX fidl
at any time ; and it is morally impossible, tnoon. But he allows that, towards the
that a multitude of accounts of it should decline of their state, it did. And indeed
not, even by a tradition of many hundred yoseplnis, who, being a Jewish priest, is an
years, have been transmitted to posterity, unexceptionable witness in this case,seems
What is said of the Chinese chro?iicles men- to put it beyond all possibility of doubt;,
tioning it, must be very uncertain ; and as expressly asserting, that the day ofexpia^
for Josephus, his omission of it, I think Dr. tion^ and consequently thexr o\.\\er feasts.
More with reason accounts for it, by his liscre reckoned by the age of the vioon.
unwillingness to mention a fact wliich had (Joseph. Antiq. lib iii. cap. 10, § 3. LiK^ln
so favourable an aspect on Christianity : tx //«v(g>' xa7* cre^.«y«y.)
and the Jews would, no doubt, disguise it c Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani ?'\ It is
as much as they could, and perhaps might evident these are Syro Chaldaic, and not
persuade him, and others, who heard the properly Hebrew words; for in the origin-
report of it at some distance of time or al of Psal. xxii. 1, it is not, as here, >n*7N
place, that it was only a dark cloud, or a inSx '•jnpatt' nnS, but ijrpasf rxh >Vn ^Sk
thick mist, which the followers of Jesus had Dr. Edwards thinks our Lord in his agony
exaggerated, because it happened when repeated the words tv:ice, with some little
their Master died. Such representations variation, saying at ene time, Eloi, and at
are exceeding natural to hearts corrupted the other Eli. This is possible ; and if it
by infidelity. were otherwise, I doubt not but Mark has
^ As it was now full moon.] Mr. Shuck- given us the word exactly, and Matthew a
ford, in his preface to the third volume of kind of contraction of it, See Edwards's
h\s excellent Connection of the Sacred and Exercit. p. 193 — 196.
VOL. 2. 71
552 The Jews pretend that he xvas calling for Elijah.
SECT, thou knowest I have done nothing to for-
cxci. feit r^i
•^ Jesus by the use of these words, borrowed 47 [And] some of
xxvii ^^"^ ^^ beginning of the twenty second psalm, them that stood [bv]
47 gave the spectators a useful hint that the whole l,''^'^' '^''^^^ they
of it referred to him ; and it might well have [Behold] this Zt
led them to observe how many passages of it calleth for Elias.
had then a literal accomplishment in him : but [Mark XV. :}>s\
if this was any part of the design, it was not
apprehended by them ; for the Jews took them
in a different sense, and some of them that stood
by there^ hearing [that] sound of Eli, said m a
scornful and insulting manner, Behold^ this
[jnan], who has been used to talk as if he had
earth and heaven at comm.and, resolves to keep
up the air of the Messiah to the last, and there-
fore calls for Elijah his forerunner, as if he had
any authority to bring that great prophet down
from paradise to his assistance.^
John Immediately after this doleful cry, Jesus John XIX. 2a.
six. knowing that all the grievous and terrible things ^^ter this, Jesus
28 he had to suffer in the way to death, xvere now 'V^.o^^''"^ ^^^^ all
upon the point of being perfectly accomplished, '^"^' "'''"'^' "''
and finding himself parched with a violent
Jfhy hast thou forsaken me .?] The pious his constant favour, and high approbation of
and judicious Lord Chief Justice Hateh^s what he was now doing), was as necessary
a strange reflection on these words ; " We as it was that Christ 'should suffer at all.
may (says he) with reverence conceive, For had God communicated to his Son on
that at the time of this bitter cup, the soul the cross those strong coiisolations which he
o{ our blessed Redeemer was for the pres- lias given to some of the martyrs in their
cnt overshadowed with so much astonish- tortures, all sense of pain, and consequently
nient and sorrow, as to overpower and all real pain, would have been swallowed
cover the distinct sense of the reason of up ; and the violence done to his body, not
his sufferings, at least in some measure affecting the soul, could not properly have
and degree.'- f Hale's Contemplations, heen C'i\\&& suffering.
Vol. I. p. 72.) But the sense given in the
paraphrasexs much more natural. Thus in 5 And some of them that stood by, &c ]
a most humble and aff^ectionate manner he Whether this was, as Dr. Echvards
remmds his heavenly Father, that he was fExercit. p. 196—203), and Mr. Cradock
onlv by imputation a sinner, and had him- (Harm, part ii. p. 256), suppose the mis-
self done nothing to incur his displeasure, take of some Hellenist Jews, who did not
I choose not, with Dr. More (in his The- understand the Syro Chaldaic language ;
ological Works, p. 292), to render it Hoii^ or whether it proceeded from his be'ing
Jar, or to what degree, hast thou forsaken raised so high, that, amidst the wide noise
me / because though this woidd be a just around him, they did not distinctly hear;
version of nnS, the Greek word /va.']/, which I do no pretend to sav. Perhaps the mat-
answers to it in Matthew, is not liable to ice of those who did hear whaj: he said,
such ambiguity. I conclude with adding, might misrepresent his mwrds, to prevent
^^i V^ ^"^^'^"^^^*^" ^^^•^''-'•^"^*^"'^*^°^'^^^ any serious reflections on the psalm from
Father's presence (though there was, and which they were taken, and to expose hint
c^uld not but be,a rational apprehension of to farther contempt.
In his thirsty they give him vinegar to drink* ^53
complished, that the drought, as the consequence of what he had so sect.
scripture mv^hx. be jQj^g endured both in mind and body, that the cxci.
fuimied, saith, I ^.^^-^^^^^^^ ^„-^./^/ 1^, f^ipii,^ (Psal. xxii.' 15, and —
Ixix. 21), where the Messiah is described as ^l^^^
crying out, " My tongue cleaveth to my jaws,
and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to
drink," to shew that he endured all that had
been foretold concerning him, -said^ I thirst,
29 Now there was Now there was set^ as usual on such occasions, 29
set a vessel full of V in- ^ vessel full of vines^ar near the cross \^ and im-
eq-ar: fand straierht- »• » i • i* • i • i,' ^ r
wavoneofthem ran, mediately upon his mentioning his thirst, one of
and took a spiuig-e, them ran^ and took a spiinge^ and filled [it'] with
and filled/? with vin- this vinegar ; and putting it round \ci stalk of^
eg-ar ] and put it up- f . ^^.Yi\zh they had fastened on the top of a
on nyssoo [on a -/ . ■' ' • . , . '^ , .
reed], and put it to kind ot cane, or large reed^ they put it up to his
his mouth, [and gave mouth^ and m a contemptuous manner gave it
XV. 36.—]* ^^ stood by, said^ Let [him] alone^ and let us see ^J^'"/
Mat. XXVII 49. whether Elijah^ whom he has just been calling
The rest said, [Let upon, zuill come and save him from the cross ;
whetiier Elias wdl [^"^] hideed he must take hi fu dowm quickly, if
come to save him, at all. So little were their hearts affected with
[ant^take him down.] this preternatural darkness, which had contin-
[MarkXV.— 36] ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ hours ; and thus cruelly did
they insult him, even in his expiring moments,
which had been most inhuman, though he had
really been the vilest malefactor.
John XIX. 30— Whenjesiis therefore had received the vinegar., John
When Jesus there- and thus had perfectly fulfilled the prophecies xix.30
fore had received relating to his sufferings, he said.. It is finished;
the vmegar, he said, i.^^ iru-iT -^.^u
It is finished. ^he important work, lor which 1 came into the
world, is now completed, the demands of the
law are satisfied, the justice of God is atoned,
Luke xxiti. 46. and my sufferings are now at an end. And Luke
And [when he had crying out again with a great and strong voice., xxiii.
cried again with a ^^^^a^^^ plainl'y shewed that much of the strength ^^
loud voice,] he said, ^ » - • i • , • / • i v
Father into thy ^^ nature was yet in nim ; he said., with a live-
bands I commend ly faith and holy joy, Father., for so I will still
call thee, though that claim is thus derided by
mine enemies, I am now coming to thee, and
into thy hands I commit my departing iS/^ir^V, de-
positing it with thee as a sacred trust, which I
^ A vessel full of vinegar.'] It is well haps therefore this vinegar was set here
known that vinegar and viater (which for their use, or for that of the crucified
mixture was called posca) was the com- persons, whose torture would naturally
mon drink of the Roman soldiers ,• per- make tliera thirsty.
dS4> Jesus dismisses his spirit^ and the earth trembles,
SECT, am confident thou wilt receive and keep. And my Spirit : and hav-
c'i^i when he had said thus, declining his heady he ^"g" said thus, he
7— voluntarily dismissed or delivered up his Spirit, [1'!^'};,''"^^^ ^Z
Luke I'll i y > head, and gave up
xxiii. ^"<^ expired. » the ghost.] [Mat.
46 And behold, God by a very awful and mirac- XX VII. 50. Mark
Mat. ulous interposition, avowed the relation which ^'J^J' -^^"^ ^^^
^^^^j his Son claimed, and evidently appeared to mat. XXVII. 51.
take the charge of that dear and excellent Spirit And behold [Luke,
which Jesus so solemnly recommended to him : "^^^'^^ ^'^^ ^4" ^^^
for immediately upon his death, [ruhile] the sun of the temple^ was
zvas still darkened, as was observed before (ver. rentintwain[LuKE,
45), the veil of the temple, which separated be- in the midst], from
tween the holy and the most holy place, though ^^^ ^^P ^^ ^^^ ^^^^
made of the richest and strongest tapestry, wa-y
miraculously rent in two in the midst, from the
top to the very bottom ; so that while the priest
was ministering at the golden altar, it being the
time of evening sacrifice, the sacred oracle was
laid open to full view:"^ God thereby declaring,
as it were, the abolition of the whole Mosaic
ritual, which depended on a distinction between
those two parts of the temple ; and intimating
that a passage was opened into the most holy
1 He dismissed or delivered up his Spirit, commonly observed ; Inasmuch as he did
and expired] The evangelists use different not use xkis poiver to quit his body, as soon
•words in expressing our Lord'*s death, as ever it was fastened to the cross, leav-
which I a little wonder that our translators ingonly an insensible corpse to the cruelty
render in tlie same manner, he yielded, or of his murderers, but continued his abode
gave up the ghost Mark and Luke say in it, with a steady resolution, as long as
i^i7r\)iu(n he expired ; John, tsr-jigi^aiii to it was proper ; and then retired from it
<wvivfjt.A, he yielded up his Spirit ; but Mat- with a majesty and dignity never known,
thew's language is yet more singular, or to be known, in any other death ; dying,
tt<p»}ci T5 'wvivfxct, he dismissed his Spirit (as if I may so express it, like the Prt7ice of
the same word A<pin/uc is used. Mat. xiii. life.
36; Mark iv. 36; xi. 6, andelsewhere). Now
this expression seems admirably to suit oj^r »" While the priest was ministering at
Lord*s words, John x. 18. No tnan taketh ony the golden altar, ksfc.'] This being so high
life from me, but Hay it doiun of myself 8cc. a day, it is probable that Caiaphas himself
(seethe paraphrase ^r\6.notei\\eve, p. 209), might now be performing the solemn act
shewing, as the strong cry which so much oi burning incense]nsthe?oYe i\\Q veil; which
impressed the ce;z?uno« did, that he (/zW by if he did, it is inexpressibly astonishing
the voluntary act of his own mind, accord- that his obdurate heart should not be im-
ing to the poiuer received from, the Father, pi'essed with so awful and significant a
and in a way peculiar to himself, by which phenotnenon. There is no room to doubt,
he alone of all men that ever existed, could but many of the oi\ver priests, who had a
have continued alive even in the greatest hand in Christ's death, saw the pieces of
tortures, as long as he pleased, or have re- ,the veil; which, considering its texture,
tired from the body whenever he thought and the other circumstances, must as fully
fit. Which view of the case, by the way, convince them of the reality of this extra-
suggests an illustration of the love of Christ ordinary fact as if they had actually been
znanifested in his death, beyond what is present when it was rent.
The graves open, and many bodies of saints arise, S55
torn ; and the earth place by the blood of Jesus, which was now sect.
did quake, and the poured out on Mount Calvary. Ajid at the *^^"-
xV^%T^'l^''ke same time, to increase the terror, the ^^^th "^
XXIII. 45.] trembled even to the very spot of ground on j^j^^jf
which the temple stood, and several of the rocks
in the neighbouring parts zvere torn asunder ;"
52 And the graves A7id some of tfie to?nbs there zvere opened by 52
were opened, and ^j^^ earthquak'^ : and^ which was much more
Ss '^hrch Ipt! astonishing, a little while after, while themon-
arose. uments continued unclosed, inaiiy bodies of
those holy 7nen xvho were sleeping- there were
53 And came out raised from the dust of death,° And came 53
of the graves after ^^f ^r f/^^ f^^j^i^^ ^A^^ ^/^^ resurrection of [Je-
his resurrection, and -.'^ , , »• . t ^ ^111*
went into the holy •^"*J' ^^'^^ entered into J erusalem, the holy city^
city, and appeared and appeared unto many ;P attesting the truth
unto many. of that important fact, and declaring their own
rescue from the grave, as a kind of first fruits
5 The roch nvere torn asunder.'] Mr. Flem- former ages risen, David should have been
TH^ tells us (inhis C*Arj/tf?o/o^j',Vol. II. p.97, excluded; and since Acts ii. 34, proves
98), that a deist lately travelling through that he did not now rise, he concludes,
Palestine was conwrfer/, by viewing one of that the saints ivho rose were some who
these rocks, which still remains torn asuti' died but a little before, perhaps such as
der, not in the weakest place, but cross the had believed in Christ, and were well
veins ; a plain proof that it was done in a known to surviving disciples. It was to be
supernatural manner. Sandys, in his ex- sure a most surprising event, and Dr.
cellent Travels, p. 164, has given an accu- Whitby supposes, John v. 25, was a proph-
rate description and delineation of this ecy relating to it.
Jissure ; and Mr. Maundrel in \ns journey ? And came out of the tombs after the resvr'
from Aleppo to Jerusalem, p. 73, 74, tells rection of Jesus, 8cc.] Consequently it
us, that it is about a span wide at the up- seems that the tombs stood open all the sab-
per part, and two spans deep ; after which bath, when the law would not allow any
it closes, but opens again below (as may attempt to close them. What an astonish-
be seen in another chapel below contigu- ing spectacle ! especially if their resurrec-
ous to the side of Calvary), and runs down tion was not instantaneously accomplished,
to an unknown depth in the earth. He but by such slow degrees, as that repre-
adds, that every man's sense and reason sented in Ezeiiel's vision. (Ezek. xxxvii.)
' must convince him that it is a natui-al and Yet I do not take upon me to say that it
genuine breach. was so ; for it is unprofitable too particu-
° Ma7iy bodies of holy men tuere raised."] larly to conjecture on such circumstances
That ingenious writer Mr. Fleming, who which are not recorded. For this reason
abounds with a vast number of peculiar also I pretend not to say what became of
conjectures, thinks that these were some these persons ; though, as one can hardly
of the most eminent .ycnzfs mentioned in imagine they either immediately returned
the Old Testament ,- and that they appear- to their graves, or that they continued to
ed in some extraordinary splendour, and live on earth (because it is only said, they
were known by revelation, as Eve's orig- appeared to many J, it seems most natural
inal and relation was to Adam, or Moses to imagine they ascended into heaven with,
and Elijah to the disciples at the transfg- or after, our Lord ,- perhaps from some
uration. He ventures particularly to con- solitude, to which they might be directed
jecture who they were ; but does not men- to retire during the intermediate days, and
tion David among them. CFlemiiig of the to wait in devout exercises fortheir change;-
First Resurrection, p. 29 — 38.) But Mr. for surely, had they ascended in the view
Pierce (on Colas, p. 68) maintains, that it is of others, the memory of such a fact could
very improbable that, had other saints oi not have been lost.
S56 The terrified spectators are coivolnced he is the Son of God,
SECT, of his power over death, which should at
^^^^' length accomplish a general resurrection.
Mark rvhen the Roman centurion^ who stood Mark XV. 39.
XV. 39 0^^^* against him^ and guarded the execution, ^^^} when the cen-
saw that he so cried out with such strength of o^"^'^^^^j^i,\^g^ ^\^^m,
voice, and such firm confidence in God, even saw that he so cried
at the moment when he expired ; \^and'\ also out, and gave up the
saw ivhat was [then'] done in so miraculous a ^'^^st, [Luke, and
- •- J . . saw what was done,
manner, m those amazmg prodigies that at- he glorified God,say-
tended his death ; he glorified God by a free ing* Certainly this
confession of his persuasion of the innocence ^'^^ ^ ^ , righteous
r 1 . >t • 7 ; . • , man,] truly this man
of Jesus, saying, Certainly tins ruas a righteous was the Son of God.
7nan ; [yea,] notwithstanding all the vile re- [Mat.XXVII 54—.
proaches which have been cast upon him, truly ^uke xxiii. 47.]
this man was what he declared himself to be.
Mat. even the Son of God himself.^ Atid the sold- Mat. XXVII.—
^^^'^' iers also that attended the centurion, even ^4. And they that
they that were with him guarding Jesus on the ::,7hin.^i'esus,'sa"w
cross, seeing the earthquake, and those other the earthquake, and
things zvhich zuere now done, feared greatly, and those things that
said in like manner. Truly this Jesus of Naza- were done, and they
1 1 1 1 "^ 1 • I . 1 feared greatly, say-
reth, whom we nave been thus msultmg and ing, Truly this was
murdering, was the Son of God ; and his heav- the Son of God.
enly Father will certainly avenge his quarrel
very terribly on us, and on the whole nation of
the Jews, who have delivered him to us.
^"m' AndaUthemultitude-.thatwerecometogether,^^^ll^^^^'^i„lf;
48 on this remarkable occasion, to see this doleful that came togetlier
I Certainly this v:as a righteous man., &c.] ially storms and earthquakes, sometimes
The most learned Mr. Wasse of Avnho attended tlie death of extraordiary per-
(whose death since the publication of my sons, peculiarly dear to the gods ; and,
jlrst vohntie is an irreparable loss to the among other passages, mentions that of
commonwealtli of letters) has a. dissertation Plutarch, in which he tells us, that when
on these nvords of the centurion, in the first Ptolemy had crucified Cleomenes, while
number of the Bibliotheca Literaria, to the body hung dead on the cross, a large
wliich I am indebted for several hints in serpent wound itself round his face, and de-
the paraphrase on these verses ,• but I have fended it from birds of prey ; from whence
ventured to depart from him, in not entire- the Egyptians concluded he was a hero
ly incorporating Mat. xxvii. 54, with Mark more than mortal, and a son of the gods.
XV. 39, and Luke xxiii. 47, as the two latter See £lsn. Observ. Vol I p. 126, 127.
only mention the effect of this surprising r All the multitude.'] That is, great mul-
sight on the centurion, while Matthew titudes ; for it is no way necessary to sup-
gives us also an account of the effect it had pose that every individual person present
upon the *o/i'//>r5, who very probably might was thus impressed. The conviction pro-
repeat the words their officer had spoke but duced by these prodigies undoubtedly made?
just before, in expressing their sentiments way for the conversion of such a miiltitude
on this occasion. I shall only add, that by the preaching of the a/?o*f/e*, on thede-
-E/5;^er, in a very learned 7zo?eon this place, scent of \.he Spirit, which was hut seven
has shewn that some of the Heathens had a ■weeks after, when these things were fresh
notion among them, \X\ix\. prodigies, espec- in their memories. Acts ii. 41.
defections on the circumstances of the death of Christ, 557
tothat sight, behold- spectacle^ even some of those who but a little sect.
ingthe ihmg-s which i-j^fore had been insulting him in his dvintr *'''^''-
•were done, smote . i ^l ^l ^i ■ it' ,
their biTasts,and re- agonies, when they saw the things which xvere ^^^^^
turned. done^ returned^ beating their breasts for sorrow ^xiii.
and remorse ; in terrible expectation that some 43
sad calamity would speedily befall them and
their country, for the indignities and cruelties
they had offered to a person for whom God
had expressed so high a regard, even in his
greatest distress.
IMPROVEMENT.
And surely we, when we return from such a view of it as L"l^e
this, have reason to smite upon our breasts too, and to be most ^g^*^"
deeply affected with what we have heard and seen in this lively
description. Let us set ourselves as with the mother of Jesus^ J^hn
and the beloved disciple^ at the foot of the cross ; and see w heth- 25^26
er there be any sorrow like unto his sorrow^ wherezvith the Lord
afflicted him in the day of his fierce anger (Lam. i. 12). Well L")5e
might the sun grow pale at the sight ; well might the earth trem- ^"4^
ble to support it ! How obdurate must the hearts of those sin-
ners be who could ynake a mock of all his anguish, and sport
themselves with his dving groans ! But surely the blessed an- ^^t*
gels who were now, though in an invisible crowd, surrounding ^^^"'
the accursed tree, beheld him with other sentiments ; admiring
and adoring the various virtues which he expressed in every
circumstance of his behaviour ; and which, w hile this sun of
righteousness was setting, gilded and adorned all the horizon.
Let us likewise pay our homage to them, and observe with ad- J?l^*^
m\Y2itnm h\s tenderness to his surviving parent; his meekness ^^^^^
under all these injuries and provocations ; his steady faith in 28-30
God in an hour of the utmost distress ; and his concern to ac-
complish all the purposes of his life, before he yielded to the
stroke of death.
Yet with what amazement must the holy angels hear that cry Mat.
from the Son of God^ from the darling of heaven. My God^ my ^^^ "•
God^ why hast thou forsaken me I Let not any of the children of
God wovidi^x if their heavenly Father sometimes withdraw from
them the sensible and supporting manifestations of his presence,
when Christ himself was thus exercised ; and let them remem-
ber i\\2it faith never appears with greater glory than when, in lan-
guage like this, it bursts through a thick cloud, and owns, the
God of Israel^ and the Saviour^ even while he is a God that hideth
' himself hom us (Isa. xlv. 15.) May we, in our approaching
combat with the ki?ig of terrors^ find him enervated by the death
of our dear Lord, who thus conquered even when he fell ! May ^^-j
we thus breathe out our willing and composed spirits into our 46
5SS Many pious women stand and behold him on the cross,
SECT. Father^s handsy with a language and faith like his, as knowing'
c^ci. -whom we believed^ and being persuaded that he is able to keep what
"~""~ we commit to him until that day ! (2 Tim. i. 12.)
^v\\. With pleasure may we survey the awful tokens by which God
51-53 owned his dying Son^ and wiped away the infamy of his cross.
The veil is now rent by the death of Jesus ; let us be encour-
aged to come boldly to the throne of grace ^ and to draw near to the
holiest of ally into which he has entered xvith his own blood (Heb.
iv. 16 ; ix. 12). May God render the knowledge of the cross
54i of Christ the blessed means of shaking the consciences of men
with powerful convictions^ and of raising them from the death of
sin to a life of happiness ! And may we be so planted together in
the likeness of his death^ that we may at length also be planted in
the likeness of his resurrection / (Rom. vi. 5.)
SECT. CXCIL
While Christ continues hanging on the cross, his side is pierced^ but
his legs are not broken : Joseph begs the corpse, and lays it
rvith respect in his sepulchre. Mat. XXVII. 35 — 61. Mark
XV. 40, to the end. Luke XXIII. 49, to the end. John
XIX. ^\,to the end.
Luke XXIII. 49. Luke XXIII.49.
s^cT. A^^I^ v/hile our Lord was thus expiring on A ND all his ac-
cxcii. n. the cj-ogg ^11 f^is familiar acquai?itance f^ quaintance,and
___^ .,-, ', 'ii 1 r r many J women,
mmgled themselves with the crowd or specta- [Mark, who, when
xxiii ^^^^f ^^^ stood at a distance, viewing these he was in Galilee,
juQ thi?i^s with weepinff eyes and sympathizino; ^^l^o^^^ }^^^ ,^^^
^^ , *1 J r Jl- ^ *u ° ministered untohiin,
hearts : a?id of this number there were many ^„^-j foUowed him
pious vjomen,^ xvho had attended hi??! when he from Galilee, stood
was in Galilee, and had there ministered to hi??!, afar off, beholding
and liberally assisted him and his disciples xxviL sf ' mI'^rk
with their substance ; (compare Luke viii. 2, 3, xv. 40 41 ]
Vol. I. p. 334, 335) [and] had now follozved
himfro?n Galilee to Jerusalem, where they had
» Matty pious ivomen."] 1 hope I shall haiig-hty and senseless coritempt which the
give no offence by saying, what I am sure pride of we«, often irritated by those vexa-
I say very seriously, that the frequent tions to which their own irregular passions
mention which is made in the evangelists^ have exposed them, has in all ages affect-
of the generous and courageous zeal of ed to throw on ^Aafse^ which, probably in
some pious ivomen in the service of Christ, the siglit of God, constitute by far the bet-
and especially of the faithful and resolute ter half of mankind ; and to whose care
constancy with which they attended him and tenderness the wisest and best of men
in these last scenes of his sufferings, might generally owe and ascribe much of the
very possibly be intended to obviate that daily comfort and enjoyment of their lives.
The legs of Jesus are not broken : 559
Mat XXVII, 56. constantly attended on his preachingin the tern- sect.
Among which was pie, nor would they leave him in this great and *^^^"'
TnTM^rTiotz:. la^t t"^ = -^"'r^ '"I""" */'"'= r^ ^'"'■^ ^"^- ^
er of James [the ctaiene, aJid Mary the mother oj James the less xxyii.
Iess],and[of] Joses, and of J OSes ; fl;z^ there was also the mother of 5Q>
z"b d^*^ »"^°['-n °^ ^^^ apostles James and John, whom we have so
[and Salome, and often mentioned as the sons of Zebedee the fish-
many other women, erman ;^ and Salome silso,'^ and many other zeal-
which came up with Qus ^nd affectionate xvomen^ -who came up
TMar'k xv'^^0 — "^^^^l^ l^^^ ^^ this passover at Jerusalem, and who
41.] had the courage to attend him, even w^hen his
apostles themselves had forsaken him and fled.
John XIX. 31. Then^ as the day was drawing to a close, the Jo'^f^
The Jews therefoije, y^^jg were very solicitous, because itxvas now ^^'
preparation, that the ^^^ preparation for the sabbath, that the bodies
bodies should not re- might not remain all m^tupon the cross, which
main upon the cross their law expressly forbade (Deut. xxi. 22,
(L'thattbbthd^ 23) ; and more especially they were concerned
was an high day,) that this profanation might not happen on the
besought Pilate that sabbathday (for that sabbath, being the first
broken Sid"?l5?the^ ^^^^^ followed the passover, was a great day
might be taken away, of peculiar solemnity) :^ they went therefore
and entreated Pilate that he would send an or-
der to the soldiers, who were watching the
crucified persons, that their legs might be brok-
en, the more effectually to dispatch them, if
they were not quite dead, and [that'] they might
32 Then came the then be taken axvay.^ And Pilate upon this 32
soldiers, and brake g^ye orders that it should accordingly be done :
^ And the another of the son^ of Zebedee'] reason to conclude they were the same.
Though the construction of the original be (Compare Mark xvi. 1.)
dubious, yet I think it very rational to con- , ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^ ^ ^ ,^
elude diat this moMerof Me .o..o/ZeMee, ^^,^^ ^^^ Dr. ^r/./ii;; in his/,ar.7/,W. has
orof >me. the greater ^nd ^ohn, ^^s a. .^ell observed) not only a .aMaf^i but the
different person from the mother oi James ^^^^^^ ^ „f ^^^^^^^ \j unleavened bread,
the less and Joses ;hoth as the sons of Zeb. ^^.^^ ^^j^^^^^ ^1^^^ reckoned Uie wei. to
.c/e., though such distrngmshed friends of ^^^^^^^^. ^^^ ^,/^ the day for presenting
Christ are never called A., brethren, as ^^d offe ri n g the .A.a>/«ei corn, so that it
James and Joses are (Mat xm 55, and ^^^ -^^j^^J ^ fre^/e solemnity. See note *»
Mark VI. o. Vol. I. p. 40o) and as some ^^ Luke vi. 1, Vol. I. p. 280.
scriptures plamly mtimate that no more *■
than tv^o of the apostles were the sons of " Might be taken away.'] It was custom-
Zebedee. (See Mat. x. 2 ; xxvi. 37;Mark ary, as bishop Pearson fon the Creed,]*.
iii. 17.) 218) has abundantly proved, to let the
" And Salome'] This Salome, who is bodies of persons who had been executed
mentioned here by Mark, is commonly conr/^ue o« Me cro.y^w or .y^a-^w till they were
supposed to be the mother of Zebedee' s chil- eaten up by birds of prey : but as this was
dren mentioned by Matthew : but as it is forbidden to the Jews, the Rom.an go'ver-
expressly said there were majiy other wo- "ors probably used to oblige them by per-
vien present, she might possibly be some mitting such bodies as belonged to them i»
other disciple, and there is no sufficient be buried,
VOL. 2. 72
560 But his side is pierced*
SECT, the soldiers therefore^ who guarded the execu- the legs of the first,
cxcii. tion, came and brake the legs of the first male- ^"^^ of the other
— factor, or of him that hung nearest the place ^^j^^^^j^^" ^^'^^^^^^^
xix.32 '^^h^^^ they had been sitting ; and then passing
by Jesus, who hung in the middle, they went
and brake the legs of the other who was crucifi-
33 edwith him. But coming afterwards to Jesus^ :^^ But when they
they did not break his legs^ as they saxp it was came to Jesus, and
needless, since it was plain he was already dead; air'Iad^^^'thr if-^k'^
and they were now impressed with some degree noUiis^legs.^^ ^^ ^
of reverence even to his corpse, by the amazing
34 prodigies which they had justnow seen. But yet 34 But one of tlve
one of the soldiers had so much boldness and in- soldiers with a spear
humanity, that he pierced h is side 7vith «lonff lance P^^/"^.^^ ^ ^}\ s'-^^»
^ J T-'i-T-i 1- 1-1 1 , ' 7. and forth witli came
or spear ^ which he had m his hand ; andimmedi- thereout blood and
ately there came outoi the wound both blood and water.
-water mingled with it -f which made it plainly
appear that, had he been living, the wound
would have been mortal, having reached his
very heart ; and consequently put it out of all
doubt that he was really dead, before he was
taken down from the cross.
35 ^7Z<^ as this was so important, and indeed so 35 And he that
fundamental a point,s it may not be improper saw It, bare record,
to add, that it was one who saxu \it'\ who has T^ ^''' ^'T^i'''^ ''^
7 r^,. -I ^ ^. , , ,^ -• , true: andheknow-
bore \this\ testimony^ and recorded 30 remarka- eth that he saith
ble a circumstance ; and therefore his witness true, that ye might
is undoubtedly true: and now he is writing this Relieve.
he solemnly declares that heknoxvs^ by the most
certain testimony of his senses, that xvhat he
saith is true ; and he makes this declaration
that yoUy whoever you are, into whose hands
this history may come sooner or later, 7nay be^
lieve^ and may be confirmed in your adherence
to that gospel which is established on the death
and resurrection of Christ.
^ There came out blood and niiaterJ] I do Th^ grand evidence of Christ^s mission hi
not pretend to determine whether this his resurrection, which implies the certain-
was, as Dr. Brake supposes (in his Jnato- ty of his death .- and thus crucifixion might
wy. Vol. I. p. 106), the small quantity of have seemed, on a slightview, aless proper
laater enclosed in the pericardium, in which execution than some others, such as behead'
the heart swims ; or whether the criior ing, burning, and the like ; but this wound
was now almost coagulated, and separated would effectually exclude all pretences of
{rom. the sertiin ■ either way, it was a cer- his having been taken doivn alive by his
tain proof of Christ's death : for he could friends j and accordingly i/^a; is an evasion
not have survived such a laound had it which, false and malicious as his enemies
been given him in perfect health. were, we do not find they ever had re-
g So important and fundamental a point] course to-
Thesis things were done that the scripture viig-ht befidfiUed, 561
56 For these things For^ however inconsiderable these things may sect.
were clone, that the appear, they ivere permitted in the course of ^^^"-
SedTI^'boit ol- Divine Providence to be done that thus the ^^^^^
him shall not be scripture might be remarkably J idp lied ^ in what ^-^^
broken. ii says concerning the paschal lamb, which did 35
in so many circumstances resemble Christ
(Exod. xii. 46, and Num. ix. 12), " A'ot a bone
of it shall be broken :^^^ a precept which, among
many others, was given on purpose to lead the
minds of believers to reflect on the harmony and
unity of design carried on (though by such a
variety of persons, in no concert with each
other) under the Old Testament and under the
3r And again an- New. And a gain ^ there is another scripture^ 37
TtrsbffrooTon which .«;/., concerning the Jews, when they
him whom they are to be converted to the Messiah in the latter
pierced. days, " They shall look on him rvhofu they have
pierced'''' (Zech. xii. 10) ; for which reason God
permitted them not only to pierce the hands and
the feet of Jesus with nails, but also to open his
side by that deep and large wound which we
have now been mentioning.
Mark XV. 42. And quickly after these things^ as it was near Mark
And now [John, af- sunset, and the evening was noxv conie^ because xv.42
even was come" be' (as we have observed) it was the preparation,
cause it was the pre- Or the close of the day before the sabbath (John
paration, that is, the xix. 3l), for it was Friday evening, and the
t^],Y[M f T T^H* sabbath, which would begin at six o'clock, was
XXVII. 57— John near at hand, in which no work could lawfully
XIX. 38.—] be done ; Behold, there came to the governor's Luke
T> u^'il^^^u"^"^' ^^' palace a certain rich man of Ar'imathea fa c'lty ^^"'•
Behold, fthere came ^ ^ , ^ . , it ^ n .1 u* 1 50
arichmanof Arima- of the Jexus, anciently called Kamoth, which
thea,3[LuKE,acity lay in the tribe of Ephraim, and was the city
of the Jews,] nam- of Samuel, that celebrated prophet), and he was
an hrorr;b"ie coun! named Joseph, and was a person of considerable
sellor,] and he Hi^as a note, being an honourable counsellor, or member
good man, and a just: of the sanhedrim, who had a general reputation
^^rRK^.^'43— . as a benevolent and upright man. The same was 51
Luke xxiii. 51— .] not concerned with the rest of his fellow sen-
—51 The same ators in putting Jesus to death, and had not given
^ Kot a bone of it shall be broken.'] Dr. sometimes />u//e£/ fo/>?ecej •• but I think the
Arthur Young (in his Historical Dissertation reason suggested in the paraphrase much
on Revelation designed to prevent Siipersti- more certain and important. It is very
tioui Vol. I. p. 196, 203, 204) has a partic- well illustrated in An Essay on the several
ular thought on the reason of this prohibi- Dispensations cf Cod, 8;c. PreJ. p. xxii.
tiony that it was intended to oppose the Isf seq.
manner in wlych t]itEg}ptian tacrijfices were
562 Joseph goes to Pilate^ and begs the body of Jesus.
SECT, the concurrence of his vote to the counsel a??^ had not consented to
^^^^^- action of them that condemned him / [but was the counsel and deed
7— one'] ivho also himself hMmhXv and affectionately ^^ ,^^^'^ ', t!^"/ '"'''
Luke • jr L J- 1 r^ 1 1 • -1 1 o'^e] who also himself
xxiii. "Waited jor trie kingdom oj God^ being indeed a waited for the king--
S\ disciple of Jesus ^ though secretly; because he dom of God, [John,
durst not openly profess his belief in him for ^^^'-^ \ ^isc\xAe of
yy.jevii' 1 1 Jesus, but secretly,
ear oj the Jexvs and their rulers, who were so for fear of the Jews, j
52 strongly prejudiced against him. This 7nan, [Mat. XX VII.— 57.
awakened by the prodigies attending his death Mark XV.— 43--.
to greater courage than he had before, though ^"sTxhifmln ^^^t
he knew it must necessarily draw upon him the [Mark, in boldly]
hatred and contempt of his brethren, yet xvent unto Pilate, and beg-
i?i boldly to the presence of Pilate,^ ^'^^ ^^.^'c?'^^ mf lu taklawafthe
his permission that he jnight take away the body body of Jesus.]—
o/'y^^^, to preserve it from further insults, and [Mat. XXVII. 58.
bury it in a decent and respectful manner. -—Mark ^V.— 43.
Mark And when Pilate heard his request, consid- °ma r k~X vT'ii..
XV. 44 ering how lingering an execution that of the And Pilate marvel-
cross was, he thought it strange if he were aU 1^^ '^ ^e were alrea-
ready dead, and would not easily believe it ; andtf:f,i tit'Z.
therefore, having called the centurio?i to him^who Hon, he asked him
was appointed to guard the bodies, he asked him whether he had been
4-^ whether he had been dead any time. And when any while dead.
, ; r-a-i y^L ^ • J -1 '^^ A""- when he
he knew [z^] of the centurion^ and was certainly knewzVofthecentu-
informed that, besides all the appearances ofrion, [John, Pilate
his having been dead before, he was afterwards gave him leave,] [anc^
stabbed to the very heart, Pilate, without any ^^T" e deliVe'redi
further scruple, ^^i;^ hi?n leave, [and] command- to Joseph. [Mat.
ed the body to be delivered to Joseph . which he XXVII.— 58. John
might be the more willing to do, as he was x^^-— 38— .]
thoroughly convinced that Jesus was innocent ;
and it was generally thought by the heathens
that the spirits of the departed received some
advantage from the honours of a funeral paid 46— And [Joseph]
to their bodies. boughtfine linen,and
At* A J c^ f t« 1 1. [John, came there-
46 And Joseph therefore, being thus authorized fore, and] took down
by Pilate, having bought a large piece of fine [John, the body of
linen, came to mount Calvary, 077^ with proper f ft' hi'I ""dern Tineo
assistance took down the body of Jesus from the cloth.]^ ^[Matth.
cross, and wrapped it up ina kind of winding- XXVII. 59. Luke
sheet of clean linen cloth, ^^^^- p^"■• -^^"^
' Went in boldly to Pilate.'] It was indeed not but know that, if a resurrection should
a courageous act for this rich and noble happen, nothing would have been more
senator thus publicly to own his friendship natural than that he should have been
to Jesus in the midst of his greatest infa- brought into question as a confederate in the
2ny ; and a person of such sagacity could pretended^awfi^ of conveying him away.
He and Nichodemus hury it in a new sepulchre* 563
JohnXIX.39. And And there came also at the same time with sect.
there camealsoNic- Joseph to the cross, Nichodemus, another mem- ^^^"-
the fiS' came \o Je- ^er of the sanhedrim, of whom repeated men- j^j^^^
sus by night,) and tion has been made in the preceding story, and xix.
brought a mixture f^i^fiQ ^y^s he that at the first beginning of his 39
Ir'tlt'd/ed public ministry came to Jesus by night Qohr,
pound ue/^'/ir. iii* 1»2) ; and, as he was now grown more
courageous than before, to testify his great
regard for Jesus, he brought with him a mix-
ture of 7nyrrh and aloes, [that rveighed] about an
40 Then took they hundred pounds. To prepare then for his inter- 40
Indwou^ditiiS "^^nt, they took the body of Jesus, without re- -
clothes, with the garding the reproach to which it might expose
spices, as the man- them, and sxvathed it up in a great many folds
ner of the Jews is to q£ /^^^^^k together xvith the spices C according to
the Jewish custom of buryi?2gj, intending to
embalm it in a more exact manner, as soon as
the sabbath was over ; and hoping that in the
mean time the spices lying near the body might
preserve it from the least taint of corruption,
41 ~ Now m the j^r^^ j^. happened very commodiously for his 41
place where he was • •• . .
crucified, there was immediate interment, that in the very neigh-
a garden ; and in the bourhood of the place ivhere he teas crucified,
garden a new sepul- there was a garden ; and in the garden a new
^ 42*There laid they ^^P^^chre belonging to Joseph. There laid they 42
Jesus therefore [in Jesus therefore in [Joseph's'] own new tomb,
Joneph's own new which he had lately ordered to be hewn in stone
tomb, which he had ^^^ ^^ ^ g^jj^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^j^.^^ therefore there
n.ewn,J [Luke, m /, i i i i i •
stone,] [Mark, out could be no passage but by the door, and tn
of a rock,] [John, which no man was ever yet laid, so that there
wherem was never could be no room to imaeine any other person
man yet laid:] be- r ^ a i i • i i« i • i^
cause [Luke, that ^^^^ irom tnence. And this they did without
day was the] Jews first carrying the body into any house to em-
[LuKE, preparation, balm it ; because (as we have said before) it
drew on^;] for the ""^'^^ '^^ Jewish preparation day, and the sabbath.
sepulchre was nigh drew on, which did not allow their undertaking
at hand. [M a t. a work of SO much labour and time : to be ready
v^^^^*^?^""^"^^^ therefore for the rest commanded on the sab-
ZV. — 46 — . Luke , i j •, i /- i
xxiiL— 53,54. John "athday, they used no farther ceremony in
XIX. —41.] interring him, and chose a most convenient
place to do it with dispatch, for the sepulchre
^^^^-^'^*, ?^^yT' ^^* very 72ear at hand. And Joseph having ?J.^;
m. And he rolled a ^^us interred him in his own tomb, and so (as m
•* Sniiathed it up in linen.'] This I take to shewn (Observ. Vol. L p. 347), the easterns
be the most literal ?ra«,y/af/on of the words sv^athed up their dead. It was, no doubt,
•«r«9-«ty ot{;7o o3-ov;o/c i for o3-o;v«t were a kind by miracle, that when Christ arose he dis-
of linen rolUrs, in which, as Eisner has entangled himself from these sivathes.
S64t The women observe where his body was laid.
SECT, it was prophesied concerningthe Messiah, Isa. great stone to the
cxcii. liii. 9) « made his grave with the rich in his ^°^^ ^^' ^"e sepul-
■;^ death," ■ he took care to make all things f^Jl'^rivriet"
xxvii. secure, and having rolled a great stone to the
60 door of the sepulchre y to block up the entrance,
he went away to his own home.
Luke And when Joseph and Nichodemus came, Luke xxiti. 55.
xxm. ^^^ ^^^-^ down Jesus from the cross, 3Iary [And Mary Magda-
^^ Magdalene, and the other Mary, who (as was ^^^^ ^^fuT^T^hl
said before) was the mother of James the less mother of'^Joses,]
and Joses (Mat. xxvii. 56, p. 559), and the and the women also
rest of the women also who came zvith him from '^}^^^\ ^^"^^ "^^^^
Galilee, and so affectionately attended during foZweTafer an'd
the time of his crucifixion, were now desirous [sitting over against
to see how they disposed of him; and therefore ^^^^ sepulchre,] be-
^hen they carried off the corpse, these pious '^„tth'!r;;;3™''b"d^
VfomQvi jollowed after them, and sitting over ^2.% laid. [Mat.
against the sepulchre, into which they saw them XXVII. 61. Mark
enter, beheld with diligent observation where ^^* ^^'^
56 and how his body was laid. And perceiving 56 And they re-
that they did not embalm him, but only wound turned, and prepar-
him up in linen with the dry spices, they ^'Ints'^^anT'^rested
resolved to perform this last office of duty and the sabbathday ac
affection to him in the completest and most cording to the com-
respectful manner they could ; and therefore mandme.nt.
they immediately returned into the city, and
before the day of preparation was quite finish-
ed, they provided a great quantity of spices and
balms for that purpose, that nothing might pre-
vent them from engaging in it as soon as the
iirst day of the week should open ; and, in the
mean time, they rested oji the sabbathday, ac-
cording to the Divine cofii7nandment, which
they would not violate even on so solemn an
occasion as this.
I Made his grave with the rich in his care of his funeral." But I must acknowl-
death.] Let me here be permitted to men- edge that no version of the words pleases
lion the criticism of a celebrated divitie on me so well on the whole as that of Dr.
this passage of Isaiah, which having never Sykes, which I read since I wrote the par-
(that I know of) been published, may be ophrase above. ]n>i Nevertheless he shall
new to many, as it was to me* Observing avenge or recompense his grave upon the
that the word oijjty^ may be the dual num- ivicked, and his death upon the rich : or,
Jier, and that yn^y is the singular, he would which is equivalent to the former, butper-
suppose a kind oi'hendiadys in the construe- haps more exact, Ife shall avenge his grave
tion, and render it, " His death and burial (that is, his death which brings him down
shall be ivith tvoo criminals, and laith one rich to it) 07i the voicked, and on the rich when he
man ; that is, after having expired be- dies, j^noa- See Dr. Sykes on the Truth of
tween two malefactors, a rich man (that is Christianity ^ p. 256. -
Joseph of Arimatliea) shall undertake the
Refections on the regard shewn to the body ofjesush 565
IMPROVEMENT.
We have seen the sorrows of our expiring Lord : let us now, sEc-ir.
like these pious women^ raise our eyes to him with an holy and cxcil.
unfeigned affection, and behold him pale and breathless on the —
accursed tree. Let us view him by faith, till the eye affects the ^*A-
heart, and till we learn to glory in nothing but his cross^ -whereby 55^ 55
the xvorld may be crucified to us^ and we may be crucified to the
world, (Gal. vi. 14.)
How wonderfully does the providence of God appear to have Joha
regarded the body of Jesus^ which had so long been the temple ^^^^
of the indwelling Deity ; even when it was deserted of that
Spirit which had lately animated it ; and while it hung (amazing
thought, that it ever should have hung ! J between the bodies of
tivo thieves on a cross^ without the gates of Jerusalem ! He, who 33-.o6
has all hearts in his hand, interposed by a secret but powerful
influence on the soldiers^ who brake the legs of the malefactors^
to spare those of Christ ; that so nothing which looked like a
prophecy of him should want its proper accomplishment. But 34
his side was pierced; and how deep w^as the wound, when im,-
mediately there came out of it blood and water t Happy emblem of
^e blessed effect of his death ! He came both by water and blood 35
(as he who saw and testified this important fact leads us to im-
prove it, 1 John v. 6) ; and by this means at once atones the in-
jured justice of God, and purifies the souls of them that believe
in him.
Our indignation rises against the man that could, by such aa
outrage as this, abuse the dead body of our Redeemer : but oh,
let us seriously remember the hand which our sins had in all
that was now done. He was wounded for our transgressions ; he
was bruised for our iniquities. (Isa. liii. 5.) And therefore it
is said concerning those on whom the ends of the world are to
come, that they shall look on him whom they have pierced, and
mourn. (Zech. xii. 10.) May we mourn over him with a genu- 37
ine evangelical sorrow, when we consider whom we have pierced;
and how deep and how often we have pierced him ; and upon
what slight temptations ; and under how many engagements
rather to have bathed his wounds wuth our tears, and even to
have exposed our own hearts to the sharpest weapon by which
the madness of sinners might have attempted to injure him.
The boldness of Joseph, and even of Nicodemus himself, de- Mark
serves our notice on such an occasion. They are not ashamed ^^'^
of the infamy of his cross, but come with all holy reverence and ^jx 39
affection to take dozvn those sacred remains of Jesus ; nor did Mark
they think the finest linen, or the choicest spices, too valuable on ^v. 46
such an occasion* But who can describe their consternation
xxvn.
566 yudas repents when ^esus is condemned*
SECT, and distress when they saw him^ who they trusted should have
cxcii. delivered Israel^ a cold and bloody corpse in their arms ; and left
, him in the sepulchre of Joseph^ whom they expected to have
ikx. ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ throne of David P We leave for the present his ene*
40 mies in triumph, and his friends in tears, till his resurrection ;
Mat. which soon confounded the rage of the former, and revived the
'^*' hopes of the latter ; hopes which must otherwise have been for
ever entombed under that stone with which they now covered
him. But happy and comfortable is the thought that this his
transient visit to the grave has (as it were) left a perfume in the
bed of dust ^ and reconciled the believer to dwelling a while in the
place where the Lord lay !
SECT. CXCHL
yudas confessing his guilty returns the money he had received from
the chief priests^ and then hangs himself The Jews the next
day demand^ and procure a guard to be set on Clirisfs sepidchre.
Mat. XXVIl. 3—10, 62, to the end.
Mat. XX VII. 3. mat.xxvii.3.
HAVING thus finished the account of the nr^ HEN Judas
death of Jesus, it may be convenient -■- which had be-
— - here to mention the miserable end of that per- lr^'^iil\"l' '''^^" ^'^
Mat. r ^' !• • -I 1 1 1 1 1. saw that he was con -
xxvii. ""^Q^s disciple by whom he was betrayed into demned, repented
3 the hands of his enemies. The Jewish rulers
N having delivered Jesus to the Roman gover-
nor^ and having prevailed upon him to give
orders for his execution, then Judas^ who had
betrayed him^ when he saw to his surprise that
he was condemned by Pilate, and that they
were leading him forth to die upon the cross,
to which he seemed determined to submit,
though he could so easily have rescued him-
self from it,=^ was seized with great terror and
» Then yudasy &c.] For the proper must have more sensibly affected him than
place of this story-, which is here inserted the Jews passing" sentence on him,\vhohad
out of its order^ see note '» on John xix. 16, not then the power of putting any one to
p. 536. Matthew has introduced it im- death. The word tc??, theuy with which
mediately after the Jews had delivered the evangelist begins this story, may be
Ifesus to Pilate ; but after this the Jews taken in some latitude to introduce the
■were so intent on persuading Pilate to mention of an occurrence which happened
consent to his death, that there was hardly about that time, whether a little before or
time for the satihedrim's adjourning to the ajier^ /und need not be interpreted with so
te^nple, where this occurrence happened, much rigour as to determine it to an as-
before they had prevailed with Pilate to sertion of observing the exactest order in
condemn him • and as Judas must have all circumstances. See note » on Mat.
often heard his Master say he should be txni. 27, p. 52*^
crucijied, Pilate's order for his execvitiwn
SECT.
cxciii.
He throws doxvn the money ^ and goes and hangs himself. 567
himself, and brought agony of conscience ; and repenting oi the fatal sect.
ag-ain the thirty pie- bargain he had made, whereby he had brought ^^''''''
ces ot silver to the ? i i r -i i • 11 . .
chief priests and el- ^uch a load ot guilt on his own soul, he carried
ders, back the thirty pieces of silver which they had xxvU.
given him to the chief priests and the elders^ 3
while they were together in the temple that
morning i for they resorted thither with a spe-
cious appearance of piety, before they followed
the multitude to Calvary to see the execution.
4 Saying, I have A7id coming in among them in a wild disorder, 4
hr.!v:!j''!lf^^-^''''^ ^e said to them. Oh Sirs ! / have sinned m a
betrayed the inno- , ' • 7 r 1 »
cent blood. And they "^ost desperate manner, in that 1 have betrayed
said, Whatz,y that to innocent blood io you ; for I am well convinced,
us ? see thoufo that, that Jesus my Master has done nothing to de-
serve this punishment to which you have deliv-
ered him ; and I am not able to bear the
thought of the concern I have had in it. And
they anszvered with, the steady coolness of those
who knew no shame or remorse for their wick-
edness, What[is that] to z/5, whether thou think-
est him innocent or not ? See thou [to that] : it
is sufficient for us that we know he is guilty,
whether such a WTetch as thou art approves! or
5Andhecastdown condemnest our sentence. And throwing 5
the pieces of silver in dozvn the pieces of Silver 7noney in the temple^ in
;,"^!^'we;tand '^eir Very presence, with all the marks of ago-
hanged himself. ^Y ^"d distress, he rvithdrexv ; and going away
to the brow of a hill, in some retired and mel-
ancholy place, /2^ there hanged himself ; but the
rope breaking by the force with which he threw
himself off, he fell down the precipice, and
burst asunder with the force of his fall, so that
all his bowels gushed out ;^ and he lay expir-
ing, in a most painful and terrible manner, a
spectacle of horror to all that beheld him,
alive, or dead, as a multitude of spectators
did. (Compare Acts i. 18, 19.)
i> And going atxiay^ he hanged himself; but suffocated^ with excess qfgrief(see La Motte
the rope breaking, ^c] This method of //?*/?/;. p. 155) ; a <Der5/o«, which none of
which Mr. Le Clerc flf..rvi. p. 527) and the authorities I have seen seem sufficient
several other learned critics have taken, of to justify. Nor is it necessary to suppose
reconciling Matthew with wliat is after- with Dr. Lighffoot ( Hor. Heb. on Mat.
wards said of this fact (Acts i. 18), that xxvii. 5, and Actsi. 18), that Judas was
falling headlong,he hurst asunder in the inidst, carried away bv the devil, and strangled in
and all his boivels gushed mtt J ; appears to the air, and being thrown from thence in
me much preferable to that of tliose who the sight of all the city, was dashedin pieces
would render eLTr^y^dcloj he %vas stife'd, or by the violence of the fall.
VOL. 2. T3
568 The potters field is purchased with the money*
SECT. And the chief priests^ taking \\]) the pieces of 6 And the chief
*^-^^"'- silver, were at some loss how' they should dis- Jel^'-eceT^nd'sa'id'
Mat. P°^^ of them ; for they said, it is not lawful (or lUs not'^lawful for to
xxrii. ^s to put them into the chest which is called put them into the
6 Corban, or the sacred treasiwy, because it is the treasury, because it
price of blood, and would in effect be offeringto ^' ^^'^ P""^ °^^^°°^'
God the lite of a man. And these hypocrites
scrupled such a point of ceremony, while they
still persisted in their resolution to destroy Je-
sus, which, if they had desired it, they might
7 yet have prevented. But afterwards, when 7 And they took
they met in a body about some other business, counsel, and bought
having consulted together what they should do with them the pot-
. , It, • c ^1 L L^ '.I ters field, to bury
with those pieces 01 money, they boiight with strangers in.
the7n that close in the neighbourhood of Jeru-
salem, which is called The potters fields for a
burying place of foreigners who had no sepul-
chres of their own, and whose bodies they scru-
pled to lay with those of their own holy nation.
8 And therefore, by the way, that field was calU 8 Wherefore that
ed, in the Svriaclanguage, Aceldama, that is, fiejd was called, the
The field of blood (Acts i. 19) ; and it bears fh^'^day. ' ''"'°
that name even to this day, because it was pur-
chased with that money which was the price
paid for the blood of Jesus, and was in ef-
fect the purchase of the blood of Judas too.
9 Then xvas that fulfilled in a very remarkable fiuti];!;™^ «t
manner, which was spoken by the prophet ^^ spoken byjeremy the
' The potters Jield.'\ Thirty peices of silver these words, though recorded by Zechari-
may seem a very inconsiderable price for ah, or rather found in his book, were otig-
a field so near Jerusalem : but as Grotius inally spoken by Jeremiah, and by some
well observes, the ground was probably accident displaced : aprinci])le on which
much spoiled by digging it up for earth to the whole credit Oi the prophecies might be
make potters vessels ; so that it was now un- destroyed. It would be a much less dis-
fit for tillage or pasture, and consequently honour to the sacred writings, to suppose
of small value. a small error in the pen of some early
^^ Which was spo^eji by the prophet.'] Most transcriber, who might (as Bishop Hall
copies read it, by Jeremiah the prophet ; yet prettily conjectures), by the mistake of
it is universally known that these words ojie letter only (supposing the word to
are found no where in Jeremiah, but in be contracted), write Tg<» for Zgi«. And
Zechariah (chap xi. 13) ; it appears to me though it is certain that Jeremiah was the
very unnatural to say with Dr. Lightfoot received reading-, as early as Origen's
(Hor. Heb. in loc.J that all the prophetic time, yet there ia room to doubt whether
Huritings might be called the book ofjere- any prophet was named in the Jirst copies*
Tiiiah ; because in ancient times the proph- as the Syriac version, which is allowed to
ecy of Jeremiah was put at the beginning be made in the most early times, says
of the volume of the prophets : nor would only. It ivas spoken by the prophet, with-
the granting this fact account for the ex- out mentioning by whom. On the whole,
pression of its being spoken by him. Nor I think it more respectful to the evange-
&m I VitaWcoiWmcedhy My. yosephMede'^s list, to suppose that some officious tran*
reasonings (see his Works, p. 963), that ^criber might either insert or change ths
And thus what Zechariah said waf;. fulfilled, 569
prophet, saying, And (Zech. xi. 13), saying, " And I took the thirty sect.
they took the thirty pj^ces of silver'^ (which sum, the reader will ^''^^^"-
^t^it^i^rs observe, was M. usual price of one ^hpvas
valued, whom they soldiox a slave, or of one whom the children oj ^xvii.
of the children of Jsrael did sell, being esteemed among them on 9
Israel did value. an average but the equitable price of such a
one ; and was here the price of the blood of the
Son of God himself, that infinitely valuable
10 And gave them Person) :^ " And they were given for the pot- 10
for the potters field, ters field, as (saith the prophet) the Lord coiti-
as the Lord appoint- ^^^^^^^^ ^^^ in vision, in token of his just dis-
^ "^^■'' pleasure against those who had put such an
affront on his pastoral care."*
prophet^s name, than to impute it, as Dr. ariah the contempt which Israel put upon
Mill seems to do, to a slip in the author's tlieir God, he liad a vhion to the IbUowmg
memory. purpose. He thought God tirst appointed
«= The price of one ivhowas sold, &c.] We him to appear among them as a shepherd;
may either renderthewords,rTSi nlijun^xiva, (making him hy that emblem a represen-
ov iri/xy,(rsLvlo atto viav ]3-p*«x"] of one -cvho tation of himself :) after some time, he di-
ivas sold, even of one lohom the children of rects him to go to the rulers of Israel, and
Israel did sell ; and so consider them as ex- ask them, What they thought he deserved
pressive of the common price a slave w3iS for his labour in that office ? They give
rated at among them : or we may render him the price of a slave, thirty pieces of
them, of him that was sold, ovvalued (even silver; and this in the house of the Lord^
their own Messiah) whom the very children where the court sat. On this, God, as re-
of Israel sold at this shameful price. And senting the indignity offered to him m the
1 think, either of these versions would suit person of his prophet, orders him to throw
the original, and convey a lively and proper it down with disdain before the first poor
sense : I have therefore suggested both in labourer he met, who happened to be a
the/jaro/b/tra^e, though in the i-er^/o??, which /?o«er at work by the temple gates, as a
could not well be equally ambiguous, I fitter price for a little of his paUi-y ware,
have preferred the former. than a suitable acknowledgment of the
f And they were given for the potters field, favours they had received from God. Now
as the Lord commanded me. ^ It is plain surely, if lliere was ever any circumstance
these words are not exactly quoted, either in which the children of Israel behaved
from the Hebrew or the Septuagint ; yet themselves so as to answer this visionary
I cannot think the difference so great, as representation, it must be \s-hen they gave
it at first appears ; since those words in tliis very sum oi thirty pieces of silver as a
the parenthesis (mv rifxnv m Ts?//xi;.c.sv8, ov /?r/ce for the hfe of that very Person whom
iriy.>i<rctv]o oLTTo vim l<rpct»\,) which are not God had appointed their great Shepherd.
in either, may be considered as the words And, in order to point out the correspon-
of the evangelist himself (to which he was dence the more sensibly. Providence so
naturally led by those of the prophet, A ordered it, that the person to whom this
goodly price that I was prized at of them J; money went should be a potter ; though
and if, which might easily happen, tU-Au^v the prophecy would have been answered
be written for scTok*, as €X*'fsv is ambiguous, if he had been a fuller, or of any other pro-
it may be rendered yet nearer to the orig- fession. It may also be fiirther observed,
inal, 'itook— and gave them, 8cc. As for that God's ceasing to be the Shepherd of
the general propriety of applying these Israel, which was represented by the
words to this occasion, I think it may well propliet's breaking his pastoral staves, %yas
be vindicated; for the connection and sense never fully answered till their filial rejec-
of the iJtophecy in the Old Test ainent seems tiun after the death of Christ ; which may
to be this. In order to represent to Zech- farther lead us to refer the affront ©f their
57Q The priests desire to have the sepulchre secured;
SECT. But to return wow to the main story. When, Mat. XXVII. 63.
cxciii. notwithstanding the confession of Judas, the ^^^^ ^^^^ "^xt day
^;^ Jews had crucified Chr.st. and his friends had *,1;f „/2";ep,t
xxvji taken down his body from the cross, and laid tion,the chief priests
52 it in Joseph's tomb on the evening of the sixth ^"^ Pharisees came
day of the week, on the morrow, or on the sab- ^^^^^^^' untoPilate,
bath itself, -which folloxved the day of prepara^
tion, the chief priests, and other Pharisees who
belonged to the grand sanhedrim, assembled tO'
gether in a body to wait upon Pilate, as with an
63 address of solemn importance ; Saying, Sir, 63 Saying, Str, we
rve remember that this notorious deceiver, who remember that that
was yesterday put to death for his crimes, and IT'^'^^ f^,^ "^^
is well known to have practised many arts to After three days I
impose upon the people, while he zvas yet liv- will rise ag-ain.
ing, said. After three days I will rise again from
64 the dead :S We desire therefore, that since 64 Commandthere-
his friends have been intrusted with the care ^o^e that the sepul-
of interring him, thou wouldst order that the^'^l^ ^^ T"^^ ^r""
. J J vi-i'i 7 .1 until the third day,
sepulchre where he is laid may be strictly lest his disciples
guarded and secured till the third day is past ; come by night, and
lest his disciples should come by night and steal ^^^^^ him away, and
him away, and upon this should tell the people He iTrisen ft^ra^the
that, according to his own prediction, he is ris- dead : so the last
en from the dead : and so the last deceit will be ^^^°^' ^^^^^ ^^ worse
worse than the first, and the deluded populace ^^'*" ^^^ ^'■'^•
will be more eager to profess their regard to
him after his death, than they ever were while
he was living.
65 And Pilate said to them, Tou have a guard in 65 Pilate said un-
waiting about your court in the temple ; go to them. Ye have a
your way therefore, and order as manv of them watch, go your way,
•/ . 1 r^ ^ V 1 /i 1 make tt as sure as
as you trunk tit to march to the sepulchre, and you can.
to keep century there all night, and thereby
make [it'] as secure as you possibly can,
66 And accordingly they went and took a de- 66 So they went
tachment of soldiers with them to the garden ^^^ ^^^^ the sepul-
of Joseph ; 6f?2^ having first satisfied themselves
that the corpse was there,^ they secured the
gi'oing the pieces of silver to this event. I understood owr LWj expression of m/n^
do not remember ever to have seen this after three days to be (as indeed it was)
matter set in, what seems to me, its equivalent to a declaration that he would
just and most natural light ; but Grotius rise on the third day. See no^e ^ on Mat.xii.
has some valuable liints upon it, which I 40, Vol. I. p. 347. Compare also Deut.
wonder he did not pursue farther. xiv. 28, with xxvi. 12.
g After three days I i»ill rise again.'] Their ^ Having first satisfied themselves that
intending to make the sepulchre secure only the corpse was there.] Common prudence
till the third day ended, shewed that they would teach them to do this ; and perhaps
and having sealed the stone^ a guard is set upon it.
571
chre sure, seallnpf sepulchre as well as they possibly could, sealing sect.
the stone, and set- ^/j^ sto?ie^ that it might not be broke open with- cxciii.
ting a watch. ^^^^ ^ discovery of the fraud ;^ and also setting — "^
a guard near it, who took care to place them- ^^J*j^
selves so that they could not but take an imme- 55
diate alarm if any had presumed to make the
least attempt to open the sepulchre, and re-
move the body, or even to embalm it.
IMPROVEMENT.
In how fatal a manner does the vjai/ of transgressors deceive Mat.
them ! Judas^ no doubt, but a few hours before, w^as thinking ^^^■"•
with eager impatience of receiving this sum oi money ^ which was **
the wages of unrighteousness : but chough he might for a little
while roll it as a sweet morsel under his tongue^ yet how soon
was it turned mlo the gall of asps zvithin him P (Job xx. 12 — 14.)
We see the force of conscience^ even in the worst of men. He 5
that had slighted all the warnings that his Master gave him, and
neither was affected by the remembrance of his goodness to him,
nor by the fear of his displeasure, while he was set upon accom-
plishing his covetous design, no sooner comes to feel the sting
of an awakened conscience^ but he is filled with horror, and is
they might feed their cruelty with view-
ing- the dead body^ as Herodias did with
that sad spectacle the baptist's head. See
note <3 on Mark vi, 28, Vol. I. page 427.
• Sealing the stone.~\ Some have conjec-
tured they might also cement it with lead,
or bind it with iron ; but the sabbath would
hardly have allowed this. The guard
would prevent violence ; and the seal would
be a security against :kwy fraud of theirs in
confederacy with the disciples, if that
could possibly have been suspected. I
have also hinted in the paraphrase above,
that this precaution o^ sealing the sepulchre
might prevent any attempt, not only to re-
onove the body, but to embalm it. For it is
to be considered, that they had great rea-
son to believe, that when two such emi-
nent persons as Joseph and Nicodemus
had already paid such a public honour to
the corpse, they would desire also 10 em-
balm, it; which accordingly they did
really design. This would be such an addi-
tional reflection on the proceedings of the
sanhedrim as they would certainly desire
to prevent. A mandate from Pilate for
this purpose they could not be sure of ob-
taining had they asked it ; nor would an
act of their oxvn court have been free from
uncertainty and inconvenience This meth-
od of sealing the stone was therefore the
most artful expedient that could be imagin-
ed ; which would effectually prevent it,
without letting it be publicly known that
they had the least suspicion of any such
design. I state the matter thus largely,
in regard to one of the most learned per-
sons of the age, who seems to think this a
very considerable difficulty. But with
respect to the principal point of his rising
from the dead, it is surely most senseless
to say, with that wretched opposer of the
tniracles of Christ, who has brought upon
himself such just infamy, that this sealing
the stone intimated a contract between
Christ and the7n, that he should me in the
sight of the Jewish rulers on the third day.
Probably their design was on the fourth day
to have opened the sepulchre, and have
exposed the corpse to public view ; which,
had it been in their power, had been the
most prudent step they could have taken.
But they do not seem to have been mad
enough to think, that \f ^esus rose from the
dead, it must be just when they thought fit
to attend.
\
572 Rejections on the miserable end of Judas.
SECT, unable to endure the cutting anguish of his own reflections. And
cxcui. ti^^s could God, in a moment, drive the most hardened sinner
' into all the agonies of remorse and despair, by letting loose his
oxvn thoughts upon him, to prey upon his heart like so many
hungry vultures^ and make him a ten- or to others, and an execu-
tioner to himself,
ver. 4 We must surely admire the wisdom of Providence, in extort-
ing even from the mouth of this traitor so honourable a testimo-
ny of the innocence of jfesus, though to his own condemnation.
And w^ho could have imagined that the supreme court of Israel
itself should have been so little impressed with it, as coldly to
answer, What is that to us ? See thou to that. Is this the lan-
guage of rulers, yea, of priests ? But they had cast off the fear
of that Gi?^ whose ministers they were, and had devoted them-
selves to gain and ambition. They therefore felt no remorse,
even when Judas trembled before them, and appeared almost
distracted under the sense of a crime in which they had been
confederates with him. But their consciences were seared as xuith
a red hot iron, and all their familiar converse with Divine things
served only, in such a circumstance, to harden their hearts : as
tempered steel gathers strength from the furnace and the ham-
mer.
S Judas repents ; he confesses his crime ; he throxvs axvay the
reward of his guilt : yet was there nothing of godly sorrow in all
this. Despairing, he becomes his own executioner ; and flies to
death, and to hell,, as a refuge from the rage and fury of an
awakened conscience. Fatal expedient ! thus to seal his own
damnation ! But the righteous judgment of God erected him as
a monument of wrath, and verified our Saviour^s declaration. It
had been good for that man if he had never been born. (Mat. xxvi.
24 ; and Mark xiv. 21, sect, clxx.) Tremble, O our souls, at
this thought ! that Judas, even one of the twelve, should fall into
such depths of sin and ruin ! May we each of us be jealous over
ourselves ! and may we never presume to censure whole bodies
of men for the fault of particular members, when we find there
was a traitor and reprobate among the holy band of the apostles.
63, 64 We see the restless and implacable malice oiChrisfs enemies,
which pursued him even to his tomb, and there endeavoured to
blast his memory by fixing upon him the character of an impos-
65, e>6 tor. They demanded, and procured a guard for his sepulchre.
And here also we have a repeated instance of God's taking the
wise i?i their own craftiness. (Job v. 13.) The seal and the
guard served only more fully to attest the doctrine of Chrisfs
resurrection, w^hich they were set to overthrow, and to grace the
triumph they were intended to oppose. Thus shall all the rage,
and all the artifice of his enemies, at length promote the pur-
poses of his glory : thus shall meat at length come out of the
eater^ and sweetness out of the strorig. (Judg. xiv. 14.) The
After sabbath^ the women prepare to embalm the body, S73
wrath of man ^ O hord^shal! praise thee; ^ndthe remainder of it sect.
shalt thou restrain^ and shait triumph over it, either by thy ^^^cni.
grace, or by thy vengeance. (Psal. Ixxvi. 10.). """"
SECT. CXCIV.
Christ rising from the dead^ the guards flee away in astonish-
?ne?it : Mary Magdalene finding the sepulchre open^ calls Peter
arid John^ xvho having entered into it, return ; while Christ
himself makes his first appearance to her. Mat. XXVIII.
1—4. Mark XVI. 1, 2—3, 4. Luke XXIV. 1, 2, 12.
John XX. 1—17.
Mark XVI. 1. Mark XVI. 1.
AND when the AND xvheu the sabbath was over^ which sect.
sabbath M-as ll ended in the evening (as was often ob- cxciv.
K ,™d7th^S; served before), Mary Magdalene.andthe other —
Mary'], the mother oi Mary^ who was [the mother \ of fames and ^^1.1
James, and Salome, Joses, and Salome^ with Joanna, and some
had ^^'^^gjl^^ ^^\hT °^^^^ pious women,^ were so intent on em-
mght' come and balming the body of Jesus, that they had
anoint him. [Mat. another consultation about it ; and, not satis-
XXVIII. 1— ■] fie(j -vvith the preparation they had made be-
fore, they bought more spices and ointments,*
that^ after a short repose, as soon as ever they
could see to do it, they might go and anoint
« When the Sabbath ivas orer.'\ This and Salome only by Mark : but I have
which Mark expresses by StAy^vo/utva th named Joanna here with the rest, as it ap-
o-atCCatTK, Matthew expresses by another pears from Luke xxiv. 10, in the next sec-
phrase, c-^i a-dLQCdLTom), in the end of the sab- tion, she was among; the other tvoinen who
bath, or ivhen the sabbath (and consequent- went to the sepulchre, and was one of
ly the preceding Tuee/^, of which the sabbath those who told these things to the apostles.
was the last day), teas over ; as in Philos- « They bought more spices, Sec] Luke
tratus, c4^ fxvrxpicev is, luhen the mysteries had before observed (chap, xxiii. 56, page
'c^ere ended. So that the controversy be- 564:),\h^\.Xhe\ prepared spices and oiyitments,
tween Maijus ajid IVolfhiirg, on this sub- and then rested the sabbathday according to
ject, seems needless ; as the criticism of the commandment : and Mark here says,
the former, who supposes these words in that StAytvo/utya tk csLCCsCis, uhen the sab'
Matthew to belong to the close of tlie/or- bath in as ever, iiyo^ita-a.v, they bought [not,
Tner chapter, and to refer to the time of they had bought"] spices, and then (verse 2,
sealing the sepulchre, is very unnatural ; as very early in the nnorningj came to anoint
Wolfius has shewn in his learned note on hivi. This I look upoi\ as a strong intima-
Mat. xxviii. 1. tion, that sometime after six in the evening
^ Mary Magdalene, &c. with Joanna, and (on what we call Saturday night J, when the
some other pious women.] In the account sabbath ^as oxer, as it was then lawful to
the evaiigelistshsLxe^vseno^theiJcomen who perform any common work, their gene-
first came to the knowledge that Jesus rous hearts prompted them to purchase a
I was risen, Mary Magdalene is mentioned larger quantity of aromatic drugs for this
^ hy 2\\, the other Mary by the three first, pious purpose.
11
^74 Mary Magdalene and others go very early to the sepulchre^
SECT, hhn with them, and pay him all the respect of
cxciv. jjjj honourable interment.
TTT Now Mary Magdalene, with the other Ma- 2— And very ear-
xvi 2 ry and Salome, were ready before it was day ; }y ^^ ^^ morning',
' 1 ^^' a. > • ^r. -A rJoHN, when it was
and settmg out very early in the morning ^^ ^^.t dark,] [as it be-
xvhile It xvas yet dark^ as it began to da^vn to- gan to dawn to wards
wards the first day of the xveeky they -went to ^^^ first day of the
takeavien, of the sepulchre,^ to see if all things -^^^^ f^^.fZ
were as they had left them : and not long after sepulchre,] [Luke,
they were followed by Joanna and the rest bring-ing the spices
who were to meet them there, who came at ^^^^5^ ^^^y,^^^P^'^'
T_ • * J *• i • ' li j' -.1. pared ; and certain
the appomted time, bringing the spices with ^^/^^^^ ^^^th them.]
them, zvhich (as was said before) they had pre- [Mat. XXVIIL— i.
pared to embalm the body of Jesus, and which Luke ^^I^- 1-
indeed were a considerable weight ; and sonie •'°"^ ' ~"J
[others'] of their female friends went also xvith
them to assist on this occasion/
A Setting- out very early in the onnrmng.'] « They foent to take a vievj of the sepid-
The learned and ingenious Mr. West (of chre.'] I have rendered the w^ord ))x6ov,
whose accurate Observations on the Resur- went (and have likewise explained the
rection of Christ I have given an ex^rflfc? at word shBua-ctt in the same manner in the
the end of the preface io the third volume of Jirst verse of this section J, which agrees
this work) supposes Mary Magdalene, better with the order of the story, and is
with the other Mary and Salome, to have frequently the sense in which our transla-
set out to view the sepulchre i^e/ore the ^or^ have rendered it elsewhere. See Mat.
time they had agreed to meet Joanna and xii. 9; xiii. 36; xiv. 12; Markiii. 19;
the other vjomen there, who w^ere to bring Luke ii. 44 ; xiv. 1 ; John iv. 45 ; vi. 17 ;
the spices, and to come about siinrising to Acts iv. 23 ; xxviii. 14. The true import
embalm the body : and as the word ^^a^ty of the word G?ft'§>,'cr6ti is to ta^e a vieiv ; and
made use of in this place both by Mark thus implies their going to see if all things
and John (which we have rendered e^r/y^, were in the same condition as before,
sometimes signifies over early, or before the when they had seen the body laid in the
appointed tivie, he naturally conjectures it sepulchre. (Luke xxiii. 55, p. 564.) I
has this signification here, and concludes think Maijus and Eisner justly observe,
that the women came to the sepulchre at that the xxiii'' chapter of Luke should not
different times ; the first setting out before have ended at the place it does ; for here,
the time agreed on, ^ast as the day began to as in several other places, a sentence is
break, whereas the others came not thither divided : [To /uiv o-aiCCulov >ia-ux^<raiv, — t« tTs
till the sun was risen. (See West's Observ. p. f^iec n-m a-^QQctlctv — waQcv, kSfc.'] Such divi-
45, 46.) The difference between this and sions are great instances of negligence in
the scheme here given, chiefly consists in the person by whom they were first made ;
Mr. West'^s supposing the women to have but in a work like this Harmony, they are
made tv:o different visits to the sepidchre, less material, and hardly in some cases
and in consequence of that, t%vo distitict re- avoidable.
ports to the disciples, whereas I have unit- * Sotne others of their female friends
cd them ; though I do not suppose them went also with them.'] It was indeed a
to have all come together to the sepulchre, circumstance of decency, considering the
but only to have met there. Yet such ad- office they were intending to perform,
vantages attend the .jcAe?«e this author has that the men and the TOome« should per-
proposed, that if it had been published to form their respective parts in it by them-
the world before I had composed this Har- selves ; which accordingly the evangelists
many, I should have chosen to have form- plainly intimate they did Their settirig
cd it in a nearer agreement to it, but have out alone was a remarkable instance of
now left it to appear with no material their zeal and courage : perhaps some
alteration in its order. appointment might be made with Petei^
An angel had been there before, and rolled a:xvay the stone, 37 S
3 And they said ^726^ as they were advancing towards the Sep- sect.
among themselves, ulchre, they were not under any apprehension ^^'^civ.
Who shall roll us a- r ^r ij- ^i ^ ^* i- i
way the stone from ""O"^ ^"^ soldiers that were set to guard it, who "—
the door ot the sep- had been stationed there without their knowl- ^yf 3
^Icl^re • edge on the sabbathday (sect, cxciii. p. 566) ;
but remembering the stone that was placed at
the mouth of it, thez/ said among themselves^
Who shall roll away the stone for us Jrom the
door of the sepulchre, which all of us together
—4 For it was have not strength to remove f For they had 4
very great. gggj^ Nicodemus and Joseph stop up the en-
trance with it J and it was indeed very large
and heavy.
Mat. XXVIII. 2. But this perplexitv of theirs was altogether Mat.
^as^^S^'^nh!"^^dless; for God had provided a very ex- -xviii.
quake ; for the an- traordinary way to remove that obstruction. ^
gel of the Lord de- And behold, with due regard and admiration, it
er"lnd^c°ame*'?nd ^^^^ ^^^^ * ^^^^^ ^^^''' ^"^ ^ ^^"^^ ^^^°^^ ^^^V
roUed back the stone arrived there, a great earthquake (which would
from the door, and naturally awaken the guards, if any of them
sat upon it. had fallen asleep) ; and very awful and aston-
ishing were the circumstances that attended it ;
for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven,
had approached in sight of the guards, and roll-
ed axvay the stone from the door, and sat down
upon it. And, at the very same time, Jesus,
like a sleeping conqueror awaking on a sudden,
burst asunder the bands of death, and sprung
3 His countenance up to a new and immortal life. But none of 3
was like hghtning, ^^ guards saw him rise, beincf struck into the
and his raiment ^°^ . ^li-trt i
white as snow. Utmost consternation at the sight oi the angel,
who appeared to remove the stone : and well
indeed they might be so ; for his countenance
was like the brightness of lightning, and his
long flowing garment was as white as snoWy
glittering with extraordinary lustre beyond
4 And for fear of what their eyes could bear. And the guards, 4<
him the keepers did though Romans and soldiers, tre7nbledfor fear
shake, and became ^ ,° ., j, , , ,, ' ,., -^ J
as dead men. at the sight oj him, and became like so many
dead men, falling down on their faces in a most
helpless condition. But quickly after, pre-
suming to lift up their eyes, and finding he had
disappeared, and had left the sepulchre open,
and John (who were early up, as it should moving the stone, though not in embalming
seem, on this occasion), either to meet theiedy,
them, or come after them, to assist in re-
VOL. 2. 74
^76 Mary ^finding the sepulchre open^
SECT, they fled to some distant place, to consult their
cxciv. own safety in so surprising an occurrence.?
" By this time the women, who had set out as John XX.—l.
i?^", it began to dawn, were near the place; and ^""^ Mary Magda-
XX— 1 ,^ ° ,-. , , ' 1 -.v ii J- .• lene seeth the stone
Mary Magdalene^ transported with the aistm- i^^ken away from the
guishing ardour of her affection, advanced a sepulchre,
little before the rest ; and, it being now light
enough to discern objects, she looked forward,
and sazv^ to her great surprise, that the stone
•was already taken azuay from the sepulchre^
Luke and that the tomb was open. And she was Luke XXIV. 2.
xxiv.2 jrreatly astonished and alarmed at the sight, ,A"^ W^" ^^^^J ^^^^
J 1 ijjT-^.T_ii looked,] they found
and presently concluded that the body was re-^j^g g^ong roiled a-
moved. She therefore stepped back, and in- way from the sepul-
formed her companions of this circumstance ; chre. [Mat. XVI.
upon which they \aho'\ looked^ and plainly/^/w;?^ '^*""-*
that it was as she represented, and that the
stone was indeed rolled aivay from the entrance
of the sepulchre.
John And, not reflecting on the assurance Jesus John XX. 2.
XX. 2 j^r^jj given them of his rising again from the '^^^^'^ ^^^^ nmneth,
dead, they knew not how to account for the
% They fled to some distant place. Sec] inviting them " to come and see the place
As nothing is said of any interview be- nxhere he rjas laid" charged them *' to go
tween them and the friends of Christ, and tell his disciples that he would go before
there is great reason to believe that this them into Galilee" Upon this they go im-
was the case, as indeed it is on other ac- mediately and tell the disciples (witliout
counts probable it should be. saying any thing, that we find, of the vis-
ion. J " that some unknown person had
^ Mary Magdalene saw that the stone was taken away the Lord, aftd laid him they
taken away, &.C.] Every attentive reader hiew not where .•" and then returning again
may have observed how difficult it is to to the sepulchre, in less than an hour,
form the evangelists iinto one coherent sto- they see another, or the same angel as be-
ry herej and to reconcile some seeming fore, who, as if it were perfectly unknown
contrarieties in their accounts : neverthe- by any other declaration, tells them just
less I hope, on a careful examination of in the same words, *' He knew they sought
this and the following sections, it will be ^esus, but he was risen ,- and, inviting
found not impracticable. I shall not men- them again to coine and see the place
tion the very different schemes other cnifzci where he had lain," charges them agana
have taken, nor the particular objections "to^o a7id tell his disciples that he went be-
against them ; but woidd only add a word fore them, into Galilee." This is such a
or two concerning that of Dr. Guyse, sionilarity of words and actions' immedi-
which is both new and ingenious, yet not ately succeeding each other as I believe
to me satisfactory. He supposes (in his can no where be paralleled. The scheme
note on John xx. 2) that there were muo loffer here (which is that which twice, at
appearances of the angels to tlie women; the distance of several years, presented
and that Mark and Luke speak only of the itself to me on view of the eva?igelists
first, sind Matthew and John of the second ; alone) is incumbered with no such diffi-
that is, in other words (as I understand it), culty, nor indeed with any worth naming.
That as soon as it was light these good except wliat arises from the transposition
wo'inen came to the sepulchre, and saw an of Mark xvi. — 2, and Luke xxiv. 12, on
wigel, who told them, "He knew they which see jjo/c ' in this fea/^n, and ;:»/e ' in
nought yesusf but that he was risen /* and, the next.
runs to tell Peter and John, 577
oind Cometh ta Si- removal of the stone ; but Mary Magdalene sect.
tHr other*dfs"ct le ^"^ ^^^ companions having consulted a little cxciv.
whom Jesus loved, together, as well as the confusion they were in — —
and saith unto them, would admit, it was thought best that some J^^"
They have taken a. of ^^e disciples should be immediately ac- ""^'^
way the Lord out . ^ , . V • l ul r i_ i
of the sepulchre,and Ruamtecl With It : sne tnerejore runs back to
we know not where the city with all possible dispatch,^ and^ know-
they have laid him. ing ^vhere they lodged, she comes to Si7non Pe-
ter^ and to John, that other disciple whom. Jesus
peculiarly loved (by whom this part of the sto-
ry is most exactly and circumstantially record-
ed) ; o72^ finding them already up, and full of
solicitude about the event of this important day,
she says to them^ O my friends, the sepulchre
is broke open, and some or other must have
been there, who have removed the stone ; nor
is there any room to doubt but they have taken
a-way the Lord out of the sepulchre^ andxve know
not zvhere they have laid him ;^ so that I, and
my companions, whom I have left behind me,
cannot find any method of performing that last
office of respect and affection which you know
we intended.
Luke XXIV. 12. And^ upon hearing this, without so much as Luke
—Then arose Peter staying to make any reply, Peter^ whose heart ^^^^*
w^as struck with such a circumstance, «rc?5^ in a
transport of various passions,^ and that other
• She therefore r««jback to the city, ^c.j would have spoken thus if the angels had
It is not expressly said whether the ivoTnen before this expressly assured her o\' Christ's
with whom she came thither staid any resurrection^ and sent her away with such
where near the sepulchre, or whether they a messag-e as they did to the disciples.
returned to the city with her ; but consid- Compare note p on ver. 13.
ering-thatjohn, who was an ejeu-mjwj, has i And Peter arose.'] These words In
mentioned only Mary Magdalene as run- Luke come in after the account given by
?2ing with the news, her companions in the the nvomen to the eleven, and all tlie rest of
mean while might stay at some distance the disciples (Luke xxiv. 9), or the angels
till Peter and John came, and had viewed appearing to them, &c and so make the
the sepulchre ; and might be joined there chief objection against the scheme here
by the other nvomen who were to bring the offered to the reader : but the word then^
spices, upon whose coming they might go with which this verse is introduced by our
into the sepulchre. (Compare Mark xvi. translators, does not well answer to cT? in
— 2, and Luke xxiv. 3, in the beginning of the original; and as we liave often shewed
the ?iext section. J John hints nothing at before, that Luke is not always so exact in
all of Mary's having looked into the sepulchre his order as not to admit of some transposi-
before she ran bad to him ; and his narra- tion, so it will run us into greater difficul-
tion being the last, and most circumstan- ties not to allow it in the present case, in
tial, must guide us in adjusting what is which it is apparently reasonable to follow
anibiguous in the rest. John's order, who was an eyeviitness, and
^ They have taken away the Lord, &c.] who gives the last and largest account.
It is difficult to suppose, with Dr. Clarke, And indeed, if no transposition may be al-
Dr. GuysC} and many other critics, that she lowed, it is absolutely impossible in manj
578 Peter and yohn run immediately io the sepulchre ;
SECT, disciple whom we mentioned before, \andr\ rvent land went forth, and
cxciv. directly otit^ and never stopped till they came to ^^^^t other disciple,
— the sepulchre. And, not contented with the u?e1)relV?oHN xxl
XX. 4 swiftest pace with which they could walk, they 3.]
both ran together ; and^s that other disciple was John xx. 4. So
the younger man, he outran Peter, who had the e^^.^ ""^nd Ihe Ther
start of him at the beginning, and came frst to disciple did outrun
5 the sepulchre : And stooping down l^to look into Peter, and came first
it], he saw the linen clothes, or rollers, in which ^^ the sepulchre,
the corpse had been wrapped up, lying thereby ^ioxvn!" an floln^gll
themselves ; but he did not at first enter in to saw the linen clothes
6 the sepulchre. Then came Simon Peter, very lying ; yet went he
quickly following him, and having stooped doxvn "^gThen cometh Si-
lo look into the sepulchre, as John had done ^on Peter following
before, he was not satisfied with this ; but that him, and [stooping
he might examine this important afFair with t™ep:l;:r:';""na
such exactness as it deserved, he went into the ^^^^\^ ^^e linen
sepulchre, and found the body was gone, but clothes[laidbythem-
saw the linen clothes, with which it had been selves 0 C L^ u k e
covered, laid by themselves, as John had ob- * -^
7 served from without. And he discovered 7 And the napkin
another material circumstance, which had not J^^t ^^^^^^^^^^^^
been remarked before, namely, th^t the napkin thelinenVotlfesTbut
which was about his head w2ls not laid with the wTapped together in
linen clothes^ but w^s folded up in a place by it- a place by itself.
passages of the gospel history to make any with the spices ; upon whose coming to the
consistent harmony of the evangelists at disciples before the arrival of the two Ma-
all ; as every attentive reader must have ries and Salome, and telling them that they
often observed. This was the view in had seen two angels at the sepulchre, who
which I formerly considered the account had informed them Jesus was alive, Pe-
that Luke has given (ver. 12) of Peter's ter, willing to see if the angels were
visit to the sepulchre, which I have incor- there, immediately arose a7id ran again to
porated here with that ofJohn,who at large the sepulchre, and without ewfrnw^ m (as
relates their going there together, as soon he had done before),'but only stooping doivn
as they received the Jirst report from Mary and looh7ig into it, as he could see no angels
Magdalene of the sepulchre being open, there, but only the linen clothes lying (for so
and the body gone : and, as Luke does not it is that the words nt o^ovtac xs/^tev* fxcva,
mention Peter's visit till after the report should be rendered), came back again in
the Huomen who had seen the angels made great astonishment. (See West's Observ.
to the disciples, it could not any way agree p. 52, ISf seq.J This I now think to be the
with that of John, without allowuig the best solution of this difficulty, and there is
necessity of a traiisposition. But, on con- thus no need of any transposition ; of which
sidering the observations made by Mr. I could not but inform the reader, as it is
West, I am now satisfied that Luke refers the principal circumstance in which the
not to the visit which Peter made with jcAemethatMr.W^esf has given differs from
John, but to a second i)/*/? which he made mine, though I have left the harmony to
afterwards upon the -uiomen'j coming with stand as before, that it may still be seen
the report that they had seen two angels what 1 had offered, as it will either way be
who had assured them Jesus was risen, found sufficient to acquit the evangelists
Tliese women Mr. West supposes to have from any charge of absurdity orcontradic-
been Joanna and the other nxomcn who came tion.
hut finding only the clothes^ return m surprise* 579
self^^ in such an orderly manner, as plainly sect.
shewed that the hody was not hastily hurried cxciv.
away, either by friend or enemy ; but made the TT
sepulchre appear rather like a bedchamber, xx!?
which a person on his awaking in the morning g
8 Then went in al- j^^^j leisurely quitted. Then that other chs^
so that other disciple . . , V * *,, *a « v / i, i u^-
which came first to ^V^^^ ^^^^ ^"'"'^ fi""^^ ^^ ^^^ Sepulchre, and^ bemg
the sepulchre, and less adventurous than Peter, stood hitherto
he saw, and believ- without, xvent hi also to view it ; and when he
saw the several parts of the funeral dress in
this situation, he was Immediately convinced,
ajid believed it now to be at least very probable
that his dear Master was indeed revived."
9 For as yet they p^^ hitherto they did not knoxv the full meaning 9
KTicw not tllG SCriT)- O *-'
ture, that he must of those various intimations of scripture to
rise again from the which Jesus had so often referred to convince
dead. them that he must certainly rise from the dead
(compare Mat. xvi. 21, Vol. I. p. 487, and
Luke xviii. 31 — 34, Vol. II. p. 257) ; which
if they had considered they would cheerfully
have expected the sure accomplishment of
10 Then the dis- ti^g^a^ and would not have been so much sur-
gain unto"theIp^ow^n pHsed at the news which Mary brought them,
home, \Peter won- Then both the disciples went azvay again to 10
dering in himself at ^^^^^ companions in the city,° [Peter] not beinjv
that which was come ^v ii ^- r j t i, ^ ^^
to pass.] [L u K E ^° thoroughly satisfied as John was, yet greatly
XXIV 12.] wondering in hiynselj at what had happened, and
*" But folded up in a place by itself. '\ Per- give them. Much of the beauty of John's
haps our Lord h'lmseWfolded up the napkin ; manner of writing consists in such hints as
and this remarkable circumstance might these, which shew the temper of that ex-
be intended to signify the perfect calmness cellent man ; and, were he to be consider-
and composure ^NiXh. which he arose, trans- ed merely as a human historian, add great
ported witli no rapture or surprise at his weight to his testimony. See 7wte ^ on
awaking out of this long sleep. It would John xxi. 20, sect. cci.
be very impertinent to inquire whence he
had his clothes ; the angels, no doubt, fur- « Woit aivay again to their companions.']
nished him with them ; and perhaps the So irpoc idLvlm seems evidently to signify,
diversity of their colour or form might (Compare Eisner, Observ. Vol. I. p. 348.)
prevent his being hwiun by his friends at Accordingly soon after this the ii^omen
rirst sight. found the eleven and the rei'f together. (Luke
n He satVf and believed.'] Many interpreters sxiv. 9.) A?rihBiiY ^^o; iavIcv never that I
explain this only of his believing that the know of signifies to come to one*s self, or to
body ivas not there ; but that he must have the exercise or possession of one's own
believed before,on looking into the sepulchre : I mind, as some have strangely interpreted
rather understand it as a modest intimation these words. Luke's expression in th:^t
that he, Jirst indeed of all otliers, believed case is different ; Luke xv. 17, where he
the truth of Christ's resurrection, inferring it, says of the prodigal, uc mvlcv «x6av, v.'hen
as he reasonably might, from the order in he caine to himself. It was very prudent
which he found the sepulchre. These in Peter and John to retire immediately,
words have a force and a grace, on this lest they should have been questioned by
interpretation, which I think no other can the rulers, if found near the sepulchre.
580 Jesus appears to Mary, xvho at first does not know him,
SECT, verj'' much concerned as to the eveut of so sur-
cxciv. pj-ising a beginning.
"7^ But Mary, who was now returned, stood 11 But Mary stood
XX? 11 ^2^^^" t^^^ sepulchre after Peter and John were without at the sepul-
gone from it, not Indeed going into it as they as'^shT wep?,'' she
had done, but weeping without, in great per- stooped down, and
plexity at her not knowing what was become ^<'0'^^^"^to the sepul-
of Jesus: and as she wept, she ?i\so stooped doxvn, ^ ^^'
{^and looked'] very wishfully into the sepulchre : 12 And seeth two
12 ^/2^ there she saw with great surprise two an- angels in white, sit-
^els in the form of men, clothed in vj/iite hab- J^"§;: the one at the
. .^ . ^ ,, r J 1 r ^1 7 head, and the other
Its, Sitting-, one at the head, and the other at the at the feet where
feet, of that niche in the sepulchre rvhere the the body of Jesus
13 body of Jesus had been laid. And they said to ^^^^ ^^^" '
her, with a tender regard. Woman, why dost ^^^l ^"^ \voman^
thou weep thus ? And she said to them, Alas, why weepest thou ?
I have reason enough to weep ; it is because She saith unto them,
they have taken azvayXhe body of Jesus 7?zz/dear ff ^^'^ they have
T ^T , _, -^ - , , , . , , . taken away my Lord,
Lord, and I know not where they have laid him, and I know not
or how the sacred corpse may be neglected or where they have
abused.? ^^^^ ^^"™-
14 And\\xs>\, as she had said this, hearing a sud- 14 And when she
den noise behind her, she turned back, before ^^^d thus said, she
the angels could give her any answer ; and she r^sljTst'S
saxv Jesus himself standing near her : and she ing, and knew not
knew not at first that it was Jesus, his habit be- that it was Jesus,
ing changed, her eyes also overflowing with
tears, and her mind being so far from any ex-
pectation of his appearance, and so much dis-
tressed, that she did not so much as look up to
the face of the person who appeared. ^ \^ J^/.^^ ^^'^^^ ""*,
It: T^u cv -J. t -fu ..1 • to her, Woman, whyJ
15 Inen Jesus t,aid to her, with a gentle voice, weepestthou?whora
Woman, rvhy dost thou xveep\kv<y.^ ? and whom dost seekest thou ? she^
thou seek P And she, supposing him to be the gar- supposing him to b^
dener,"^ said to him. Sir, if thou hast for any unto^liim'^^^sir^* ii
unknown reason (^or«^ him away from Aewc^, thou have borne hir '
P They have taken aivay tny Lord, and I 1 Supposing him to be the gardener.'] It is
knovj not ivhere they have laid him ] This very probable that Jesus might speak lowJ
expression may very easily be accounted or in a different way from what he usually!
for in our manner of ranging tliis story ; did ; and her taking him for the gardeneri
but it is very harsh to suppose she should seems to intimate there was nothing very|
speak in this manner if one of tlie angels splendid in his dress : accordingly whenj
had a few minutes before told her that he appeared to the tnvo disciples in theiPj
^esus ivas risen. She perhaps thought way to Emmaus, they seem to have taken]
they came to do a kind of homage to the him for a person of a rank not much supe-j
place where he had lain, if she appre- rior to their own. Her eyes might also be |
hended tliem to be angels ; which, whe- nuithheld at first from knowing Jesus byj
ther she did or did not, we do not cer- some supernatural restraint, as theirs ]
tainlyknow. were. Luke xi v. 16.
On discovering himself, he prevents her embracing him. 581
hence ,tell me where where the master of the sepulchre saw fit so sect.
thou hast laid him, honourably to lay him but a few hours ago/ I ^'^^^^•
awly.'""^^ ^^^^ ^'"^ earnestly beg thou wouldst immediately tell mt —
where thou hast put him^ and I xvill remove him^ ^^ 15
and take effectual care that his corpse shall be
decently interred elsewhere, without giving
anv farther trouble here.
16 Jesus salth un- Jesiis^ on this, said to her^ with a loud and ig
to her, Mary. She distinct voice, in his usual affectionate way,
laXuntohim/RTb. ^^«^^i ^^st thou not know me ? lAnd^ Mary
boni, vvliich is to thereupon turning directly towards him, and
*ay. Master. eagerly fixing her eyes upon him, immediately
discovered who it was ; and, transported with
a mixture of unutterable passions, she said to
him^Rabhoni ; that is to say^ [My great] Master
and Teacher ! and so much was her heart
affected, that she could say no more, but im-
mediately prostrated herself at his feet to em-
brace them.
17 Jesus salth un- But jfesiis said to her^ Do 7iot stay here to 17
to her. Touch me embrace me \yiow\ either to pay thine homage
yet ascended^ to my ^^ ^^•> °^ ^^ confirm thy faith ; both which thou
Father : but go to wilt have other opportunities of doing : for I
am not yet withdrawn from your world, and
ascended to the heavenly court of my Father y as
you may imagine I should presently do ;^ but
» Sir, if thou hast borne hhn hence ] It is for embalming (any one of which might
observable that she accosts this stranger very possibly be the case) ; a difficulty
in respectful language, even when she with respect to the time of their coming
took him for a servant (for K-riTrago; cannot, to the sepulchre, which may ofier itself to
I think, signify the ov:ner of the garden J ,- the sagacious reader, in the disposition of
prudently reflecting that an error on that ihe following section, when compared with,
hand would be more excusable than on the this, will disappear at once,
other, supposing he should have provedone » Bo not embrace me now, for I am not
of superior rank in a plain dress : and also yet ascended to my Father.'] iVIr. Chandler,
that she does not name Jesus, but speaks in his Jjiswcr to the Considerations on the
in indefinite terms, if thou hast borne him Trial of the Witnesses, has given such con-
AeHce,- intimating that he was the o«e/?er5on vincing reasons in the present case for
of whom her own thoughts and heart were rendering the word A-rla, embrace (which
so full, that she took it for granted every I before apprehended to be the sense of it),
one must know who she meant Such Ian- that I think myself warranted in changing
guage in such a circumstance was per- the 'version. We find indeed in the next
fectly natural. If there was any hedge section, that presently after this, when Je-
or arbour 7iear the sepulchre, so that while sus appeared to the ivom^n who were flee-
she spake to Jesus she was not visible to ingfrom the sepulchre, they were permitted
Aer co?7ij&a«/o725 / or if this avenue was such to embrace him. (Compare Mat. xxviii.
that, while they came up to it, the sepul- 8, 9, and Mark xvi. 8.) But this is well
chre was between her and them ; or if accounted for by Mr. West, as graciously
they were now waiting at some distance, designed to calm their minds, and to re-
or coming up with a slower pace, being move the terror they were under ; while
, charged with the weight of the materials Mary, who was under no such terror, had
582
He sends her away to comfort his disciples*
SECT. T shall yet continue for a little while upon the my brethren, ana
cxciv. earth, and give you further opportunities of ^ay unto them, I as-
— seeing nie again: let nothing therefore now ^^I^^^J'y'^^^^^^
XX. 17 detain thee any longer, but go immediately to and to ray God and
my dear brethren^ for whom I have still the your God.
same affectionate regard as ever, and say unto
them^ I am risen from the dead, and after I
have paid some visits to you, am shortly indeed
to ascend into heaven, from whence I came :
yet grieve not at that separation, but remem-
ber, that as I am going to him who is in a very
peculiar sense my Father, so I shall still be
mindful of your interest, and am also going to
your Father^ and [tol my God and your God ; for
such he is now become, through that covenant
which he has established with you in me ;' on
the whole, therefore, you have infinitely greater
reason to rejoice than to mourn.
And upon saying this he immediately disap-
peared for the present ; and the other women,
advancing to the sepulchre, where the angels
her grief dispersed at once, and was im-
mediately convinced that it was Christ
upon his calUng" her by her name. And,
to induce her not to wait for any thing"
more at present, it was a very proper con-
sideration that our Lord subjoins. For I am.
not yet ascended to my Father ; in which he at
once assured her that he was not yet quit-
ting this world, and plainly intimated his
intention of seeing* her and his disciples
again, and paying frequent visits to them
before his final departure, when what he
had lately said to his disciples, of his goitig
to the Father (John xvi. 28), should be ful-
filled by his ascension into heaven. (See
West^s Observ. p. 167, iP" seq J The sense
is obvious and easy in this view, and Dr.
Whitby (in his Note on this place), Mr.
Fleming (ChristoL Vol. III. p. 502), Mr.
Cradockj and others, interpret these words
as I have done in the paraphrase ; and it is
strange that Mr. Whiston should think this
text inexplicable, unless we suppose "that
Christ was immediately to ascend to his Fa-
ther, before he could at all converse with
any of them, or receive the expressions of
their homage to him." (See the Appendix
to his Sermons SLtBoyle^sLect. p. 298 — 300.)
If there had been any necessity for his as-
cending i^ninediately, he surely would not
Jirst have appeared to Mary^ and then to the
other viomen on their way to the city. The
interpretation here given suits thevsords as
well, and other scriptures much better. She
probably thought that if Ae nuas risen he was
also returned back to his heavenly Father,
to keep up his stated abode with him
again, as he quickly after did : to assure
her therefore of the contrary was exceed-
ing proper, and the best reason that could
be given to persuade her to wave any far-
ther discourse now, with which to be sure
she must otherwise have been earnestly
desirous to detain her dear Lord. To sup-
pose, with Messrs. V Enfant SLndBeausobre,
that she meant this adoration as homage to
a temporal prince, and that our Lord's answer
was chiefly intended as a declaration that
he must ascend to his Father before he received
his kingdom, appears to me very unnatural,
t Go to my brethren, &c.] By calling the
disciples his brethren, and God their Father
and their God, he intimates in the strongest
manner tlie full forgiveness of their fault
in leaving him, even without ever men-
tioning it ; just as the Father of the prodi-
gal son (Luke xv. 22, ISf seq. J intimated
his forgiveness of his undutiful behaviour,
by callitig for the best robe, &c. without any
direct reply to what his penitent child had
said of his unworthi?iess to be called his
son. These exquisite touches, which ev-
ery where abound in the evangelical vsrit*
ings, give inexpressible delight to a well
turned heart, and shew how perfectly
Christ knei\) our frame.
Reflections on the Resurrection of Christ, 58S
continued, received the news of his resurrec- sect.
tion from them, and were directed, as Mary ^^^^^'
Magdalene also was, to report it to the disci-
ples, with a variety of additional circum-
stances, which will be mentioned in the fol-
lowing section,
IMPROVEMENT.
How fit is it that we should sing unto the Lord a nezv so7ig ! Mat
and with what thankful hearts should we join, on his oxun daij^ xxvm.
and on every day, to congratulate the triumph of his rising ^"^
from the dead^ and to rejoice in this birthday of our hopes !
Now is the justice of God amply satisfied^ or the prisoner had
never been released. Now is the reproach of the cross ceased^
and turned into proportionable glory. That reproach was rolled
aivaij at once by the descending angel^ ^vho appeared^ not to
awaken Christ from his sleep, or to bring him a new life^ for he
had himself a power ^ whenever he pleased, to resume that which
he had voluntarily resigned (John x. 18) ; but he came to add
a solemn pomp to his revival, and to strike the guards with such
a terror as would effectually prevent any mad attempt on this
glorious Conqueror^ when he was bursting the bonds in which
he had for a while been held.
0 Lord^ we acknowledge the truth of thy promise : thou didst
not leave his sold in hell^ neither didst thou suffer the flesh of thine
Holy One to see corruption (Psal. xvi. 10). Now is Christ in-
deed rise7i from the dead^ and become the first fruits of them that
slept (l Cor. XV. 20) : may we, in conformity to his holy exam-
ple, be dead to sin, and to the world ; that like as Christ was rais^
ed up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
may -walk in newness of life I (Rom. vi. 4.) Then will he that
raised up Christ from the dead, ere long, quicken our mortal bodies
by his Spirit that dwelleth in us. (Rom. viii. 11.)
Let the faith of what has been done with regard to our glori- John
fied Head, and shall at length be accomplished with respect to ^^-^^
all his 7ne7nbers, daily gladden our hearts. When our eyes are 17
weeping, and our souls sinking within us, let us raise our thoughts
to yesus, our risen, and now ascended Redeemer ; who says to
all his brethren these gracious words (which may justly be re-
ceived with transports of astonishment, and fill our hearts at the
same time xvithjoy unspeakable, and full of glory J, " I ascend to
7ny Father and your Father, and to my God and your God."*
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is now, through
the death and resurrection of his dear Son (whom by raising
him from the dead he has so solemnly owned under that relation),
become our Father and our God^ As such let us honour him,
VOL. 2. 75
584 The other ivomen come to the sepulchre at sunrislng.
SECT, love him, and rejoice in him : and when we must leave this
cxciv. ^vorld, which Christ has long since left, let it delight our souls to
■~" think that we shall likewise ascend after him, and dwell xvith
xx!l7 ^"''^ ^" ^^^ propitious Divine presence. In the mean time, if
we are risen with Christy let us seek those things which areabove^
where Christ now sitteth at the right hand of God (Col. iii. 1) ;
and let us be willing, in whatever sense God shall appoint, to be
made conformable to his deaths that we may also be partakers of
his resurrection and glory. (Phil. iii. 10, 11.)
SECT. CXCV.
Christ ha'oing appeared to Mary^ the other ivomen come to the
sepulchre^ and are informed of his resurrection by the angels.
He appears to the women as they return to the city ; but neither
their testimony^ nor that of Mary ^ is received by the disciples.
Mat. XXVIII. 5—10. Mark XVI. —2, 5—11. Luke
XXIV. 3—11. John XX. IS.
Mark XVI. 9. Makk XVI. 9.
ijECT. T "^r E have just noxv seen in the preceding "VTO W when je-
^^^^"' V V section, that zvhen [Jesus'] was risen ^ ^'* ^^'^s risen
—^ from the dead very early on the first day of the l^:\:^t^X"i^.
xvi. 9 T^eek (which day was afterwards observed by pe are d first to Mary
his followers in commemoration of this impor- Magdalene, out of
tant fact), he made his first appearance to Mary ^f ^e^devils'^"^ "^'^
Magdalene^ out of whom (as was formerly said)
he had some time before ejected no less than
seven demons^ who by an awful providence were
permitted to join together in afflicting her.
(Compare Luke viii. 2, Vol. I. p. 334.)
— 2 But it is now time to return to the women, —2 And they [/.
her companions, from w^hom she had parted f* ^^^^ other 'aomen\
when she went to inform Peter and John that ""fT ""\o ^^^^^^^P-
, , 1 XT 1 ^"^ N ulchre at the risinfr
the sepulchre w^as open (John xx. 2, p. 576). of the sun.
These were now joined by \the other xuomen']
who had brought the spices, and, while Mary
was engaged in this interview with Christ,
catne up together to the sepulchre : and it was
now about the time of the rising of the sun,^
a About the risi?ig of the sun."] We have Mary had called Peter and John, and
seen before, that Mary Mag-dalene, with they had viewed the sepulchre, and Joanna
the other Mary and Salome, set out ivhile was come with the other luovien who were
it was yet dark, and Came within sight of to bring the spices, which might all pass
the sepulchre for the first time, just as it in less than an hour, the sun inas tip.
grew light enough to discern that it was These circumstances well agree with each
opened j(compare Mat. xxviii. 1, and other, and are presumptions in favour of
John x4- 1^ P- 5r4) ; but by that tim& the order which we have laid down.
Luke
xxiv.3
Two angels appear^ and tell them Jesus is risen : SBS
I. vK^XXlV.o. And having found the passage open without sect.
And they entered ^^^y obstruction in the way, and observed as cxcv.
InTSlf'hl' they stood at a distance that Peter and John
body of the Lord Je- had done the like, they entered into the sepulchre
sus. [Mark XVL themselves ; but, as they had before suspected
■~-l on seeing it open, they found not the body of the
Lord Jesus.
4 And it came to Ajid it came to pass ^ that as they xvere in great 4
pass, as they were perplexity on this account^ and knew not what
thereaboutr'bJirold to think was become of the hoi^y, behold,
[they saw] two men to their inexpressible astonishment, they saxv
[W20] stood by them the tivo angels whom Mary had seen but a lit-
l^S:T::i:i^- before (who had disappeared t,pon their
man, w/20 had beat coming to the sepulchre, but now rendered
sitting on the right themselves visible at once), in the form oi men,
side, clothed in a arrayed in splendid habits, [zuho] came and
long- wlute gfar- , , , ^ ^ i • -^ , 1 -,•
ment.] [Mark ^food by them, the women bemg unable to dis-
XVI.— 5.—] cover how they came in : and [one oftheni] ap-
peared like a young man, with a beautiful and
cheerful aspect, clothed in a long white robe,
glittering with lustre like the purest snow : and
this was the angel who appeared at first to the
guards, and [ivho had bee?i] afterwards seen by
Mary, sitting on the right side of the entrance
5--And[they were into the sepulchre. And they zvere greatly ter^ 5
affrighted],andbow- rified2i.t\\\\^ extraordinary and surprising sight;
to threartV[MArK ^^^^ Stepping back to the very door,'^ they bow-
XVI 5.] ed their faces to the ground, and fixed their eyes
upon it, in token of the profoundest respect."^
Mat. XXVIII. 5. But the angel, in a most mild and condescend- Mat.
And the angel an- {uQ" m2Lnnei\anszvered and said unto the xvo?}ienJ^ xxviii.
swered and said un- ,^*^ ^ 7 \ '_c j ^ \. ^ y ^
to the women, [Be ^^ ^^^ ^^ terrified at what you see ; for we ^
not affrighted:] for appear to comfort rather than afflict you, and
I know that ye seek have the best tidings to bring you that ever you
heard : / know, that in the strength of your
•» Stepping back to the very door.] This the Jews upon the sight of a celestial vis^
it was natural for them to do ; and from ion. (See Exod. xix. 21 ; and compare
the a;2^e/'* afterwards inviting them to cowe Judg. xiii. 20.) And it was also consider-
271 ayid view the sepulchre, we may infer that ed as dangerous by the heathen, when their
they were now precisely in this attitude, deities, or any celestial messengers from
= They bowed their/aces to the ground, and them, were supposed to make themselves
fixed their eyes upon it, ^c] The words visible ; as Eisner has finely shewn in his
^xova^eev ro ^^ovai-ov ug thv ynv, do not learned and entertaining note here. Eisn.
intimate the'iv prostrating themset'ves before Observ. Vol. I. p. 284.
the angels, but a respectful and reverential <> But the angel answered, &c.] I entirely
declining their heads,a.nd\oQkingdo\ynw3ird, agree with Mr. West, ihsit the particle <fi
that they might not appeal' to ^aze ; which should here be rendered but. Sec TVest's
h well known to have been forbidden to Observ. v. 23.
586 A7id bid them go and acquaint his disciples with it,
SECT, affection you are come to seek that holy and Jesu5[of Nazareth,^
cxcv. excellent Person, ^esiis of Nazareth^ who xvas which was crucifi-
— - crucified iht other day, and buried here : but ^iL^^ri' -^'^^
Mat. 17 7 7- • , 7 7 -Si 11 &&&)L ye the hvm^ a-
xxviii. "^ y ^^^^ y^ ^'^^ living among the deadf and why mong the dead ?]
^ are you come hither with materials for embalm- [Mark xvi. 6—.
Luke ing one who is possessed of an immortal life ? Luke XXIV^— 5.]
^■,,fi TT ' J. u J ^ ■ ' ^.^ • JL Luke XXIV. 6.
xi.iv.0 j:te zs 7iot nere^ but is risen this mornmg, as he jje is not here but
said t\\2it he should : behold^ the tomb where they is risen,[as he said;]
laid him ; the body is not here : come in, and C^^ ^^\ behold
satisfy yourselves by the strictest inquiry ; and 1^^'%^ j-^'L ^set
mexv^ with all the mixture of holy affections the place where the
which are suitable to such a circumstance, the I-o^d lay :] remem-
place where the Lord of life and glory, the ^^f ^^"^ he spake
V) . f. , , 7 r ° ' 1 M ""to you, when he
frince ot angels and men, lay for a while a was yet in Galilee,
breathless corpse : but he has now triumphed [Mat. xXVIII. 6.
over the grave ; and you have no reason to be ^^^^ XVI.— 6.]
surprised to hear it ; for it not only was most
probable in itself that this would be the case,
but he also often foretold it. Remember partic-
ularly how he spake unto you^ zvhen he xvas yet
in Galilee with you, where I know with what
kindness you attended and ministered to him ;«
7 Recollect that remarkable saying of his which 7 Saying- the Son
was so often repeated. The Son of mart must be of man must be de-
delivered into the hands of sinners^ and be cruci- livered into the
M c^ndthe third day he shall rise again (see Src'ltedTa^n^d
Mat. xvi. 21, Vol. I. page 487 ; xvii. 22, 23, the third day rise
Vol. II. p. 15 J and xx. 18, 19, p. 257) : now again.
this, as you well know, is the third day ;
and what he said is most exactly verified.
8 CA?id^ while the angel spake thus, they called 8 And they remem-
to mind what they had heard from Jesus, ^^^^^ his words.
Mat. and perfectly remembered his words. But Mat. XXVlli 7
sxvai.^o quickly^ added he, and communicate to your [But] go [your way]
5^ friends the joy which you now feel ; yea, go qui^^^Iy, and tell his
and tell his mourning disciples, cn«r particularly r"atris'^ris''en ft",!
tell Peter ^ who is so overwhelmed with his pe- the dead ; and be-
culiar sorrows, that he is risen from the dead: J?^^^* ^^ g-oeth be-
o72^ acquaint them also, in further confirmation ^^^^^^ you into Galilee,
of the truth of it. Behold^ he is shortly going be-
fore you into Galilee / for I am commissioned
^ Remember hona he spake unto you •when agreeable reflections, which the pious
he 11ms yet in Galilee.~\ This familiar man- reader will dwell upon at leisure. The
ner in which the angel speaks of what mention which he afterwards makes of re-
passed between Jesus and them in Gali- ter, whether it were or were not by a par-
lee, seems to intimate, that he had then ticular charge from Christ, is also observ-
been present, though invisible, and heard able in the same view,
what Jesus said. The hint suggests many f He is going before you into Galilee.']
As the women depart xvlth the news^ Jesus meets them ; 387
there shall ye see to assure you, that there ye shall all see him^ sect.
him, [as he said un- ^^ /^^ ^^-j ^^ y,^^^ ^j^^t he would meet you there. ^'''^'''•
foiryol'^'[MA"K (Compare Mat. xxvi. 32 ; and Mark xlv. 28, —
XVI. 7-3 p. 476.) Zo, 7, who am one of the angels that xxviii
stand in the presence of God, have told you 7
this, and my associate is here ready to attest
it ; and therefore, important and wonderful as
the message is, you need not at all scruple to
M A u K XVI. 8. report it.
And they went out j^,^ ^ ^l^-g ij^stead of making any farther Mark
quicklv, and tied . ^ ' ■ ti ^ j n i r xvi 8
from the sepulchre ; scrutmy, they -went out qmckly,^ and fied from ^^'- ^
for they trembled, the sepulchre as fast as possible ; for they trejii-
and were amazed : ^/^^^ ^^„j ^^^^y^ amazed at this angelic vision :
tmngTo'^uma^^^^^ met by the way, they said
they were afraid ; nothing to any one ol them, ybr they were very
[and with fear and much affrighted ; \hut'\ Tfi^/i hearts full oi fear
great joy did run to ^^ ^^^^^ ^. j^^^^ ^ ^^^ ^^.^^^ ^ mixture also
brmg his disciples „ .J i • i i • i i i i
word.] M A T T H. or great joy at this happy news which they had
XXVIII. 8.] received in so awful a manner,^ they ran with all
Mat. XXVIII. 9. ^^ speed they could to brino- his disciples rvord. ,, ,
And as they went to ^ ^ , ^,-' . '^ . f ^ Mat.
teU his disciples, ^'^^ «* ^^^^?/ "^^^^'^ S^^^^S 0" ^^^^ ^vay to xxviii.
behold, Jesus met tell his disciples^ behold^ Jesus himself met 9
When we consider this expression of the light by Mr. West^ who has clearly shewn
w^gel X.O \\\e ixomeut as Mark has related that both these sacred writers speak of the
it, {_iirAia — ariTT^oa-yu y^a?,^c.] the con- same/act. (See JVest's Observ. p. 37 — 40.)
struction shews, as the learned Bos ob- ' And as they were going on their way to
SQT\e.s fExercit. ^.2o), that these words tell his disciples.'] Admitting what is here
are tlie message which the angel puts into supposed, that there was but one vision of
the mouth of these women, to be delivered angels (besides that to Mary Magdalene),
by them to the apostles. But what is and one message sent by them, this will I
added [there shall ye see hirn] may, con- think establish the order in which we have
sistent with this criticism, be understood ranged this story. For if (as Dr. Clarke
as in the paraphrase, which makes the and many other critics strangely suppose)
sense more complete, by adding a very Mary's interview with the apostles (John
material, and, to them who so tenderly xx. 2) had happened between the angelic
loved Jesu», a very delightful circum- vision and this appearance of Christ to the
stance ; namely, that they should see him ivomen, such a connection as this would
themselves, and not merely receive the have been very unnatural. Matthew
most credible assurances of his resurrec- would on that hypothesis rather have said,
tion from others. And ivhen they had told his disciples [and they
b They went out qiiicklyj] This is the believed thein not], Jesus met them, &c.
exact import of the word t^tKBaa-at, which But Mr. West, who apprehends that there
is the same in both the evangelists, but is were several distinct appearances of an-
properly rendered here in Matthew, they ^e/^, andtwo distinct appearances of Christ
departed. (See West^s Observ. p. 36.) to the u-o7nen (the first to Mary Magda-
1^ With fear and joy.] It was so natural lene, and the second to the other Mary and
for such a tnixture oi' passions to arise on Salome, when the other vjomen were not
this grand occasion, that I think very little present), concludes, that these several
stress is to be laid on Mark's mentioning facts were reported to the apostles at dif-
the'iv fear alone, and Matthew's mention- ferent times, and by diflerent women ; and
ing their Joy with it, to prove they relate thnt Joanna and the other women, wlio had
different stories. I have since the pleasure only seen the angels after the two Maries and
tofind, that this is represented in the same Salome were gone from the sepulchre^
588 And bids them not he afraid^ but go and tell his brethren-
SECT, them^^ sayi72g\ in the usual form of congratula- them, saying, All
^^^^' toiy salutations, Ha'il, my friends ! I give you ^^^^V^^iV^'^^u^'Il^*
— ••^r^i.j A , \- r --^ and held him by the
Mat. J^y^^ the day. t^^z^ upon this, begmnmg to f^et, and worship-
jxviii. recover from their fear, as they saw it was Je- ped him.
9 sus, they drexv near in the most respectful man-
ner, fl:/2(^, prostrating themselves before him, ^OO/^
hold of his feet ^ and embraced them, and paid
their homage to him on this joyful occasion.
10 Then Jesus^ as he saw that they were still in 10 Then said Jesus
a great deal of confusion, did not long permit unto them, Be not
them to continue in that posture, but comfort- treUirenf diat they
ed and dismissed them (as he had done before go into Galilee,
with respect to Mary) ; and said to them^ Be and there shall they
720^ any more afraid^ for you have indeed no ^^^ ^^'
reason for it ; [but'] as you have now the fullest
proof that I am actually risen from the dead,^o
ye therefore and tell mij dear brethren., whoever
of them you may meet here in the city,^ that
they go arvay into Galilee.^ to the place I form-
erly appointed (see note ^ on Mat. xxvi. 32, p.
476) ; and when a proper number of them is
met there., they shall see me appear publicly
among them, to remove all the remaining
doubts which any of them may entertain as to
the certainty of my resurrection.
Luke Now after Jesus had spoken these words, he Luke XXIV. 9.
XXIV. immediately disappeared; and the women ran And [they] returned
^ on to carry- the news : and when they were re- ^J '^^^ "T^^r^l
turned from the sepulchre to Jerusalem, they told
made their report to the apostles before the able part of the way in their flight. The
arrival of the two Maries and Salome ; and words \_as they went to tell his disciples'] are
by thus representing- the story in a differ- indeed wanting in many ancient versio7is
etit order he obviates the difficulty arising and manuscripts, as Dr. Mill has shewn in
from the account whicli the two disciples his note on this place ; but Dr. Whitby^
that were g-oing- to Emmaus give of the with considerable reason, contends that
report tliey had heard from the women, they are genuine (see his ^xamen. iJf/7//?,
Luke xxiv. 22 — 24. (See IVest's Observ. p. p. 91) ; and the sense of them seems im-
77, 86, i^ seq.J plied in the close of the preceding verse.
^ ^esus himself met them."] I cannot ' My brethren.'] The reader will ob-
think, with Dr. Lightfoot^ ( Hor. Heb. in serve our Lord speaks the same language
loc.) tl)at this relates to Jiis interview with here which he had used John xx. 17. (See
Mary Magdalene described before ; for note « on that text, p. 582.) No doubt
though an enallage or exchange of numbers these aflTectionate friends of Christ were
be sometimes used (see ;2of e '' on Luke xxiii. exact in reporting this circumstance, that
39, p. 546), yet it is not to be admitted their injured Lord called them Az.? (^reMreit
without necessity. Now it is certain Mary still. And both Matthew and John, to
was alone when Christ appeared to her ; whom the glad tidings were immediately
and that appearance was at the sepulchre, brought, felt it strike so powerfully on.
this between that and the city, and prob- their hearts, that they could not but re-
ably after they dispatched solne consider- cord it.
They go and tell all these things to the disciples. 5^9
things unto the e- all these things to the eleven apostles, and to all sect.
leven, and to all the ^/^^ ^^^^ of ^1^^*^ disciples, whom they met with c-^^v.
^^*^' then, or on the following days,"' having it "~
much at heart to deliver this important mes- ^^^^
sage in the most punctual and effectual manner. 9
10 It was Mary And they xvere 3Iary Magdalene^ and Joanna^ \q
Mag-dalene, and Jo- ^^^^ 3Iary [the mother^ of James and Joses, and
::S;onS,and Salome, and the other ^omen that had gone
Other icomen that Tvith them to the sepulchre, as above, with an
vcere with them, intent to embalm Christ's body (p. 574, 575)^
which told these ^^^ were the persons that were thus honoured
thine^s unto the a- . . , . r
post'les. With this message from the angels, and trom
Christ himself; and who accordingly came
and told these things to the apostles^ who had
none of them as yet seen any thing more them-
selves than that the sepulchre was empty, and
Mark XVI. 10. the linen clothes laid in order. Aiid Mary Mark
And [Mary Magda- Magdalene in particular went with the other ^^"^-^^
lene] went and told ^ ^„^ ^^/^ ^j,^ disciples that had been so
I the disciples J that t . , , . . • »
had been with him, constantly With him^ as they were mourning and
as they mourned and xveeping for the loss of their dear Master, that
wept, [that she had ^^^ ^^jg^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^/^^ jT^^^,. and that indeed he
seen the Lord, and , . , , i r ^ r n ^u
that he had spoken had appeared to her the first ot all the compa-
these things unto ny, and had spoken these gracious things unto
her.] [John XX. f^^j. ^s well as to them relating to his resurrec-
'^ tion from the dead, and had expressly ordered
her to acquaint them with his purpose of
ascending ere long to his Father and their
Father, and to his God and their God. (Com-
pare John XX. 17, p. 581.)
11 And they, when But such were the prevailing prejudices that 11
they had heard that bad possessed the minds of his disciples, and
Wr/e^nrfhlbeS" "^t''-^ly ^^«" '^'''' «?'"'' dejected, and
lieved not : [and their hopes blasted by the death of their Lord,
their words seemed that though they could not think this was re-
lated with a design to impose upon them, yet
they were ready to impute it to the power of
imagination ; and even when they heard that
he was actually alive ^ and had been seen by her^
and by the other women who also testified the
same, they did not in general believe it ; but
their words seemed to most of them as an idle
«" A)id to all the rest."] This I think re- that what is said in verse 12 should he
fers not only to one report^ but to the repeti- transposed in such a manner as is necessary
tion of the testimony to any of their pious for reconciling it with the scheme we
friends who believed in Jesus : andifrAaf have proposed in the preceding section.
be admitted, it will be an additional proof Compare note ' on Luke xiiv. 12, p. 577-
590 Refections on Christ's care to comfort his disciples.
SECT, tale^ and they determined to suspend their be- tothemasidletales.^
cxcv. lief of so important a fact till they were satis- [Luke XXIV. ll.]
""~" fied of it by the testimony of their own senses ;
^^yl\l which, through the great condescension o£
their Lord, several of them were before the
end of that day, as we shall quickly relate.
IMPROVEMENT.
Mat. We are now again called, as by the angePs voice, to come and
xxviii. see the place where the Lord lay^ and to take an affectionate sur-
6 vey of that sepulchre which our rising Saviour had left, and
where he had laid aside the dress of death, as a token that he
should return to it no more. How wonderful that he should
ever have lain there / that the Lord of life should have dwelt
among the dead, and from the glory of the throne of God should
have sunk down to the abasement of the grave 1 But he has
burst its prison doors, and has abolished death, and him -who had
the power of it ; abolished it for himself and us. How are all
its terrors now disarmed ! 0 death, where is thy sting ! 0 grave,
where is thy victory / (l Cor. xv. 55»^
7, 8 With what pleasure did the angels deliver this gracious mes-
sage of their Lord as well as ours ! and with what transport did
the pious women receive it ! Behold the tender care of Christ
over his people ! Angels have it immediately in charge to send
the glad tidings to his disciples ; and Jesus repeats and confirms
10 them. Go tell my brethren, I am risen from the dead. Lord !
Is this thy language concerning those who but a few hours be-
fore h^d forsaken thee ! and one of them, with such dreadful im-
precations, denied thee ! Yet even that disciple is not excluded ;
Mark nay, to him is it peculiarly addressed : go tell thy brethren, and
^^*' ^ in particular tell Peter, that he, poor mourner, may especially be
comforted. Compassionate Redeemer I thou hast brought up
from the tomb with thee that tenderness and goodness which
laid thee there !
9 Such is the freedom and glory of thy grace, that thou some-
times dost first manifest thyself to those who were once in the
most miserable bondage to Satan, Whenever this is the case,
may the peculiar obligation be remembered ! May every re-
mainder of unbelief ht subdued in our souls ! and may we joy-
10 fully coimnunicate to all around us the tidings of a risen Saviour^
and the merciful discoveries of his presence to us !
The guards return^ and make their report to the priests : 591
SECT. CXCVI.
The guards^ returning tojerusalem^ make their report to the chief
priests ; and are bribed to say that the diaciples stole the body of
Christ xuhile they slept, Christ appears to Peter ^ and then to
two other disciples. Mat. XXVIII. 11 — 15. Mark XVI.
12, 13.
Mat XXVIII. 11. MaT. XXVIII. 11.
"^OVV when they ^Q JV while these extraordinary things were sect.
hokC'somr'of ' the "^^transacting, and [the zvo?nen] xvere going to ^^^^^;
watch came into the tell the disciples what they had heard and seen,
city, and shewed un- behold^ some of the guards^ who had fled from xxvHi.
aVt^hethin-s'Thlt ^^^ sepulchre in great consternation, began an
were done. ** little to recollect themselves, as to the excuse
they should make for its being broke open, and
the body being gone, as it would soon be known
that it was : they ca7ne therefore into the city^
and told the chief priests^ from whom they had
received their immediate charge, all that had
happened; and urged how impossible it was for
them to 'make any opposition in the presence
of the angel, who shook the very earth with the
terror of his appearance, and therefore might be
easily supposed to take away all power of resist-
ance from them. And thus these ignorant and
stupid heathens became in effect the first
preachers of Christ's resurrection, and were
witnesses of the truth of it to the most inveter-
ate of his enemies.*
12 And when they This report could not but strike the chief 12
were assembled wiih priests into some amazement and confusion;
taken "^counself they ^^^ therefore they immediately convened the
sanhedrim ; and having met together with the
elders of the people, they deliberated upon it,
ajid consulted among themselves what they
should do in so perplexing an emergency ; and
particularly whether they should dismiss the
guards with a charge to conceal the story they
a These ignorant and stupid heathens brought him to life again ; but, instead of
became in effect the first preachers, l^c.'\ imagining themselves concerned in the
Such news, coming from such persons, purposesofhisrw«rre«/o?z, they might per-
must undoubtedly throw \h& priests into in- haps abuse their knowledge of it, to con-
expressible confusion; but it is remarka- firm their belief of some superstitious tales
ble, that neither the soldiers nor the priests of their own priests, which bore some little
were converted by what the one saw or the resemblance to it; as those of Alcestis,
other heard. Perhaps the soldiers m'l^ht Hippolytus, Hercules, and many othersdid.
think that Jesus was, like some of their See Valer. Max. lib. i. cap. viii. § 12 ; and
&bulous heroesi the son of some '^"''n-j who jPlin, Nat, Hist, lib. vii. cap. 52.
VOL. 3. 76
592 They hire them to saij^ His disciples stole the body as they slept :
SECT, had told them, or should accuse them to the gave large money
cxcvi. governor, and attempt to punish them for ne- ^^'^to the soldiers,
■~J glecting their duty : but, considering the man-
xxvifi ^^^ ^^ which the governor had appeared affect-
j2 ed towards Jesus, and the many prodigies
which had attended his death, by which Pilate's
conscience must have been in some degree
awakened ; and also knowing they had no pos-
itive proof of any negligence or treachery in the
soldiers, they resolved to commence no prosf^r
cution against them, and to pass it over with-
out any complaint ; but, apprehending that the
most effectual method they could take would
be to endeavour to pervert their evidence, they
gave [a] large [sum of'\ money to the soldiers^
13 Sayings Since this strange thing has happened, ISSaymg, Say ye,
whethf r there really was any sorcery in it, or ^*^ disciples came
whether it was merely your dream,^ it must for hfm"away wlnle^we
the public safety be concealed, or the whole na- slept,
tion will be deluded and undone : we must
therefore insist upon it, that neither you, nor
your companions, say any thing of what you
imagine you saw ; but if any should question
you about it, and pretend that this Jesus is
risen, say ye only in the general. We were
weary with so long a watch, and dropp ed asleep ;
and we conclude, ?Art^ his disciples came by nighty
14f and stole hi7n away while zve slept.^ And yoa 14 And if this
have no need to be afraid of being punished come to the gover-
for your negligence ; for if this should come
*> They gave a large sum of money to the puzzled to account for this strange event ;
soldiers.'] Mr. i)/?^on very well observes (in and, laying it dow^n as a first principle,
his unanswerable Detnoiistratio7i of Christ's '* that Jesus must be an iinpostort''^ they
Resurrection, p. 296), that had they not would, of course, incline to impute his
been afraid to put them to death, as they resurrectioti, as they had ascribed his
were Romans, it is very probable that ^niracles, to some diabolical operation. It is
Caiaphas's maxim (John xi. 50), That it however probable, that such artful men
is better one man should die than all the mightspeakof it in such loose terms as the
/>eo/j/e/>emA, would have cost some of them paraphrase repi-esents, though they could
their lives; at least the co7n.mrt;zfl'f;?^ oj^cer, not seriously endeavour to persuade the
had he been fully in their power, would guards they were in a dream.
have been in imminent danger. Could ^ And stole hiin away ivhile Hve slept."] It
they have proved any neglect, no doubt was ridiculous to pretend to say with any
these soldiers would have been prosecuted certainty whatpassediyA/Ve they were asleep i
to the utmost (as Peter's guards were after- so that this was in effect only hiring them
wards. Acts xii. 19). But, as they were to say, that they ineiv 7iothing of the onatter,
destitute of all proof, it was prudence not and did not observe any thing more than
to prosecute them at all ; for, had Pilate ordinary had passed that night. How ab-
acquitted them, it would have been in ef- surd this pretence was, athousand circum-
fect a public declaration, that he was con- stances concur to shew ; as most writers
vinced Jesus was indeed risen. in dejence of Christianity have demonstrated,
*= Whether there really v/as any sorcery and perhaps none, in few words, better
m it, isicl They must, to be sui-e, be than Bishop Burnet on the Articles, p. 64..
Which story is still reported among' the Jexvs, 59S
i)or*s ears, we wiU to be heard by the governor^ and he should blame sect.
persuade him, and y^^ for sleephig on your guard, xve will per- *^^^^*°
secure you. suade him to make no farther inquiry about it, ^^^
and by our interest with him will make you xxviil.
easy and secure. 14
15 So they took Andthey took the money that was offered them, 15
the money, and did a^id did as they Were taught ; and, according to
^^ ^,^^7^,)^"''^ ^^"^^^ Uheir instructions, thev concealed what th ey had
and this saying- is i 1 '1 r 1 t • 1
commonly reported seen, and pretended that some 01 the disciples
amon.^ the Jews un- must have taken the advantage of their weari-
tii this day. j^^gg ^^^ neglect, and so have carried off the
body while they were fallen asleep. And such
are the prejudices of that unhappy people, that
this story ^ wild and senseless as it was, is com»
monly reported among the Jeivs even to this day :^
and they still choose, in opposition to the most
certain evidence, to believe this extravagant
suggestion, rather than yield to the truth of
Christ's resurrection, though solemnly attest-
ed to them, by many who saw and conversed
familiarly with him after he was risen from the
dead ; of which number " Peter was one, who
was early distinguished by the favour of seeing
him, and to whom indeed he appeared first of
all the apostles."^ (See 1 Cor. xv. 5.)
= Reported among the yeivs even to this by the rest of the apostles. (Compare 1
day.'] This seems to intimate, that Mat- Cor. xv. 5, and Luke xxiv. 34.) Dr. Light-
thew wrote his gospel several years after foot therefore supposes, that Peter was
our Lord's resurrection. As to the industry one of the two disciples to -vvhom Christ ap-
of the Jews in propagating- this report, it is peared as they were going to Emmaus ; and
xevyohsevvshl&th^tyustinMartyr f Dialog, imagines, he was so earnestly desirous to
cum. Tryph. p. 368, Edit. Thirlb.J express- obtain a sight of Christ, that, upon hearing
ly asserts, "that the Jews sent chosen from the women (Mat. xxviii. 7", 8) that he
men of considerable rank over all the would go before them ifito Galilee, ivhere they
world, not only in the general to represent should see him, he presently set out with.
Christianity as an impious sect, but to as- Cleopas for Galilee ; but, having seen him
sert that the body of Jesus was stolen out of in their way to Emmaus, they hastened
his tomb by night, and that the persons back to Jerusalem to acquaint the disciples
who thus fradiilently conveyed him away, with it ; upon which the rest of the eleven,
took occasion from thence to report that he as they knew of Peter's journey, when
rose from the dead, and ascended into they saw him return so suddenly and un-
heaven " And this message is spoken of, expectedly, cried out. Certainly the Lord
as having been sent before the destruction of has appeared to Sitnon, else he tvould never
Jerusalem. Compare note ^ on Acts xxviii. have come back so soon. (See Lightfoot,
22, Vol. III. sect. Ix. Jfor. Hebr. on Mark xvi. 13 ; and Luke
^ Peter was one, to whom he ap- xxiv. 34.) But, had Peter been one of
peared first of all the apostles] Though these tvoo disciples, it is no way probable
the evangelists have not recorded the par- that, in the large account which Luke has
ticular circumstances of owr Zorf/'^ a/j/?ear- given of this matter, (chap. xxiv. 13, ^
ance to Peter, yet it is evident that he ap- seq.J his name would not have been men-
peared/rjf to Petert before he was seen tioned as well as that of Cleopas ; or that
594 Jesus appears to two disciples.
SECT. Now this account that Jesus was risen was Mark XVI. 12.
cxcvi. brought to the disciples by the women soon After that, he ap-
— after his resurrection, on the first day of the P---l„, - -^'^^^^
xvi 12 ^^^^^ » ^^^ ^fi^^ ^'^"•^' °^ ""^^ ^^"^^ ^'^y-' ^^ "P' ^'^^"^' ^s t^^y walk-
pear ed to txvo ofthem^ though in another form^ eel, and went into
or in a different habit from what he ordinarily ^^^^ country.
Avore,E as they zvere walking on the way, and
going into the country to Emmaus, a neigh-
13 bouring village.^ And they zvent back direct- 13 And they went
ly, and told it to the rest of their companions ; yet and told it unto the
they did not all immediately believe them, till at iieved Uiey \hcmi^'
length he appeared to all his apostles together
once and again, and gave them such convincing
evidence as they could not withstand. But
these facts are of so great importance, that we
shall give a particular narration of each, and
first of that which happened on the way to Em-
maus, in the next section.
IMPROVEMENT.
Mat. Surely there is nothing in the whole sacred story which does
xxviii. in a more affecting manner illustrate the deplorable hardness of
^^ the human heart in this degenerate state, than the portion of it
which is now before us. What but the testimony of an apostle
a person of his forwardness would have Emmaus came to make this report, f/iere.jf,
continued silent, and have left Cleopas to before they could tell their story, saluted
carry on the conversation as the 0/2/6/" ^/jeflii- them with that joyful declaration. The
er ; nor does it suit with the circumstances Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Si-
of the story, that, after Peter''s goitig to the vion- (Luke xxiv. 34.) But I apprehend
sepulchre had been related just before, it these seeming-ly different accounts may be
should be only spoken of in this conversa- reconciled, by observing, that various per-
tion (verse 24) as what was done, not by sons in the same company were variously
one of themselves, but by certain of theon impressed: andthat some of those to whom
that were ivith them ; or that it should be the travellers from Emmaus came, had,
said, when \\\e.y returned to y ems alem (ver. even after their story was told, some re-
33), that they found the eleven gathered to- maining doubts^ appears from Luke himself.
^efAer, if one of those til at returned belong- See Luke xxiv. 37, 41, sect, cxcviii. an^
ed to that number, and was one of these note ^ on Mat. xxviii. 17, sect. ccii.
eleven. (Compare note ^ on Luke xxiv. 34, ^ Into the country to Emmaus, iD'c.'] Em-
sect, cxcviii.) maus was a village about sixty furlongs dis-
8 He appeared to tivo of them, he."] The tant from Jerusalem, as we are told by
only reason which Masius has for suspect- Luke (chap. xxiv. 13), and Josephus gives
ing (Supplem. Critic. Vol. II. p. 1788) that the same account of its situation, Bell.Jud.
this appearance was different from that lib. 7, cap. 6 (al. 26), § 6. And therefore,
which Luke describes as made to the Mua though they have been frequently con-
c//*cz/>/e.y, that were on their journey to Em- founded, this must have been a different
maus (chap. xxiv. 13, ijf seq.J is this : the place from that which was afterwards call-
companions of these txvo disciples are rep- ed Nicopolis, which lay near the Lake of
resented here by Mark as ;!o« (^e/jrewV?^ the Gemiesareth, at a much greater distance
resurrection of Christ when attested by from Jerusalem. See Heland.Fal^stin.lih,
them; whereas when the tvjo disciples h^om ii. cap. vi. p. 427, ^seq.
Reflections on the dishelief of Christ^ s resurrection, 5.95
could have been sufficient to persuade us, that men who had been sect.
but a few hours before the witnesses of such an awful scene, cxcvi.
who had beheld the angel descending^ had felt the earth trem- "~"^
hl'ing^ and had seen the sepidchre bursting open by a Divine \i.\^
power, and had fallen doivn in helpless astonishment and confu-
sion, perhaps expecting every moment to be themselves destroy-
ed, should that very day, yea, that very morning, suffer them-
selves to be hired by a sum of money to do their utmost to
asperse the character of Christy and to invalidate the evidence
of his resurrection^ of which they were in effect eyewitnesses f
Nay, how astonishing is it, that the chief priests themselves, 12
the public ministers of the Lord of hosts ^ could act such a part as
this ! They hear this full evidence that he^ that Jesus whom
they had murdered, was 7'isen from the dead; and they well
knew and remembered that he had himself put \h& proof of his
mission on this very fact ; a fact to which the prodigies at his
death, which they themselves had seen and felt, added an inex-
pressible weight of probability. Who would not have expected
that they should have been alarmed, convinced, and humbled ;
that they should have turned the remaining days of the passover
into a publicy^r*^, and have solicitously sought out him who was
so powerfully ^e'c/ar^(^ ?(? be the Son ofGod^ to cast themselves at
his feet, and entreat his pardon and grace ? But instead of this,
with invincible and growing malice, they set themselves to op-
pose him, and bribe the soldiers to testify a lie^ the most to his 13
dishonour of any that hell could invent. And surely, had not
Christ been kept out of their sight and power, they would, not-
withstanding all this, have endeavoured to bring him down to
the tomb again, on the very same principles on which they would
have slain Lazarus after his resurrection. (John xii. 10.) So
true does it appear, in this renewed and unequalled instance,
that if men hear not Moses and the prophets^ neither xvill they be
persuaded though one rose from the dead. (Luke xvi. 31.)
No question but these very men, when pressed with the evi-
dences of Chrisfs resurrection^ answered, as succeeding infidels
have presumptuously done, " that he should have appeared to
them^ if he expected they should believe he was risenJ*^ But
what assurance can we have that the same prejudices which over-
bore the testimony of the soldiers^ might not also have resisted
even the appearance of Christ himself? Or, rather, that the ob-
stinacy which led them to overbear conscience in one instance,
might not have done it in the other I Justly therefore did God
deny what wantonness, and not reason, might lead them to de-
mand : justly did he give them up to dishonour their own
understandings, as well as their moral character, by this mean
and ridiculous tale^ which brought men to testify what was done 15
xvhik they were asleep.
596 jfesiis appears to two disciples as they go to Em??2auSy
I
GECT. The most that common sense could make oi their report^ had
cxcvi. ti^ey deserved the character of honest men, would have been,
that they knew nothing of the matter. And we have a thousand
times more reason to admire the condescension of God, in send-
ing his apostles to these wicked rulers with such additional
proofs and messages, than to censure his providence in prevent-
ing Christ's public appearance. May he deliver us from the
treachery and corruption of our own hearts ! May he give us a
holy tenderness and integrity of soul, that we may see truth
wheresoever it is, and may follow it whithersoever it leads us ;*
lest God should choose our delusions^ and give us up in his
righteous judgment to believe a lie, and to think ourselves wise
in that credulous infidelity which is destroying its ten thousands
amongst us !
SECT. CXCVII.
Christ appears to the two disciples on their way to E7nmauSy andy
having- opened the scriptures to them, makes himself known in
breaking of bread. Luke XXIV. 13 — 33. —
SECT.
cxcvii.
Luke XXIV. 13. Luke XXIV. i:
WE are now to give some farther account A NDbehold,two
of that fact which was hinted at in the -^ of them went
, . close of the preceding section, of our Lord's ^l\f same day to a
•i-U'^s . ^ ^ ri • 1- • 1 . Village called Em-
xxiv. appearmg to two of his disciples on a journey : maus, which was
13 and the case was this. Behold (for it is a very from Jerusalem a-
observable story), two of them were travelling ^^"^ threescore fur-
that very day on which Jesus rose from the ^"^^*
dead to a village called Emmaiis, which was
about sixty furlongs, or somewhat more than
14 seven rciiXts, from Jerusalem. And as they 14 And they talk-
walked along, they discoursed together of all ed together of all
these wonderful and important things which f^^^^^J ^^'"^^, ^^^^^^
had lately happened, and which could not but ^ P^'^"
\o lie with great weight on their spirits. And 15 And it came
it came to pass, that as they talked about the ^^ P^^^' that while
sufferings and death of their beloved Lord, and ^'SL^aTdrslet
the report which had been spread that morning
of his resurrection, ^^z^i^rg'z/^^ the point togeth-
er with visible marks of the greatest concern,*
» Argued the point together^ The word scope of their i7iquiry was how to reconcile
*-<»7£/i; (as Mr. West observes) signifies these events with what had been foretold
y discuss, examine, or inquire together ; and concerning the Messiah, which, by the
It appears, from the connection, that as message that the women had but just be-
tney were discoursing on the sufferings, fore brought from the angels, they were
anu death, and resurrection of Jesus, the particularly called to remember. (Com.
and enters into conversation xvith them as a stranger. 597
Jesus himself drew Jesus also himself drew near^ as one come from sect.
near, and went with Jerusalem who was going the same way, and cxcvii.
^ ^^^' travelled on with them,
16 But their eyes But that they might not presently discover ^^iv.
were holden, that vvho he was, and be prevented by this means 15
know him!""^^ """^ ^'*o«^ expressing their own thoughts with free-
dom, he appeared to them in something of a
different form and habit from what he usually
■wore (compare Mark xvi. 12, p. 594) ; and
besides what there might be of an uncommon
vigour and majesty in his zouwttrx^mcQ^their eyes
rvere so affected and restrained by a secret bujt
powerful influence on them, that they did not
look upon him with that attention and recol-
lection which might have been expected ; so
that, on the whole, though they were some
considerable time in his company, yet they did
not know hi?n,^
17 And he said -^72 J Rejoined himself to them, as it were by 17
tinto them, What accident, and, after the usual s^lut^tion, said to
manner of commu- ^^ jyj j inquire what are these matters
nications are these ' ^ ^ ^ . ,
that ye have one to which you are conjemng upon betxveen your-
another, as ye walk, selves^ as you walk^ and about which you seem
and are sad ? ^^ }^^ g^ much concerned ? for I perceive you
to be very earnest in discourse, and see that
you appear with a sorrowful countenance,
18 And the one of And one \of the two\^ whose name was CleO' 18
them, whose name /,q^ c answered and said to him. You seem to be
was Cleopas, an- ■' r t 1 j i. u
swering-, said unto come from Jerusalem, and though you may per-
haps be no more than a stranger there, yet is it
possible that you should be at any loss to know
what is the subject of our conversation, and
pare Luke xxlv. 6, 7, p. 586, and xviii. than this, even some particular agency of
31 — 33, p. 256, 257.) Accordingly when God, to divert their eyes from looking
Jesus had inquired, ver. 17, What argu- stedfastly upon him, or so to affect their
Tnents are these that ye are debating one laith memories as to render them incapable of
another ? (for so Mr. West would render recollecting who he was. Compare Gen.
it) this is the point he took occasion to xxi. 19 ; Numb. xxii. 31 ; and 2 Kings
illustrate and explain (ver. 26, 27), by vi. 17, 18.
shewing them it was necessary-, in accom- <= One of the tvjo ivhose name v) as Cleopas, "^
plishment of what was foretold^ that the It has already been observed that Cleopas
Messiah should suffer these things, and so was the same with Alpheus, the father of
should enter into his glory ,- and with this James the less and Judas, who were tnvo
\'iew he expounded to thetn in all the scrip- of the apostles. (Luke vi. 15, 16.) See note ^
tures the things concerning himself. (See on John xiv. 22, p. 441, and 7iote ^ on John
West's Observ. p. 69 — 73.) xix.25, p. 549. Some suppose thatthe other
^ They did not kno'o hijn.'] A different was I>uke ; but Dr. Lightfoot endeavours
habit, and their having no expectation of to prove it was Peter. (See 7iotc ^ on Mat.
seeing him, might, in part, prevent their xxviii. 15, p. 593.) It seems more proba-
knowing him : yet, as it is said their eyes ble that he was not one of the apostles, but
Viere restrained from knoiving hiin, I am might possibly be one of the number of the
ready to think there was something more seventy, whose name is uncertain.
598 They tell hhn the concern they were under about Jesm^
SECT, what it is that gives us such concern ? Are you him. Art thou only
cxcvii. fiig Q^iy person that sojourns in Jerusalem^ and ^ stranger in Jeru-
7— IS unacquainted with the extraordinary thm9's ^ ^tT'l "f^ ^!f ^ "°^
Luke » • , 1 7 , , . , ,^ ^ known the things
xxiv. '^^1''^^'^ '^(^'^e been done there in so pubhc a man- which are come to
18 ner within these few days^ that they engross P^ss there in these
the conversation of the whole city ? ^^^'^ *
19 And he said to them^ What are those things 19 And he said
that you refer to ? And they said to hitn^ Those unto them. What
that "relate to Jesus, who was called the Naz- ^^!"/^ • ^^"^ ^}^^^
^ r , r 1 said unto him, Con-
arene ; a man xvho was a prophet of the most cerning- Jesus of
illustrious character, and greatly/?0T(;^r/w/both Nazareth, which
in actions and in words ; for he wrought the ^'^^ ^ prophet,
most astonishing miracles, and taught the most ^of d^'e^^l^' Go^^^
instructive and excellent doctrine, which raised and all the people :
him to the highest honour before God, and all
the people of Israel, among whom he publicly
20 appeared for several months and years. And 20 And how the
have you not then heard, hoxv our chief priests chief priests and our
and rulers delivered him up to the Roman ffov- rulers delivered him
J n 1 1 • 1 1 . . ° . to be condemned to
ernor, and compelled him by their importunity death, and have cru-
to pass a sentence of death upon him, and so cru- cified him :
21 cifed him between two robbers ? And this 21 But we trust-
must needs be an unspeakable affliction to us, ^^ that it had been
who are two of his disciples : for we not onlv J;,\, '1'^'^'!^"';^'^
.-, Ti' T»/r r ^ -. •. •' have redeemed Is-
tnoLight him a Messenger from God, as the rael .- and beside all
old prophets were, but we verily hoped that he this, today is the
had been the Messiah himself, even the very ^^J^!^^ ^^^^^'^^^^^^^^^^
person who should have delivered Israel from the ^^"^^ ^^^^^
power of their enemies, and have established
the long expected kingdom of God among us :
but now are we ready to give up all our hopes ;
for we have seen him on a cross instead of a
throne : and besides all these melancholy {occur-
rences\ though he had given us intimations of
his rising again on the third day, yet this is now
the third day sifice these things were done, or
since he was condemned and crucified, and we
have not yet received any convincing evidence
22 of his being risen from the dead. It is true 22 Yea, and car-
indeed, some women among us, of our society, ^^^"^ women also of
ha^e greatly surprised us with an account they risSnXIw^ich
Drought this morning ; who tell us, they were ivere early at the
very early at the sepulchre in which he was laid, sepulchre :
23 with an intent to embalm him ; And, not 23 And when they
having found his body there, they came away found not Ids body,
^ Are you the only person that sojourns in is tlie empliatical import of the original}
yerusaknii and 19 unacquainted, &c.] This cry |tt5K^ 7rApotKU£^»ut an iyvc«?, &c.
who had been crucified^ and was 7wxv reported to be alive. 599
they came, saying-, in haste to acquaint us with it ; a72d besides sect.
that they had also tj^jg they sau, that thev also sazv a vision^ or ap- cxcvii.
seen a vision of an- '^' r j ^ l jv j l- ^ i 7- .
gels, which said that pantion, c/««^e/5,^ zvho ajprmed him to be ahve -—
he was alive. again, with some other strange and extraordi- ^"j^^
24 And certain of nary circumstances. Nay, and some 7nen too 33
them which were -,^,^^ were with lis. of our own company, xvent oa
with us, went to the ^, , ^^7 , i l jr 1 r' \ 1 "*
sepulchre,and fbund themselves to the sepulchre, and found \it\ to be
it even so as the wo- even so as the wo7nen had said, that is, that the
men had said ; but body was gone, and saw the funeral linen laid
him they saw not. -^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ , ^^^^ /^.^^ ^f^^^ ^-^ ^^^^ ^^^.
though we are informed that since we left the
company some women have come to them,
who affirm that he has actually appeared to
them himself, and declared that he was risen,
and would shew himself to his disciples : but
still we have received no certain proof of it
ourselves, so that as yet w^e know" not what to
think of it, and cannot but be under great con-
cern about it.
25 Then he said A7id upon this our Lord, without discover- 25
unto them, o fools, jngwho he was, said to them wuth some warmth,
" And say that they sa'm also a vision of quainted the disciples with it (Mark xvi,
angels.'] According- to the order in which 10, and John xx. 18), yet, as they might
the story is digested in the preceding sec- be now assembled together by Peter and
tion, the luoinen did not come to the disci- John at a different place from that where
pies with the report of what they had seen she met with Peter before, it is no way
between the appearance of the angels and improbable that by Mary's going to Peter's
that of Christ io them; but had first seen lodgings, who was now gone to meet the
both, and therefore must undoubtedly disciples elsewhere, or by some other acci-
have mentioned both : it may however be dent unknown to us, Joanna and those ivith
concluded, that (as Luke says on their re- her might get thither frst with the report
lating what they had seen, ver. 11, their of their hsiv'mg seen a. vision of a})gels, -who
Hvords seemed to them as an idle tale, and had declared that Jesus was alive. Imme-
they believed them, not J these travellers diately on hearing which, some nnen (of
might apprehend that what the v:omen whom it was probable Peter might be the
took for an appearance of Christ was at first) went away to the sepulchre, and.
most but a vision of angels (as some imag- found things in the same order as the luo-
ined with respect to Peter, Actsxii. 15); Trzen said, but had no sight of Jesus. On
and what is added in the next verse, with whose return tiiese two disciples that were
relation to the men there spoken of [^but going to Emmaus left the company ; and
him they did not see], may perhaps imply though as they were setting out some
that the nuomen pretended also to have might inform them that a report was
seen ^esus himself But I am now inclined brought by Mary Magdalene and some
to-acquiesce in Mr. West's solution of this other women that they had seen the Lord,
difficulty, who supposes it was Joanna, and they might be as backward to believe it, and
the other women with her, who only saw the as ready to impute it to the power of im-
angels and did not see Jesus, that came agination, as those in whose presence the
with this report to the disciples before Ma- report was made. I am obliged to Mr,
ry Magdalene, and those to whom Jesus West for this view of the matter, which
appeared, arrived with the account that represents it in a clearer light than any
they hsid seen the Lord. Fornotwithstand- other scheme proposed before. (See
ing it is certain that Mary Magdalene on IVest's Ob^erv. p. 106, 107 -")
Christ's appearing to her went and ac-
VOL. 2. 77
600 He opens xvhat the scriptures had foretold of Christ ;
SECT. 0 ye thoughtless [creatures']^ and slow of heart and slow of heart to
cxcvii. tQ believe all the things that the prophets have so believe all that the
frequently and clearly spoken / which, if you ^J^T ^ ^ ^^^ ^^°
^^j^ had attentively considered and believed them,
25 would have prevented this surprise ! Was 26 Ought not
25 it not necessary^ in order to accomplish those Christ to have suf-
sacred oracles, " which testify beforehand the f^'^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^ \lZ^^^^
sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should gio^y ?
follow" (1 Pet. i. 11), that the Messiah should
suffer all these things^ at which you are so much
stumbled, and [.so] by his rising from the dead
should enter into his glory f
27 And hereupon beginning from the writings 27 And beginniog
of Moses ^ and supporting his discourse with ^t Moses, and all the
the authority of all the prophets^ he interpreted ^;^t£l' J,: ^^Tr^
to them^ in a much clearer light than they had in all the scriptures,
ever seen them in before, the principal things the things concern-
which either had been typified or were foretold ^"^ himself.
concerning him in all the scriptures,
28 Andhy this time they drew near to the village 28 And they drew
zvhither they were travelling; and when they "ig^ unto the village,
came to the house where they designed to tar- "^^^^l '^Zle""'^,
ry, Jesus, like one that was a stranger, began though he would
to take his leave ; and making no offer to turn have gone further.
in with them, he seemed as if he zuere going
' O thoughtless creatures, &.C.] The word ef*.] It is no way necessary (with Mr.
avomIoi is by no means of so bad a sound as Mede in his ingenious discourse on these
that of fools, by which we translate it. words) to suppose that Christ's sufferings,
(See note "^ on Mat. v. 22, Vol. I. p. 217.) resurrection, and exaltation, are each of
Yet, as Dr. Bullock justly observes (in his them distinctly foretold in each of those
Vindication of Christ's Resurrection, p. 174), parts of the sacred nuritings which are men-
if the prophecies of the Old Testameiit had tionedhere. It is enough, if Moses gives
been (as Mr. Collins pretends) only alle- some intimations concerning him, which
gorical, there could not have been room succeeding prophets carry on ; and if,
lor such a heavy charge cA stupidity against when all their testimonies are taken to-
these disciples for not understanding them, gether, all these events are expressed by
It is, by the way, very weak in Mr. Col- some one or other of them. It was very
lins, and some other deists, to urge the unbecoming the character of an honest
slowness of Christ*s friends to believe his res- writer to represent our Lord as here at-
urrection, as an argumjent that the proofs tempting to prove his resurrection from
of it were defective : on the contrary, as scripture; which Mr. Collins pretends to
Bishop Chandler well replies (in his FV?z- have been the case. The precise point in
dication of Christianity, p. 45, 46), their view plainly was to convince them that
believing afternuards carries the greater there was no reason to be scandalized at
weight ; for it removes all suspicion of a the death of one whom they took to be the
collusion between Christ and them in his Messiah ; nor in general to look on the
lifetime ; and also implies an impartial report of his resurrection as a monstrous
examination of the fact, and the strength and incredible tale. But that he was ac-
of those proofs that vanquished this in- tually nVen was to be proved another way ;
credulity. which accordingly our Lord immediately
s ^Beginningfrom Moses, and all the proph- used by discovering himself to them.
and going in xvith them, iri breaking of bread they know him* 601
29 But they con- farther, intending indeed to do it, if he were sect.
strained him, say- ^q^ prevented by their request. But they even cxcvii.
^:r;tfs WaTcU e":: compelled him by their friendly importunity to j;;;^
nin^, and the day is go m with them,^ sayijig^ Let US prevail upon ^xiv.
far spent. And he you to continue this night with us, where we 29
went m to tarry with j^ggm-g you of a most hearty welcome : and as
indeed we are so greatly delighted and edified
with your company, that we cannot part with
you, it may also be inconvenient for you to trav-
el much farther ;for it is now towards evenings
and the day declines apace. And he complied
with their request, and xve7it in to continue xvith
them,
30 And it came to And it came to pass, as he sat doxvn to table 30
pass, as he sat i^^ with thetn, he took ^ cuke oi bread ; and though
meat ^vlth them he ^^ ^^j appeared as a guest there, he assumed
Cook bread, and -' ri . ? ^ r '^ J^ 1 •
blessed £?, and brake, the office ot the head ot the family, ana looking
and gave to them, up to heaven blessed, or gave thanks over it ; .
«;2^then brake it, and gave [it] to them, jnsi in
the manner he had formerly been used to.
31 And their eyes ^»^ they were so surprised at this circum- 31
were opened, and stance, that they now looked upon him more
h/'vanTshedout'of intently than they had done before ; and their
their sight. eyes were then opened,"- and, to their unutterable
astonishment and joy, they knew him, and plain-
ly saw that it was Jesus their dear Master : and
as they were preparing to acknowledge him as
such, he suddenly became invisible, and with-
drew himself from before them in a moment.''
82 And they said And they said one to another. How strange 32
one to another, Did jg it that we should discover him no sooner !
not our heart burn g^^.^ ^^ ^^^^ ^.^g-j^ j^^^.^ known him, even
by that inimitable spirit and energy in his
discourses, so peculiar to himself j for did
J> They compelled him, hc.^ It might be (See note ^ on ver. 16.) The evangelist
rendered, they pressed him. (See note s on strongly intimates that the miraculous in-
Luke xiv. 23, p. 147.) Every body easily jiuence, which before prevented their know-
sees how little room there was for any ing him, was removed, thougli the other
proper compulsion in such a case as this, circumstances mentioned might awaken
Probably one of them dwelt at Emmaus, them to more attentive observalion.
or they were going to an inn, or to some
friend's house, where they could use the ^ Became invisible, and withdrew) him*
freedom to introduce this unknown stran- self from before them.'] Erasmus justly ob*
ger, for whom they had so high a venera- serves that the word ijamVAec^ leads the
fion. mind to think of the person vanishing as a
' Their eyes nvere opened."] I see no rea- mere spectre ; he would therefore render
son to conclude (with Cradock and Bren- acpA^n®- ifivdo as we have done. Beza also
nius) that his undertaking this office of observes that att' nylm is more expressive
bf-eaking bread, or (with others) that some than *:>75<?, and signifies our Lord's being-
peculiar action or gesture in performing it, separatedfro^n them by ft swift and 6u4de|i
was the thing that made the discovery, motion.
602 Reflections on Christ s mterviexv
SECT, not our very hearts glow, and burn within iis^^ within us, while he
cxcvii. xvhi/e he was talking to us by the way^ and while talked with us by
7— he was opening the scriptures to us? hec^l^:^^^ ^^l^
Luke ^ ; if 11 11 1 '^^ opened to us the
^^j^ And they were not able to conceal such good scriptures ?
33 news, or to defer the publication of that which 33 And they rose
would give their brethren such a holy trans- ''P,^'^^ ^^^f ^^""T*
^ ° 1 r 1 • 1 • 1 1 ^nd returned to Je-
port as they lelt in their own breasts ; and rusalem.—
therefore, late as it was, they presently rose up
from their unfinished meal that very hour^
and with cheerful speed returned to Jerusalem^
and told it to the rest of their compan-
ions (compare Mark xvi. 13, p. 594); among
whom they had soon after the pleasure of see-
ing their Lord again, in the manner related in
in the next section.
IMPROVEMEMT.
Luke How delightful a close of so melancholy a day to these pious
XXIV. travellers ! A ^«z/ surely long to be remembered by them and by
' us ! They were on a journey ; but they did not amuse themselves
on it with any trifling subject of discourse. Their hearts were
set upon Christy and therefore their tongues were employed in
is speaking of him. And behold, Christ himself^ the dear theme
of their discourse, makes one among them ; he enlightens their
30,31 eyes and warms their hearts, and at length snakes himself known
to them in the breaking of bread.
So may we often be speaking of Christy from the fulness of our
hearts, xvhen we go out^ and when we come in ! So may he still,
in some degree, ^"oiw himself with us in spirit, guiding our souls
into Divine knowledge, and animating them with holy love !
They bear an honourable and just testimony to that great
Prophet whom God had raised up for them^ as mighty before
19 him both in word and in deed. But they knew not how to see
through so dark a cloud : their hopes were almost extinguished,
21 and they could only say, We trusted this had been he that should
have redeemed Israel, Pitiable weakness ! Yet too just an em-
blem of the temper which often prevails in the pious mind;
when the Christian is ready to give up all, if deliverance does
not proceed just in the method he expected. Yet was Christ
even then delivering Israel in the most glorious and effectual
manner, by those very suff'erings which gave them such distress.
Verily thou art the God of Israel^ and the Saviour^ when thou
art a God that hidest thyself irom. us. (Isa. xlv. 15.)
1 Bid not our hearts burn tvithin us .?] This which, instead of x£t<o//«v;> here, have x«Mt-
reading is far more expressive, as well as xv/x/uivii. Was not our heart veiled? ^q^
&r more authentic, than that of some copies t Compare Peal, xxxix. 3, and Jer. xx. 9.
with the two disciples* 603
In faithful friendship, and with a plainness well becoming his sect.
office, the compassionate Redeemer upbraids them with their cxcvii.
slowness of heart to believe these things, when they have received
line upon line^ precept upon precept^ concerning them. How ^^^^^
justly do we fall under such a rebuke in many instances ! Let us
then humbly say, Lord^ increase our faith I (Luke xvii. 5.)
We should reasonably have thought ourselves happy in an op- 26, 27
portunity of hearing or reading this discourse o( Jesus^ in which
he threw such lustre on the prophecies of the Old Testament^ and
proved that, according to the tenor of them, it was necessary that
the Messiah should thus suffer^ and so enter into his glory. As
Providence has denied us this satisfaction, let us however im»
prove this general and very important hint, that Moses and oil
the prophets speak of these things. Let us delight to trace the
heavenly beam from its earliest dawn, and to observe how it
grew brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. May the bless-
ed Spirit^ by whom those mysterious predictions were inspired,
so direct our inquiries, that every ^^i/may be taken off from our
eyes, that we may see Jesus in the Old Testament as well as in
the New ; and see him in both with that lively fervour of holr
affection which may cause our hearts to burn rvithi?i us ! And
oh, that we may especially find that, when we surround his table^
he makes himself known to us in the breaking of breads in such a 30 31
manner, as to fill our souls with all joy^ as well as peace in be^
lieving ! (Rom. xv. 13.)
SECT. CXCVIIL
The two disciples return to make their report to the apostles ; and
while they are together^ Jesus appears to them the evening after
his resurrection, Mark XVI. 14. Luke XXIV 33 — 43.
John XX. 19—23.
Luke XXIV.~33. LuKE XXIV. — 33.
[AND [they] TT was observed before, concerning Cleopas sect.
j ±\. found the e- X and the other disciple, to whom Jesus dis- cxcviii;
I gXrr'anr?hem covered himself at Emmaus, that they immedi- -—
j that \vere with ately arose and returned to Jerusalem, to com- ^^.^®
them, municate the joyful news to their brethren 33
there. And now when they came thither, they
found the eleven apostles assembled^ and others
with them^ who, before these two could begin
» They found the eleven apostles assem- Luke here calls them the eleve?2, though .
bled.^ As Paul (1 Cor. xv. 5) calls the Thomas, the eleventh person, was absent,
company of the apostles the tvjekcy though as evidently appears from John xx. 24, in
Judas, the twelfth persgn, was dead i so the next section.
604 The two disciples tell the apostles what they had seen.
SECT, their story, were eager on their part to inform
^.1!I!1* the travellers of the satisfaction they had re-
Luke ^^^^'^^ since they went out : So that, as soon 34 Saying, The
xxiv. as they appeared, thev heard several of the ^"^'? ^^ ^'i^^^ ^"-
' • ^ * . .-, • ^ 1 1 deed, and hath ap-
34 company saying, ^ as with one voice, O brethren, peared to Simon,
here are good tidings, which will make your
hearts leap within you ; for the Lord is risen in-
deed^ and has KimseU appeared to Simon Peter,
who is here present to testify the truth of it.^
35 And the two travellers declared how easily ^^s And they told
they could believe it, and recounted the things what things were
[which had hapbened'] to them in the wait to f^^"^ '" ^''^ ^7' ^"'^
x? lie • 1 ">Y> how he was known
i^mmaus ; and noxv^ alter many wise and affec- of them in breaking
tionate discourses, he ivas at last known by them of bread.
in the breaking of breads as they were sitting
down to supper. But notwithstanding these
repeated testimonies of the resurrection of
Christ, yet there were some in the company
whose prejudices were so strong, and their
faith so weak, that they did not believe either
Peter or them ^ (compare Mark xvi. 12, p. 594),
though most of them were convinced (as they
had just declared) that the Lord was risen
indeed.
Mark And quickly afterwards^ as they rvere speak- Mark XVI. 14— .
xvi.l4 £^^ ^y ^/,^^.^ thi?igs among themselves, ivhile C^nd] .^^[^^™^^.|
they rvere sitting at supper, [J^^w^] himself i\e' applared^^unto
appeared to the eleven^ who were then all to- the eleven as they
gether, except one of them. And this appear- sat at meat. [Luke
ance was attended v/ith some remarkable cir- ^^^^- ^^—3
cumstances, which shall be now related.
John ii ^yas then on the evening of the same day on John XX. 19.
-- 15 which he rose from the dead, \,rvluch rvas], as ]^:i:^^X^^;,
we have betore observed, the first day of the first day of the
^ And has appeared to S'nnonVetev.'l^one t'lon of Christ^ s resurrectio7i as must have
of the ftvz/7^e//jfjf mention any thing of the been the foundation of such a vow ; and
Circumstances of this appearance to Peter ; the o7-der in which Paul mentions his ap-
but it has been observed before (note S pearance to Raines does very ill suit with
sect, cxcvi. p. 593), that the apostle Paul this story. Probably Peter was the frst
expressly refers to it, 1 Cor. xv. 5. The man, as Mary Magdalene was the ^rst
same fl^ojf/e likewise mentions an appear- wo-inaUf that was favoured with the view
anceof Christ to ]s,mes. flhid.ver.7-) Yet, of our risen Saviour.
as nothing is said of his having seen him = Some — did not believe, tfc."] Mark
that day, it much diminishes the credit of expresses it in a general way (chap. xvi.
the story which Jerom gives us from the 13) tha.t they went and told it unto the residue ;^
gospel of the Nazarenes, tliat James had neither belie'ved they them : but we are un-
vowed to eat nothing after the paschal supper, doubtedly to understand these words with.
till yesus arose ,- on which account our Lord such a limitation as in the paraphrase. See
appeared /rjf to him. None of the apo*- note son Mark xvi. 12, page 594 ; and
Mes seera to have had such a firm expecta- note « en Mat. xxviii. 17, sect. ccii.
Jesus appears to the apostles when the doors were shut, 605
week, when the xveek^ even when the doors of the room, where sect.
doors were shut, ^/^^ disciples were gathered together, were shut, cxcviii.
^e'rTas's'e^tT'f" and fastened on the inside,/.r/.ar oftheje^s ; —
fear of the Jews, as they did not know but some officers of the ^3^,19
came Jesus [him- high priest might come to apprehend them, on
self], and stood in ^j^^ scandalous pretence that they had stolen
themidst [of themj, ^ .. - ut i i • i
andsaith unto them, away the body, which was now publicly laid to
Peace be unto you. their charge : it was, I say, at this time and
— "fii^ ^ XXIV, place that Jesus himself on a sudden came in,
^"^ '-' opening the locks or bolts by a miraculous
power ;^ and he stood in themidst of them in his
usual form, a?id said to them, with a mild voice
and a gracious aspect, AW peace and happiness
be unto you : thereby graciously intimating that
he forgave their former cowardice, and would
still continue to treat them as his friends,
though they knew in their own consciences
they had of late behaved themselves in a man-
ner unworthy of that character and relation.
JLuKE XXIV. 37. But they were greatly amazed and terrified 2it Luke
But they were ter- tj-jjg sudden unexpected appearance : and as s>:iv.
nfiedandaflrighted, ,i , .1. j c ^iT i n.v
and supposed that ^"^7 knew the doors ot the room were shut, ^'
they had seen a and in the present hurry of their thoughts did
^P"?^ not immediately reflect upon the proofs he had
so often given of his Divine power, or on the
evidences they had but just before received of
his resurrection, some of them suspected that
what they saxv was only a spirit^ or a mere airy
phantom, and not a real body,
38 And he said And he said to them. Why are you thus per- 38
unto them Why are piexed and troubled at the sight of me, and xvhy
ye troubled, and why S , , ,^r i j ° ui . • •
do thoughts arise in "<^ these doubtiul and unreasonable suspicions
your hearts ? arise in your hearts, as if it only were the ap-
39 Behold my P^arance of a spirit that you have here before
hands and my feet, you ? Behold my hands and my feet^ which 39
^yesushimselfcame\r\tO\ie.T\vng\\\e\oc\Ls times spoken of by some oi ihe pagan wri-
or bolts by amiraculous power.] Dr. Wallis ters, especially those who may be suspect-
Con the Sabbath, p. 25) thinks the expres- ed of copying- Trom the evangelists, as the
sion o^the doors being shut intends no more, effect of a supernatural power attending
than that what follows happened in the the appearance of their deities, or other ex-
evening, luhen the doors are used to be shut up. traordinary persons, among them. The
But, as the doors are said to have been shut argument which the Papists bring from
^r^ear o/'Me^ewj, it strongly implies they hence, to prove that Muo ^oc//w may be iix
were fasteried within ; and that all that was the same place at the same time, and con-
herein miraculous was the causing them, sequently one in different places, is so evi-
as of themselves, to fly open, and shut dently built upon an absurd interpretation
again very suddenly. Eisner has shewn of the clause under consideration, as not
CObserv. Vol, I. p. 351) that this is some- to deserve any farther notige.
GO'6 He eats with them, and upbraids them with their unbelief.
SECT, for your satisfaction still retain the scars of that it is I myself :
cxcvui. tliQse wounds which I received on the cross, handle me, and see:
— to cmwince you«A«<i« w/my.e^,andnoother: ^"e'shtd'h'?;"
xxrv. handle me^ ii you please, and see whether this ye see me have.
39 be not really a solid and substantial body : for
you know that a mere spirit or phantom hath
not flesh and bones as you see 7Jie have^ but is
only an empty form presenting itself to the
eye, yet eluding the grasp of any hand.
40 And saying this, he shelved them his hands and 40 And when he
his feet, and even the mark which the spear had ^^d thus spoken, he
left in his side, which appeared like a large t^T^ fT J'K
, , ' , , ^*p , , , , o, hands and his feet
wound, newly, though perfectly healed :^ and [and his side.]
several of them, and among the rest John the [John xx. 20—.]
beloved apostle, who records this circumstance,
had the curiosity particularly to examine it.
John (Compare 1 John i. 1.) And the disciples John xx. —20.
^^* ^^ therefore zvere exceeding glad, as it might Then were the dis-
reasonably be expected they should be, when ^^^^IJ^'^^, Lord!'
they thus saw the Lord, and learnt by such in-
fallible tokens that he was really alive.
Luke And for their further satisfaction, when [sojue Luke XXIV, 41,
XXIV. ofthetn'] were so transported, that they as yet And while they yet
'^^ believed 7iot their own eves for joy, and were so Relieved not for joy,
. , , , , 1 • iX 1 *^ 1 1 and wondered, he
astonished that they hardly knew where they said unto them. Have
were, he said to them^ Have you any food here ye here any meat ?
42 left, that I may eat with you ? And they gave 42 And they gave
him such as they had, even part of a broiled ^^"^ ^ piece of a
fsh, and of ail honeycomb, on which they had ^;;^f^^^^^^^^^^^
43 been supping just before. And taking [i?], he 43 And he took it,
eat before them, that thus they might be fully and did eat before
satisfied that he was actually alive, and had a ^^^^"^•
true and real body. (Compare Acts x. 41.)
Mark And when he had for a while gently upbraid- mark XVI. —14.
"^"^^•^^ ed^iwd reproved them for their unbelief, and for And [he] upbraided
the hardness of their hearts, that they had not ^^"^^^^"^^ll hardness"
believed the repeated testimony of those xvho had ^f j^^^^.^ because
already seen him since he zuas risen from the they believed not
dead, and that, even after his own appearance to them which had
them,they should be capable of entertaining any ^^^g"^>^J^ ^^^^"^ ^^
John further doubts ; T/z^/z, that they might be satis- John XX. 21.
XX. 21 £e(j that he had graciously forgiven them, y^^w* Then said Jesus t»
« He shewed them his hands and his feety the disciples of the truth of his resurrec-
Sic] Probably these marks were retained tion ; thoug-h indeed without that addi-
In his body when raised from the dead, on tional circumstance the evidence might
purpose to give the greater satisfaction to have been very satisfactory.
He renews their commission as apostles, 607
them Again, Peace said to them again^ Peace be unto you : mav all sect,
be unto you: as my prosperity and happiness attend you ! As [my] cxcviiL
Fatherhathsentme, V- w ^ j i ♦ 1 -~— i.
even so I send you. J^'^^^'^^^ ^^'^^ ^^^> ^"d gave me authority to act
in his name, so also I send you to act as my ^ ^i
apostles, under the important character of my
ambassadors to the children of men.
22 And when he And saying this^ he in a solemn manner 22
had said this, he breathed upon \them\ and said to them as one
andlaiUi unto them; ^hat had Divine authority, Receive ye the Holy
Receive ye the Holy Spirit^ and take this as an earnest of what you
Ghost. shall further receive not many days hence : for
thus will I shortly breathe out the miraculous
influences of my Spirit upon you, in a greater
abundance than you have ever yet received
them, to qualify and furnish you for this im-
23 Whose soever portant office ; In consequence of which, 23
sins ye remit, they zvhose soever sitiSy you shall remit^ or shall de-
themraW^vhoseso"^ ^!^^^ ^^ ^^ forgiven, they are remitted ^^A for-
ever sins ye retain, given to them ; [and] whose soever [sins] you
they are retained, shall retain^ or shall pronounce to be unpardon-
ed, they are assuredly retained^ and their guilt
lies upon them : for you shall have a power,
not only of declaring what is lawful or unlaw-
ful under the gospel dispensation, but also of
sending or removing miraculous punishments,
and of discerning the spirits of men in such
perfection, as to be able with certainty to de-
clare to particular persons in question, wheth-
er they be, or be not, in a state of pardon and
acceptance with God. (See note ^ on Mat.
xvi. 19, Vol. I. p. 485.)
And after this discourse with his disciples,
at his first appearance to them, Jesus departed
from them for that time, and left them to spend
the rest of the evening in those delightful ex-
ercises of devotion which this great occasion
had so natural a tendency to inspire.
IMPROVEMENT.
With pleasure let us echo back the words of the apostles^ and Luke
join in that glad anthem which so well suits a resurrection day, ^^^^•
The Lord is risen^ he is risen indeed. We owe our daily praises 34
to God for the abundant demonstration he has given us of so
important a fact, for every appearance of Christ to his disciples^
and for all the infallible tokens by which he shewed himself to be
alive after his passion, (Acts i. 3.)
VOL. 2» 7S
608 Reflections on Chrisfs first appearance to the apostlesc
SECT. He came with peace and blessings in his mouth ; he came to
cxcviii. disperse their fears^ and to assure them of his forgiving love.
How strong were those prejudices which so hardly yielded to
^ 22 ^^^^ convincing proofs ! And how rich was that grace which
condescended to overcome them !
Christ breathed 071 the apostles^ that they might receive the Holy
Spirit. May he also breathe on our souls, and fill us with that
glorious and Divine gift, which, if it qualified the apostles for
their extraordinary office, may much more furnish us for the
common duties of life ! May we try our state by the characters
which they have laid down in their inspired writings ; in which
sense, among others, we may assure ourselves, that, if they have
23 declared our sins to be remitted^ they are remitted: and, if indeed
they are so, we need not be much concerned by whom they are
retaijied. Vain and arrogant men may claim a despotic power,
which God never gave, and which these words are far from im-
plying. But, whatsoever be the sentence they may pass, thet/
whofn God blesseth^ are blessed indeed, (l Chron. xvii. 27.) May
we always esteem it a very small thing to be judged of man^s
judgment (l Cor. iv. 3) ; pitying, rather than resenting, the
rashness of those who claim any such discretionary sacerdotal
power as can give the real penitent any alarm, or the impenitent
any encouragement to continue in sin !
SECT. CXCIX.
Christ appears to the eleveji a second time^ a xveek after the former ;
particularly offering to Thomas^ who had before been absent^ the
most sensible proofs of his resurrection, John XX. 24 — 29.
. John XX. 24. ^ John XX. 24.
WE mentioned in the last section Christ's T>UTThomas,one
appearing to his disciples on the even- -*-^ ^^ ^^e twelve,
— ing of that day on which he arose , but it is '^^t'^tlZ'^T.
XX. 24 *^rther to be observed, that Thomas^ one of the jesus came.
twelvcy who was also called Didymus^ or the
twin brother, was not with them at that time
25 when Jesus came. The other disciples there' 25 The other dis-
fore^ as soon as they met with him, told him in ^^P^^s therefore said
a transport of joy, IVe have seen the Lord with "^f^ ^^^Tl.^^1 ^sut
our own eyes, and consequently can have no he said unto then);,
farther doubt of the truth of his resurrection,
for he has condescended to shew us the very
marks of those wounds he received on the
cross. But he said to them^ This is a matter of
too great importance for me to believe on any
report, even on yours ; and more is necessary
6ECT,
cxcix
Thomases unbelief overcome*
Except I shall see in to convince me of the truth of it, than merely a sect.
his hands the print transient sicht of mine own eyes : for, unless /cxcix.
of the nails, and pat , ,, -j °i . ,. , / ' — — .
my finger into the ^f^^H evidently see in his hands^ as you say you , ,
print ofthe nails, and have done, the mark of the nails ^ and^ more than xx.25
thrust my hand into that, shall put mij finger upon the very individual
believe.* mark of the nails ^^ and put my hand upon the
very scar made by the spear in his sidef I -will
not by any means, or on any testimony whatso-
ever, believe his resurrection,
26 And after eight And^ as there was a great degree of faulty 26
days again his disci- obstinacy in such a resolution, our Lord left
pies were within, , . i , , , , ' , . ...
and Thomas with "^"^ ^ whole week under the perplexity which
them: M^^icameje- it must necessarily give him : but after eight
sus, the doors being days^ or on that day seven niffht from our Lord's
shut, and stood in • • ,• ,. • . , ' °. ... j
the midst, and said, I'lsing, his disciples -were again xvithin doors as
Peace be unto you. before, and Thomas was xvith them; [and'] Jesus
came to them again, the doors being shut and
fastened, as in the former instance ; and^ sud-
denly throwing them open, and in a moment
shutting them again, he stood in the midst of
them, and said^ as in his former gracious saU
utation. Peace be unto you /
27 Then saith he And then^ to let them see that he was not un- 2/
to Thomas, Reach acquainted with what had lately passed amonp:
hither thy finger.and i • i • i_ n ^L • ^l
behold my hands ; ^hem m his absence, as well as to convince the
and reach hither thy overscrupulous disciple, he Said to Thomas^
hand, and thrust it Reach forth thy finger hither^ and behold^ and
be noTfaithkss ^h\ ^^^"^i"^ '"?/ l^^^'^<^^ i and reach thine handhith^r^
believing. ' and put it on my side f- and be not incredulous
any longer, but believe on this evidence at least
which addresses itself at once to so many of
thy senses.
3 And shall put my finger upon the mark and u? t»v x^'P*- ^^"^^ (Luke xv. 22) upon
ofthe nails.~\ I am sensible, it might seem his hand. See Dr. Stevenson against IVool'
more elegant, with the Prussian translators, ston on Christ's Miracles, p. 324.
to wave the repetition, and to render it, and
put my finger into it : but, on, farther re- '^ Peach forth thy finger hither. Sec] It
flection, there seems to be a beauty in this is observable, that Spinoza himself could
repetition which admirably represents the find out no more plausible objection against
language of a. positive maji, declaring again this evidence of the resurrection of Christ,
and again \»'hat he insisted upon ; which than to say, that the disciples were deceived
I have therefore endeavoured to express in what they imagined they saw, heard,
in the paraphrase, in terms which such and felt ("Vie de Spiti. p. 32) ; which, if
persons often use. granted, would be in effect to allow that
^ And put my hand upon his side.'] So I no men could be competent judges of any
would choose to render it, rather than into fact whatsoever relating to their own sen-
his side ; agreeable to Dr. Stevenson'' s]\xst sations, and consequently would overthrow-
criticism, that «;? here signifies u/)o?i ,• as all /iwwan fe.yfmoM)' in courts of judicature
f^s Tm ynv (John viii. 6) is upon the ground; and elsewhere.
610 Happy are they who have not seen^ and yet believe*
SECT. ^/2^T/ic>wa5,overwhelined at once with such 28 And Thomas
cxcix. abundant demonstration, and such humble con- answered and said
TT" descension, fell under the conviction in a mo- and°my"God.^ °^ '
XX.28 nient ; and, instead of entering on any farther
scrutiny,'^ answered and said to him^ in the ut-
most transport of astonishment and joy, My
Lord^ and my God ! as if he should have said,
I do not only now acknowledge thee to be Jesus
my Lord, infallibly risen from the dead, but
I confess thy Divine knowledge and power,
and prostrate myself before thee, as the great
incarnate Deity, the glorious Emmanuel.^
29 yesus says to him^ Thomas, thou hast believed, 29 Jesus saith un-
hecause thou hast seen me, and hast received to him, Thomas, be--
these sensible demonstrations of mv resurrec- cause thou hast seen
... ,, , .,, "" J n^e, thou hast be-
tion ; and it is well : but still more happy are lieved : blessed are
they who have not seen me themselves, and they that have not
\}jet'\ have believed on the credible testimony of seen, and yet have
others ; for they have shewn a greater degree of
candour and humility, which renders the faith
it produces so much the more acceptable/
IMPROVEMENT.
ver.25 We most evidently see in this instance of Thomas, as well
as in many circumstances of the story mentioned above, how
far the apostles were from being rashly credulous in the im-
^ Instead of entering on any farther scru- yet have believed.'} If it be queried, Why
tiny.] It is not said that he actually touch- a greater blessedness is pronounced on those
ed the toounds ; and our Lord afterwards who believe on more slender evidence ; it
says (ver. 29), that his belief was built on may be answered that our Lord by no
sight; which seems to intimate, that this means intended to assert, that everyone
condescension of our Lord, together with the who believes viithout seeing^ is happier than
additi-mal evidence arising from the /^;:oW- any one believing on sight; for then the
e^^e which he plainly had of that unreason- meanest Christian now would be more
able demand which Thomas had made in happy th An the greaiesi of the apostles; but
his absence, quite overcame him : a turn only, that where the effects of tha.t faith
of mind exceeding natural to so frank a were equal, it argued greater simplicity,
temper as that of Thomas appears to have candour, and wisdom, to yieldto reasonable
been. evidence ivithout seeing, than could be ar-
« My Lord, and tny God /] The irrefrag- gued merely from having believed on sight,
able argument arising from these words in after sufficient evidence of another kind
proof of the deity of our blessed Lord (which had been proposed. It was therefore in
somanygoodwriters have stated at large), effect telling Thomas, ** It would have
cannot be evaded by saying, that these been more acceptable to him if he had not
•words are only an exclamation of surprise, as stood out so long :'* and it was doing it in
if he had said, Good God, is it indeed thus ! such a manner as would be most calculat-
For it is expressly declared he spoke these ed for the comfort and encouragement of
words to him : and, no doubt, Christ would believers in future ages, to whom, in many
severely have reproved him if there had of his speeches to the apostles themselves,
jiot been just reason to address him thus, oiir Lord expresses a most obliging and
* Happy are they taho have not seen, and affectionate regard.
Reflections on Christ* s appearance xvhen Thomas was present, 611
portant fact of Chrisfs resurrection. It Is apparent, they erred sect.
in the contrary extreme ; yet our gracious Zcr^ condescended to cxcix.
satisfy scruples which were carried to an extravagance. He re-
newed his visit, and at the same time renewed his salutation too. o^^^^
Peace be unto you was still his language ; nor did he only speak,
but act, as one who wished it, and was determined to give it.
Wh^t peace must it administer to the mind of this good man
when his Lord s^'id. Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands, 27
and reach hither thine hand, and put it on my side ; and be not
faithless, but believing I Evidently did he hereby shew, not only
that he was risen from the dead, but that he circumstantially
kjiew those events which had passed in his bodily absence, and
needed not human mformation. Let us then ever behave our-
selves as in the presence of Christ, Let us act, and speak, and
think, in such a manner as may bear his inspection ; and, struck
with these united demonstrations of wisdom, power and grace,
let us prostrate ourselves before him, and say, Our Lord, and^^
our God I thus honouring the Son as zue honour the Father (John
V. 23), and adoring the indxvelling Deity through this veil of flesh,
in which it has been pleased to enshrine itself, and kindly to at-
temper, though not entirely to conceal, its rays.
Though we have not those sensible manifestations which were
granted to Thomas, let it suffice us that the apostles were the ap-
pointed xvitnesses of all these things ; and xvhat they saxv xvith
their eyes, and their hands handled of the xvord of life, that have
they declared unto lis, (l John i. 1, 3.) Let us thankfully re-
ceive so convincing a testimony. Let us shew an upright and
candid mind in accepting such evidence as the wisdom of God
has seen fit to give us ; remembering that a truly rationaiy^zV/z 29
is the more acceptable to God, in proportion to the difficulties
which it is able to surmount ; and that there are peculiar bless-
ings in store for them who have not seen and yet have believed,
SECT. CC.
Christ discovers himself to Peter and several other disciples at the
sea of Tiberias^ zvhile they zuere fishing there, John XXI.
1—14.
John XXI. 1. JOHN XXI. 1.
A FTER these Q OME time after these things,^ between
XX things, Jesus ^ the last interview he had with the apostles
^ » Some time after these things.'] Gro- approbation of that society, as agreeable
tius thinks this nshole chapter was written to the relations which they had heard from
by some elders of the church of Ephesus, the mouth of St. John ; and Le Clerc fol-
«id added to the rest of the book by th.e lows him in this conjecture ; but Dr. Mill
612 Jesus appears to several disciples as they were Jishhig*
SECT, at Jerusalem, and the public appearance which shewed himself a-
^^- he afterwards made to the whole body of his ^aintothe disciples
■ ' A' ' \ Of ■ r ^ ] 1 ' ir '• j: ai. at uie sea of Tibe-
John ^l^c.^P^es, Jesus manifested himself again to the ^-^^^.^ ^^^ ^,^ ^1^^^
xxi. 1 disciples^ at the sea of Tiberias^ near that moun- wiseshewedheAm-
tain in Galilee where he had appointed to meet ^^if'
them. (Mat. xxviii. 16, sect, ccii.) ^;2^the
manner in which he now manifested {Jiimself^
to them tvas thus :
2 Simon Peter^ and Thomas who was called 2 There were to-
Didwnus, and Nathaniel who was an inhabitant gether Simon Peter
„_,'^ ' • y-> ;-7 r • 1 • I and Thomas called
oj Cana^ a town in Ualilee oiten mentioned m the Didymus, and Na-
foregoing- history,^ and also the [tzvo so?2s'] o/'thanael of Cana in
Zehedee, Tames and John, and two other of his ^^^^^f ^' ^"^ ^^^ *°"^
,..,-'.,, / ' , / . of Zebedee, and two
disciples with them,*^ xvere one day together m other of his disciples.
Galilee ; whither they were returned by
Christ's direction, to wait for the accomplish-
ment of what he had promised, that they should
see him on a certain mountain in those parts,
and where they expected in a few days to meet
with most of their brethren. (Compare Mat.
xxviii. ver. T, 10, sect. cxcv. and ver. 16, sect.
3 ccii.) And while they were thus waiting, Si- 3 Simon Peter saith
mon Peter, that their 'time might not lie on fi",^^-j^5^'The ^sa*
their hands, and that he might make some pro- unto him. We also
vision for his own support, and for the enter- go with thee. They
tainment of his friends, says to them, I will^o vicx\X. forth, and en-
a fishing ;d and they say to him. We also will^'O mediately f and tSt
along zvith thee, and give thee what assistance
we can. They ruent out therefore, and immc'
diately took ship, and spent not only that even-
ing, but all the following night, in throwing
their nets ; but though it was the properest
has taken pains to invalidate it fProlegom. were both inhabitants of Bethsalda, near
p. 249) ; and the be.s^inning- of verse 24 the sea of Tiberias. (John i. 44.) It is
destroys the force of Grotius's argument however a strange argument against it, to
from the latter part of it See note^ovi say " that John must be o«e, though he
?Afl? renf, attheclose ofthe ?zex?5ec/?0H. is not here mentioned," when he is so
^ Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee.'] There well known to have been one o^the sons of
is no doubt but this Nathaniel is the per- Zebedee, who are numbered here among
son mentioned before, John i. 45. Dr. those that were present.
Lightfuot (Hot. Hebr. on Mat. x. 3), Mr. ^ /will^o ajishing.'\ It appears from
Fleming ( Christol. Vol. II. p. 176), and this story, that several of the «/>05^/e^ were
gome others, take him to have be^n Bar- now returned to Galilee, where Christ
tholomeio the apostle,- but I think they give had appointed to meet them ; which shews
no convincing reason for that opinion. that the discourse, (Luke xxiv. 49, sect.
« Two other cf his disciples.'] It is indeed ccii.) in which our Lord commanded them
uncertain who these tnvo disciples were ; to continue at Jerusalem, till the Holy Ghost
though Dr. Lightfoot conjectures they fell upon them, must come in after this chap-
were Andrew and Philip ^^or. Hebr. in fer, and not <^e/ore /?, as it is placed in many
locj which LS not improbable, as they harmonies:
He fills their nety and they discover who he xuas, 613
night they caught time for fishing, yet theij caught nothing' worth sect.
nothing. the mentioning. *^c.
4 But when the A?id zvhen the morning zvas nozu come^ Jesus
morning was now appeared and 5?cofi^z//?07Z ?/z^.v^or^; nevertheless^ 1"!^^
come, Jesus stood on ^r*^ ,. . , u u i ^ .- r ■ ' ^^*' *
the shore : but the ^'^^ discipks^ who had no expectation ot seemg
disciples knew not him there, being at some distance from him,
that it was Jesus, and it not being yet perfectly light, /^?zezf 72C? Ma?
5 Then Jesus saith it zvas Jesus, Then as they approached with- 5
untothem, Chiklren, \^ ^all, Jesus said to them^ Have you any thing
'^.l.ll.^lS.^^, to f ^ ™y '«* ? °-- h-J'f y°" t^'ken fish enough
No. to lurnish out a meal : They anszvered him^
No ; we have been toiling here all night in
6 And he said un- vain. And he said to them^ Let me then 6
to them, Cast the advise you to throzv the net on the right side of
or.Te'ship?L"v: th^ ''»P^ "^dyou t.i//uncloubtedly>^ [.,««..]
shallfind. Theyca'st And, willing to try at least whether this stran-
therefore, and now ger conjectured right, they threzv the net there-
they were not able J^^^^ ^^ ^it had directed them ; and nozu theu
to draw it for the ^ . , , . • 1 1 • . ^
multitude of fishes. '^^^^^ ^^^^ <^^^^ ^^ drazv it up mto the ship again,
on account of the multitude of Jishes which they
had enclosed in it.^
7 Therefore that Then John, that disciple zjchom Jesus pecu- 7
disciple whom Jesus liarly loved, when he saw suchastonishinc: suc-
loved, saith unto Pe- "^ r^ n ^-l • r • i ^ -i it •
ter. It is the Lord. ^^^^ ^"^^* ^ their fruitless toil and disappoint-
Now when Simon ment before, says unto Peter ^ it is undoubtedly
Peter heard that it the Lord^ who has, on this occasion, renewed
rfitj^stoirfj: thatmirade which he wrought in thy ship some
him, (for he was yeai's ago, when he first called us to attend him.
naked,) and did cast (See Luke V. 4 — 10, Vol. I. sect. xxxiv.) Si-
himself mto the sea. ^^^^^ Peter therefore hearing him say, with the
appearance of such good reason, that it zuas
the Lord^ was so transported, that he immedi-
ately girded on his coat (for he zvas in a man-
ner nakedy having nothing on but his inner gar-
ment),^ and threzv himsef directly ijito the seat,
and swam to shore, that he might pav his
earliest duty to his dear Lord, and testify his
joy in the condescending visit he was making
« TAey were not able to draiv it up into the f In a manner na/:ed, having nothing on
ship again, Sec] This was not merely a but his inner garment.] It is of great im-
demonstration of the power of our Lord, portance, in order to vindicate several sto-
but a kind providential supply for them and ries in scripture, which the ignorance or
their families, which might be of service malice of some modern writers hascharg-
to them when they loaited afterwards in ed with indecency, to observe, that among
Jerusalem according to his order : and it the Jews (as Grotius and many others liave
was likewise a sort of emblematical repre- shewn) they were said to be naked who
sentationofthe great success which should had only an under garment on. Compare
I attend their attempts to catch men in the 1 Sam. xix. 24 ; 2 Sam. vi. 20 ; Isa. xx. 2,
net of the gospel Compare Luke v. 9, 10, 3 ; and Actsidx. 16.
Vol. I. p. 176.
614 They come ashore^ and eat -with him*
SECT. them. And the other disciples making the best 8 And the other
<^c- of their way, came to him as fast as they could ^^sciples came in a
— ■ with the boat, drawing the net [full] of fishes ^ere'Iiot farfrom
sxi. 8 ^fter them ; for they were not far from the land, land, but as it wei-e
hut about two hundred cubits, or one hundred ^^^ hundred cu-
varrk ^*^^') dragging the
y^^^^* , ^ net with fishes.
9 As soon then as they came ashore, they saw a 9 As soon then as
Jire of burning coals laid ready there, and fish they were come to
laid upon it, and 2. sufficient quantity of ^;Wat if" c'o!h Ter^f and
hand ; which Jesus had miraculously prepared, fish laid thereon, and
that they might see how easily he could make bread,
provision for them, even when they were des-
10 titute of the ordinary means of supply. And, 10 Jesus saith un-
that due notice also might be taken of the mi- to them, Bringofthe
raculous draught they had now made, y^.9W5 J^'^ J^^,^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^'^
said to them. Bring hither \some\ of the fish
1 1 which you have now taken. And Simon Peter n simon Peter
went aboard, and, with the help of his brethren, went up, and drew
dreiv the net to land; and it was full of ^reat ^\^ ^^t to land full
^ J , . , ^ , . , ^. ^p 9 ot great fishes, an
pshes, wnicn,upontakmg the number oi them, hundred and fifty and
they found to be no less than an hundred and three : and for all
fifttj three ; and though theu were so ?7iany and ^^^^^ ^^^^^ so many,
-J^ -J ^ ^^17 yet was not the net
so great, yet the net was not broke, broken.
12 Then Jesus said to them. Come [and2 refresh 12 Jesus §aith un-
yourselves,^ after the fatigue you have had for to them, Come and
so many hours. And none of the disciples pre- f^:'discMes"Tu.-st
swned to ask him. Who art thou f or took upon ask him, Wha art
them to inquire how he came thither, or whence thou ? knowing that
he procured the provision he then offered them ? ^^ ^"^^^ ^^^^ l^ovd.
well knowing that it zvas the Lord, though he
conversed with them in something of a distant
manner ; but left him to proceed in his own
way, as judging it most respectful to leave it
to him to direct the discourse to more intimate
and particular subjects, in such a manner, and
by such degrees, as he should think fit ; which j^ jesus then
he presently after did. cometh, and taketh
13 Jesus therefore came and took bread, as the bread, and giyeth
master of the feast, and, having blessed it, as ^^^""» ^"^ ^^^ ^^^■
he used to do, gave [if] to each of thein ; and 14' ^his is now
likeivise gave them some of the broiled ^sh, the third time that
14 And this was now the third time that Jesus J^sus shewed _him.
shezved hiraselfto such a number of his disciples ^f^^^. yiathe'wasrls-
at once,^ after he xvas risen from the dead ; and en from the dead.
8 Come and refresh yoursehes.'] So I choose ^ The third time he shelved himself to such
to render the word a^/s-«<ra7f , rather than a number, tJ'c.] Grotius explains this of
dine; as Homer sometimes usea.otg/rcv to the fAzW afqy of his appearance ; for he had
signify a morning's meal. fiirst appeared to several on the day of his
Reflections on Christ's appearance at the sea of Tiherias* 615
it was attended with some very remarkable and sect.
instructive circumstances, which will be partic- ^^'
ularly mentioned in the next section.
IMPROVEMENT.
CHRIST first called thtsQ disciples when they were employed ver.1,3
in the duties of their proper profession in life, and he now man-
ifests himself to them while they were so engaged ; perhaps
particularly intending thereby to encourage an honest industry^
in which indeed we are far more likely to enjoy his presence,
and to converse with him, than when we throw away our time
in idleness and inactivity.
A while he leaves them to labour in vain^ that when the plen- 3 — 6
tiful draught of fishes came, it might be the more remarkable.
Sometimes he may deal thus with his ministers^ in their endeav-
ours to catch men ; that we may be convinced thereby, to whose
power we owe our success, and may not sacrifice to our own nety
or burn incense to our own drag. (Hab. i. 16.)
All the disciples rejoiced at his appearance ; but Peter was 7
the foremost to cast himself at his feet. Conscious that so much
had been forgiven him^ he is solicitous to shew that he loves much*
(Luke vii. 47.) So may the remembrance of our miscarriages
work upon us, to make us more vigorous in Christ^s service, and
to inspire us with such zeal and affection as many xvaters may
not be able to quench^ nor the floods to drown ! (Cant. viii. 7.)
Let us not imagine this miracle was merely intended for a 11..12
demonstration of Christ's Divine power over all that passeth
through the paths of the sea (Psal. viii. 8) ; it was also the work
oi wisdom and bounty. By the sale of so many large and fine
fishes a seasonable provision was made for the subsistence of
his disciples at Jerusalem^ while they were there waiting for the
descent of the Spirit, (Luke xxiv. 49.) Let every circumstance
resurrection ; then, after eight days^ he came that were going to Emmaus (Luke xxiv.
foAz5c/uci/!>/e5, when Thomas was present ; 13 — 31); and again the same evening he
and now again he sheiued himself at the sea appeared to thedisciples when Thomas was
of Tiberias. And it is plainly necessary absent (John xx. 19) ; on that day seven
that the words should be understood with night he appeared to the eleven when
some such limitation^ to make them con- Thomas voas with them (John xx. 26) ; and
sistent with the accounts given by the oth- now after these things he sheu^ed himself a
er evangelists and St. Paul ; which, when seventh time to the disciples at the sea of
laid together, will prove, that this was in- Tiberias (John xxi. 1). But, as John had
deed at least the seventh appearance that particularly mentioned before the two ap-
Jesus had made since his resurrection. For pearances which Jesus made to his disciples
he aj&j&earei//ir if to Mary Magdalene (Mark when they were together (John xx. 19,
xvi. 9) ; and then to the viomen as they re- 26), it seems most reasonable to conclude,
turned from the sepulchre (Mat, xxviii. 9) ; that he reckons this the third as referring
after this he was seen of Peter (1 Cor. xv. 5) ; to these,
and then the same day by the tvio disciples
VOL. 2. 79
616 Jesus asks Peter if he loved him, and bids him feed his lambs,
SECT, of this kind encourage us to trust him, as the Lord of nature
^^' and oi grace, who will withhold from us no necessary supply of
either, while we are making it our humble and faithful care to
promote his glory,
SECT. CCI.
Christ discourses with Peter at the sea of Tiberias, and gives a
remarkable prophecy concerning the death of that apostle* John
XXI. 15—24.
John XXI. 15. John XXI. 15.
SECT. JJTHEN therefore they had made a plentiful CO when they had
-^^' ^ meal on this kind of provision which Jesus ,7s^^;^'JpX!'st
, , had supplied them with, there happened some ^^^^ ^^n of Jonas,
xxi 15 circumstances in his succeeding discourse with lovest thou me more
his disciples which may be worthy of more dis- than these? He saith
. r , .• 1 1 *i,- cy .7 unto him, Ye a, Lord;
tmct notice ; and particularly this : Jesus said ^^^^ knowest that I
to Simon Peter ^ Simon [son'] of Jonas, dost thou love thee. He saith
love me 7nore than these do ?* Or wilt thou now «nto him, Feed my
maintain that thou hast such a zealous regard l^^^'^^-
for me above any of thy brethren, as thou once
didst profess, when thou saidst, that though all
should forsake me, thou wouldst not do it ?
(Mat. xxvi. 33, p. 477.) He saith unto him.
Tea, Lord, thouknoxvest that Hove thee sincerely,
though I presume not to say more than any of
my brethren. [Jesus'] said to him. If so, feed
7ny lambs ;^ and as I shall favour thee so far as
a Dost thou love me more than these do ?3 ansnver shews how much he was humbled
The original words, .nrKuov Tulm, aj-e am- and improved by the remembrance of his
biguous ; and, besides the sense I have fall.
given them, they might signify. Dost thou •» Feed my la7nbs.'\ The paraphrase
love me more than thou lovest these nets, shews how fair a sense may be given to
and other instruments of thy trade ; so as these words, without supposing they in-
to prefer my service to any worldly advan- vest Peter with any such distinguished
tages ? In this sense Dr. Whitby explains authority in the church, as, contrary to
them, and argues for it from this consider- the most convincing arguments, the Pa-
ation, that otherwise Peter could not have pists suppose, and make this supposition the
appealed to Christ, that he did thus love cornerstone of their Babel. Bellarmin^s
him, ; since it was impossible for him ex- distinction between lambs and sheept as sig-
actly to judge of the proportion between nifying the laity and clergy, is very trifling,
his oivn love to Christ and that of his brethren, nor can any example of the like distinction
But that learned commentator did not ob- be produced. It is much more natural to
serve how modestly the reply is adjusted on suppose in general, that lambs here (as in
that head. Peter only answers, 2ea, Xorc/ Isa. xl. 11, and many other places) may-
tor assuredly. Lord J, thou knoviest that I signify the v:eakest of the Jloci, which, by
/o«e tlyee ; but does not add, m,ore than these, the way, it is by no means to be taken for
And this beautiful circumstance in the granted that the /ar?y always are. So that.
He thrice renews the question and the charge. ^^7
to commit my church, in part, to thy apostolic sect.
care, remember that the most acceptable way of ^^^'
expressing thy love to me will be by taking care ^^^
even of the weakest and feeblest of my flock. jj.^j jj
16 Hesalthtohlm And, to impress this with the greater force 16
a^ain the second upon his mind, he saijs to him again the second
time, Simon, ^on of . Simon, \s on'] of Jonas, dost thou mdted
Jonas, lovest thou ' «)rr -^ ^ i . iujj i
rne ? He saith unto love me f He answers lum as he nad done be-
him, Yea, Lord ; fore, Tea, Lord, I appeal to thee for the sincer-
thouknowest that I -^^ ^f ^^^ regard which I have for thee, thou
untVhim, Feed my know est that /truly lo^e thee. \Jesus-\ says to
sheep. him again. Feed then my sheep with tenderness
and care, and thereby demonstrate the truth of
thine affection to me.
17 He saith unto And, that it might never be forgot by him, 17
him the third time, ^^ ^^i^^ ^^^^^ present, he says to him the
Simon, 5071 ot Jonas, . y ^ t V cv -i^ *u
lovest thou me ? Pe.^^?^« i^^ne, Simon [son] of Jonas, wilt thou
ter was grieved, be- abide by what thou hast said ? Dost thou truly
cause he said unto /^^^ ,^./ ^^d will that love of thine bear the
Lm-est^ thou me^? severest trial ? Peter xvas exceedingly grieved^
And he said unto that he said to him the third time. Dost thou love
him. Lord, thou ^^ V Jlnd he said to him with great earnest-
ftoTtnoweSl °«=. My dear Lord thou knowest all things ;
love thee. Jesus thou seest the very hearts ot men, and, seeing
saith unto him. Feed mine, thou knoxvest that I do indeed love thee ;
p?y sheep. though my late lamentable fall might justly
bring it into question, and my repeated denial
of thee renders me worthy of such a rebuke as
this repeated inquiry implies. Jesus says to
him. Well, Peter, I acknowledge thou dost
indeed love me, and know how to distinguish,
between frailty and treachery ; and therefore I
not only own thee as a disciple, but confirm thee
in thine apostolic office, again requiring thee
to feed my sheep ; and be assured, that I con-
sider thy zeal for the edification and comfort
on the whole, this argument for the Papers the dhninutive of a^ v*, signifies the least of
supremacy seems almost as contemptible tny lambs ; and, if we interpret this as an
as Mat which some writers of that com- intimationof f/ze care which Peter, as amz;:-
munion have drawn from these words, to istcr of Christy was to take of little children,
prove that Aerer/w, though />n;icw, are to it seemsperfectlycongruous to the wisdom
be put to death by authority derived from and tenderness of the great Shepherd of the
Peter ; because feeding the Jiock implies a sheep, to give so particular an injunction
po-wev of ailing luolves. {See Boyle^s Philos. concerning it ; as I have shewn at large in
Comment. Vol. I. p. 82) I shall only add, my Ten Sermoiis on the Po-wer and Grace of
that some have observed, that a/jv^x, being Christy Serm. vii. p. 176, ijf eeq, 2d edit.
61 S Peter is told by what death he should glorify God^
SECT, of my church, as the most acceptable token
cci- thou canst possibly give of thy love to me.
~~ And indeed thou shalt approve that love, 18 Verily, verily,
vv^ 1ft *^ot only by labours, but by sufferings too : for J,.,^^^ ""^° ^^^^»
x^-i0 •/ -7 T J J ij t- When thou wast
verziy, venly^ I say unto tnee^ and would nave young, thou girdest
thee to remember it as what shall surely come thyself, and walk;-
to pass, that when thou xvast a t/own^man, thou edst whither thou
didst gird thyself^ and walk about without con- ^^J^ \^^^ ^be^olT
troul, whithersoever thou xvouldst ; but rvhen thou shalt stretch
thou art groxvn old^^ thou shall stretch out thine forth thy hands, and
hands, and another shall gird thee, asahelpless t^^ell^'andtaty ^.^^ e
prisoner, and at length shall carry thee whither whither thou would-
thou wouldst not naturally incline to go, even to est not.
those sufferings to which flesh and blood have
the strongest aversion : yet 1 know that, not-
withstanding thy late miscarriage, thy love to
me will bear thee through all.
19 And this he said, signifying and intimating 19 This spake he,
bif what kind of death he should glorify God ; signifying by what
namely, that he should suffer martyrdom, and f^^^^^l ^^d tSen
die with his hands stretched out on a cross, he had spoken this.
And, having said this, yet farther to illustrate ^^ saith unto him,
and explain it, he says to him. Follow wt-then, Follow me.
as I now walk along, and shew that thou art
willing to conform to my example, and to fol-
low me even to the death of the cross.
^0 And Peter did so with great alacrity ; but 20 Then Peter
turning about, he saw that other disciple whom *"^"^"^ ^l'""*' ^^^^^
Jesus loved, s\\^r.t\y following him, in humble j^sus ,o™S'foUor
token of his readiness likewise to suffer the
greatest extremities in the service of so dear a
Master.'^ Now, by the way, it may be recol-
^ When thou art gro'von old.'] Peter's cru- heart that, like his own, glows with /b«e
ctfixion is said to have happened about to Christ, sees and emulates it, be it so ;
Jorty years after this ; but the time is not but he is not solicitous men should admire
exactly and certainly known. it. It was addressed to his Master ; and it
^ Silently foUo'mng him, in humble to- was enough that he understood it. And
ken of his readiness, ijfcA There is a can anyone be himself base enough to im-
spirit and tenderness in this plain passage agine that such a man could spend his life
which I can never read without the most in promoting a pernicious falsehood (for
sensible emotion. Christ orders Peter to such, in the second edition of the ninth of my
follow him, in token of his readiness to be ten sermons, I largely prove the apostolic
crucified in his cause. John stays not for testimo?iy to be, if it were a falsehood J, and
the call ; he rises, sind folloius too ; but he at last, in his old age, when his relish for
says not one word of his love and his zeal, every thing but goodness and immortality
He chose that the action only should speak was gone, would so solemnly attest it, as
that ; and when he records this circum- he does in the conclusion of his gospel?
stance, he tells us not what that action May God deliver every one that reads this
meant ; but with great simplicity relates from a head so fatally beclouded by the
the fact only. If here and there a generous corruptions of the heayt !
Peter inquires what should become of^ohn» €19
ing; which also lean- lected, that this was the apostle John, for whom sect.
^^ "er^'^nd^Taicf °^^ ^°^^ ^^^ ^ peculiar kindness, who also at c"-
Lord, *which is he ^^ paschal Slipper lay in his bosom^ and said to
that betrayeth thee ? him, Lord^ who is he that will betray thee ? ^^^^^
21 Peter seeing (See John xiii. 25, p. 417.)' Peter therefore 21
him, saith to Jesus, observing this disciple, and seeing him follow
Lord, and what tf/m// T • °i ^ i. j-j u- ^c
this man (/o 2 Jesus m the same manner as he did nimselt,
though he was not called to it, says unto JesuSy
Lordy what [shalll this man [c/i?], and what is to
become of him ? Ptiust he, who is now follow-
ing with me, partake of the like sufferings, and
in like manner testify his love by dying for
thee ?
22 Jesus saith unto Jesus says to him, Is that any immediate 22
him. If I wiU that concern of thine, Peter ? If I will that hetar-
he tarry till I come, ' \. ^-n t • i
what is that to thee ? ^2/» °^ contmue alive, till I come m power and
Follow thou me. great glory to execute the judgment I have
threatened on mine enemies, what [is that] to
thee, or to any one else ? Follow thou me :
mind thou thine own duty, and endeavour to
prepare for thine own sufferings ; and pry not
with a vain curiosity into secret events which
may befal him, or any other of thy brethren.
23 Then went this Now as this answer was not rightly under- 23
saying abroad among stood, this saying therefore went abroad amon^
the brethren, that ^, , ' , ^ .urn c r-\^ '
that disciple should ^^^ brethren, or the other followers ot Chnst,
not die: yet Jesus that this disciple should not die ;^ and the ad-
said not unto him, yanced age to which he lived gave some far-
Sft If f wifuh^'he ^^^^ colour for it : but it was entirely built upon
tarry till I come, a mistake ; for Jesus did not say to him, or of
what is that to thee ? him, that he should Jiot die ; but only, as it was
expressed before, Iflzvill that he tarry, or con-
tinue alive, till I come, what [is that] to thee?
24 This is the dis- And this is the disciple who testifies concern- 24
clple which testifieth- ^^^^.^ things, and hath written them as
of these thmers, and ,^ 7 • "^ i • t
wrote these things : above : and svdz^ he was an eyewitness to them,
and we know that and has not failed, in a proper manner, to pro-
his testimony is true. Juce in the churches the credentials necessary
to prove the veracity and exactness of his
writings, we certainly know that his testimony
is true, and doubt not but every candid reader
will receive it accordingly.^
« TTiis saying therefore ivent abroad among ^ We knov) that his testimony is true.'^
the brethren, &c.] That there was such a Grotius would argue from the plural num-
notion and tradition, among the ancients, ber in these words fAnjwt. in Jolin xx. 30),
Fabricius has particularly shewn, Cod.Apoc. that this last chapter was not \vritten by
Nov. Test. Vol. III. p. 533. John himself, but was added to his gospel
620 Refections on the inquiry into Peter^s love.
IMPROVEMENT.
SECT. What if our Lord Jesus Christ should put the same question
cci- to us that he did to Peter^ in this remarkable passage, and should
"*"" thus repeat it again and again ? Are there none of us who should
15-17 ^^ ^* ^ ^°^^ ^^^ ^^ answer ? None of us to whom he might say,
I know that you have not the love of Christ in you f Or are there
none of us who apprehend, that, if we had ourselves been thus
pressed, we could, at the very best, only have said, Lord^ thou
that knowest all things^ knowest that I cannot tell xuhether I love
thee or not f Blush, and be confounded, O my soul, if thou must
reply with such uncertainty to a question of so great importance,
and in a case where all the ardour of the heart might be so just-
ly expected !
17 But are there not still some of us who through Divine grace
could reply with pleasure, Lord^ thou knowest all things^ thou
knowest that^ notwithstanding all the unhallowed and lamented
infirmities of our lives, we do indeed love thee ^ And, if we are
thus really conscious to ourselves of such an unfeigned affection,
let it be our daily joy, that he who implanted this Divine prin-
ciple in our hearts, discerns and sees it there ; and, knowing all
things^ he perfectly knows this, however we may be suspected,
however we may be censured.
16 Let us learn also by what method we are to express our love^
according to our ability and opportunity ; even by feeding his
sheep, and promoting the interest and edification of his church.
Let 7ninisters especially do it ; and let them not forget those
15 dear creatures, the lambs of the flock. Jesus the compassionate
Shepherd, as we see, did not forget them ; but taught his ser-
vants with the greatest tenderness both by his precepts, and by
his example, to gather them in their arms^ and carry them in
their bosom. (Isa. xl. 11.)
21 Happy are those ministers who, instead of indulging a vain
curiosity in things wherein they are not at all, or but very little
concerned, are spending their lives in such faithful services ;
feeding thefock of God ; and taking the oversight of it, not by con^
straint, but willingly ; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
that when the chief Shepherd shall appear, they may receive an un-
fading crozvn of glory', (1 Pet. v. 2, 4.) A crown which will
by some other hands. (See note ' on John only one person speaks. So that no more
xxi. 1, p. 611.) But it is plainly said in the appears to be intended here than if he had
beginning of this verse^ that it was he luho said, *' We universally allow, that what is
testified and lurote these things ; and besides, testijied by a credible eyewitness, and as-
that we have frequent instances of the like serted by him under his handy must be ad-
change of numbers (see Rom. vii. 14, and mitted as a valid testimony, and pass for
1 Thess. ii. 18), it is evident from the unexceptionable evidence : this is the case
vords, / supposci in the next -versct that here ; and therefore regard it accordingly.**
jfesus appears to five hundred brethren in Galilee : 621
infinitely more than repay, not only their labours^ but their suf- sect,
enngs too ! .
Happy Peter, who, having worn out his better years in the ser- ^.^^^^
vice of Christy courageously stretched out his aged arms to be
bounds and, being borne away to tortures and death, shed the last
slow ebb of his blood as a martyr for \\\m.who had loved him and
given himself for him. And not less happy the beloved disciple, 20-.23
so willing to hazard his life in the same cause ; though he was
not in fact called to lay it down as a martyr / Our gracious Lord^
who sees every purpose, and every affection, as it rises in the
heart, favourably accepts of the willing mind^ and will, through
the riches of his grace, entitle them to the reward of equal suffer-
ing, who have waited with a like readiness, though they have
not been called out to the severity of the like trial.
SECT. ecu.
Christ appeal's to the whole body of the disciples at the appointed
mountain in Galilee ; and afterzvards meets the apostles several
times at Jerusalem^ and discourses with them concerning the
affairs of his kingdom. Mat. XXVIII. 16, to the end. Mark
XVI. 15—18. Luke XXIV. 44 — i9. Acts I 2, 3.
Mat. XXVIII. 16. MaT. XXVIII. 16.
THEN the e- '\fOW, quickly after the late interview which sect.
leven disciples 1^1 jqsus had with his disciples at Jerusalem, ccii.
i[eeS7oTmol^iL ^^^ eleven disciples went into Galilee, to a certain — -
where Jesus had ap- mountain not tar from the sea of Tiberias, ^^^.v
pointed them. where Jesus had appointed to meet them, jg
" And he appeared to them, and above
five hundred brethren at once, who came
together from all parts of the country on that
17 And when they important occasion." A?id having seen him, j-
saw him, they wor- they bowed down and worshipped him ; and
'^"^^niihi?.!' ^"^^ though some of the company had doubted at
some doubted. ^ »/ *irii • i
hrst, yet they were afterwards tuUy convmced.*
a Though some of the company had pany could continue to doubt of the truth of
doubted at first, ^c."] There is no room to Christ's resurrection^ when they actually jcriu
thinkthat this refers to .?omeo/'<i^eaj&oj^/ej, hiiriy and that in the presence of so many
when Christ had so lately satisfied the others ; a circumstance incomparably
most incredulous among them ; but we more convincing to each than if it had ap'-
are certainly to understand it (as Mr. peared to any one alone. I therefore choose
West has fully shewn) of some that were to render and paraphrase the words, o< ^i
in company with them, though Matthew etT/r^cr^tv, as above. Those learned critics,
has not mentioned them. (See West's Albert (Observ. p. 163, 164), and Bos
Observ. p. 25, 29.) Yet still it is not easy fExercit. p. 23), have produced many in-
to imagine how any of the rest of this com- stances in which o< is put for Tin;. And
622 And after thai, is seen of James, and then of all the apostkso
SECT. " And the greater part of them continued alive,
ccii. as witnesses of the truth of his resurrection for
" several years after -^ though others of them
i^viii. died in a short time, and went to their glori-
17 fied and triumphant Lord in heaven." See 1
Cor. XV. 6. Thus did he manifest himself in
Galilee to a considerable number of his disci-
ples at once ; " and after that, he appeared to
James,*= and then (as we shall see hereafter) to
all the apostles." See 1 Cor. 15. 7.
But, though he shewed himself thus openly
to his disciples, " he did not publicly appear at
any time to all the people ; nor indeed did he
shew himself, in any other instance, to so large
an assembly even of his own disciples : but in
the several appearances he made, he chiefly
conversed with the apostles, and confined his
visits to those witnesses that were chosen be-
fore by God to attest the truth of his resurrec-
tion ; who had frequent opportunities of a free
conversation with him, and, as we have seen
before (Luke xxiv. 30, 42, 43 ; and John xxi.
12, 13), did eat and drink with him after he
rose from the dead." See Acts x. 41.
Actsi. And at these times of his conversing with Acts 1.2. [^m/}
2 them,^ he more particularly opened to them
all the diflSculty is removed, if we allow a tkians, whereas the other James, the son of
small change in the tense, and take the ren- Zebedee, had suffered martyrdom some
dering of the Prussian Testament, Even they years before. (Acts xii. 2.) But the cir-
tuho had before doubted ; or, which is much cumstances of this appearance are no where
the same, though some had doubted, recorded, nor have we any credible ac-
. _ , r. n Ti. • 11 countHvhere or IV hen it har>r>ened; only we
^.^??J rr i I.- ^ ? &f"!!"^!^y learn from the order in which it is placed
granted that the frst Epistle to the Cor in- ^ ^^^ j^ p^^l ^^^^^-^ ^^^ after Chrises
thiansvi^s written atleast twenty years after ^^^,^,^^,, ,, ,^,^^, ;i,,^,,^ ^,4,,„, See
Chrises resurrection; and Paul there tells ^^f^ , ^^ Luke xxiv. 34, p. 604.
us, that the greater part of these fve hundred , ^^^ ^^ ^j^^^^ ^j^^^ *^f j^j^ conversing
then continued alive. And by the way it ^i^h them.] As I have inserted in thi
was a wise and gracious dispensation of first paragraph of f^/. .m/o« what is said
Divme Providence to continue their lives -^ ^j^^^^/^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ Corinthians, of our
so long as each of them wherever Proy- L^rd^^ ^pp/^rance to the>e hmdred breth-
idence led them, would be an authentic and to James, so I have thought it
witness of that important fact, .;,ere.«rrec-^ to introduce in this and thI next
t^onofo^^rLord the great fundamental of J.erL what relates to M/. .^o;^/ in the be-
the ChrisUan faith. ^j^,^.^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ (chap/i.-2-12),
« After that he appeared to James.] It which renders the narration more com-
is probable this was James the son of Al- plete, and finishes the account which the
pheus, who was still living when the apos- sacred ivr iters give us of the history of our
tie Paul wrote his first epistle to the Corin- Lord to the time of his ascetisioji.
He shews them that the scriptures were fulfilled in him, 623
through the Holy what was the nature and design of their office ; sEcr,
Ghost [he gave]com- [^cmd"] through the Holy spirit^ which was given ecu.
mandments uHtothe y^ measure to himself, and which he had
apostles whom he , . -^ , i i • i » j Acts
had chosen; lately breathed into them, he gave command' jg
merits and instructions to the apostles whom he
3 To whom also had chosen^ how they w^ere to act : To whom 3
he shewed himself qIsq h^ gave abundant evidences of the truth of
SifffJ'Lnv -nf^tr' his resurrection, and shelved himself \.o be alive
sion, by many inialli- ' . , . •^ ' r in/
bIeproofs,beingseen after he had suffered desith, by many inJaUible
of them forty days, proofs and tokens ; being seen of them at various
and speaking of the ^jj^^g r^^ ^^ 5 of forty days after his res-
thinej-s pertaininer to •/ ,^ ,.*' i /'^i.^l-
the kingdom of God. urrection, ajid speaking to them of the things
which related to the kingdom of God,
Luke XXIV. 44. And these his last interviews with them were Luke
And [ Jesus came, chiefly at Jerusalem, to which they returned ^^^^•
andspake unto them, after his appearance to them on the moun- "^
saying], These are . . ^ ,., *^i , _. , ^i -.i
the words which I tam m Galilee ; and Jesus also caine thither,
spake unto you, wliile and made them repeated visits : and on one of
I was yet with you, ^j^^ge occasions, he spake unto thetn^ sayin^J^
that all things must ^, r- -i , j i.- u t ^ i * j
be fulfilled which These [are^ the words which I spake to you, and
were written in the these the intimations that I often gave you, wA?/(?
law of Moses, and in /^^^ yet dwelling among you^ that all the things
thePsTlmtc^n^trn! ^"^'^ ^' c^7,ct\y fulfilled which are xvritten in the
ing me. '[Mat. scriptures concerning me, both in the pentateuch
XXVIIL 18—.] which is called the law of 3Ioses, and in the
books of the succeeding prophets, and in the
Psalms and other poetical books of the Old
Testament.
45 Then opened And at the same time he not only in words ex- 45
he their understand- pounded to them the sense of the sacred wri-
ing, that they might ^ j^^ , ^ ^^^^^^ operation on their in-
understand the scrip- ♦ •^. j , • • j ^l ^ ^l
tures, tellectual faculties opened their minds, that they
might understand the scriptures in their refer-
46 And said unto ence to him. And in a most convincing man- 46
them. Thus it is writ- ner he enlarged upon the important subject, a/?^
hovedChrisT,o'suf>«'^ '» '^'^'«. When vou consider all these
fer, and to rise from things, you must certainly perceive, that thus
it was written, and thus it was necessary, in con-
formity to the counsel of God, and for the man-
ifestation of his glory, that the Messiah should
e On one of these occasions he spake, (see Luke xxiv. 49), and consequently ft
Sec] I use this indeterminate form of very few days before our Lord's ascension,
expression, because I see no mark by I have thrown all that the three evan"
which we can particularly ascertain the gelists say of these discourses into one
time when the following discourse was continued discourse, though perhaps some
delivered ; only, I think it very plain it of them might be delivered at different
must be after their return to Jerusalem times.
VOL. 2, 80
624 All power was given them^ and they should be his witnesses.
z^cr. suffer^ and should rise again from the dead^ as I the dead the third
ccii. have done, on the third day ; Andthat^ in con- ^v
47 And that re-
-— sequence of this, and on this great foundation, ^^^^^^^^ ^„^ ^^^j^,
^ ^ the important doctrines of repentance and for- sion of sins should
sxiv.
A^ giveness of sins through faith in him should be be preached in his
preached in his name, and by his authority, to "^"^^' ?"!!-n?;n^! "L'
■* „ 1 . r 1 1 7 • • n . tions, beg-inning at
all the nations or the earth, beginning first at Jerusalem.
Jerusalem itself, though polluted with the
blood of the Prince of life J
Mat. You know indeed (added he) how cruelly Mat. XXVIII.—
xxviii. the Tews have treated me, and how ungratefully 18. All power is giv-
IS they have rejected me ; but their outrageous ^;;^"?f^^;^^^
malice has now done its utmost, and my heav-
enly Father has not only rescued me from their
hands, but is exalting me to all that height of
dignity and glory which the sacred oracles have
sopatheticallydescribed:fora//rtw^/iorz7z/z^now
given unto me, both in heaven and on earth; and,
in accomplishment of what was promised to the
Messiah, I am raised to a kingdom which com-
prehends both the upper and lower worlds, and
entitles me to the homage of angels as well as
Luke of men. And yet, though I could so easily Luke XXIV 48.
^^'^' command the ministry of those more glorious And ye are witness-
^^ creatures, it suits best with the scheme of my ^' °^^^"'^ ^^^"S^'
gospel to make use oi'you; who 5/^a// accordingly
be witnesses ofaW these things, by publishing the
certain knowledge that you have of the import-
ant truths of my death and resurrection ;g and
' Beginning at j^erusalein.'] As for the g Tou shall be ijjitnesses of these things."}
grammatical construction of the Greek word That this was the grand business of the
oip^sifAivov, it would be foreig-n from the apostles, is evident ; and the ingenious au-
design of these notes to ente r into it farther thor of Miscellanea Sacra f Essay in. p. 17—
than to refer the learned reader to E/*;jer. 23), has taken great pains to shew how
fObserv. Vol. I. p. 288), and Raphelius the title of ^u^>nM5e.J and the office of fe^f/-
fAnnot. ex Herod, p. 276, 277), and to /y/n^ is in the sacred writings appropriated
the original of Luke xxiii. 5 ; xxiv. 27 ; to the apostles. But after all, though it
and Acts x. '27. It was both graciously and was indeed essential to the apostolic office,
viisely appointed by our Lord, that the gos- that they who bore it should be able to tes-
pel should begin to' be preached at Jerusa- tify tlie facts as of their own personal
lem ; graciously, as it encouraged the re- knowledge ; yet it is certain, that a great
pentance of the greatest sinners, when many others, who were not apostles, were
they saw that even the murderers o/ Christ able to testify the same ; and it was their
were not exempted from the offers of gos- duty, and no doubt their care to do it, as
pel mercy ; and luisely, as hereby Christi- Providence gave them an opportunity . and
anity was more abundantly attested, the the apostles had many other duties incum«
facts being published just on the spot bent upon them for the edification of the
where they happened ; and as the vast church, and in order to the performance
concourse of people of various nations, of them were furnished with extraordinary
present there at the/ea^fo/):?en?ecojf, would gifts and ponuers, for which they would
contribute greatly to its more speedy have had little occasion had it been their
spread. only business to testify these facts.
He bids them tarry at Jerusalem till they receive the Spirit. 625
who are therefore to look upon it as the great sect.
business of your lives to spread the notices and *^^"-
49 And behold, I evidences of these facts. And^ that you may
send the promise of be fully qualified for so hij^h an office, behold' I Z^^
Sutu^^n- the ^^ ^'^ to send upon you M. great promise^^''
city of Jerusalem, of my Father^ relating to the miraculous effu-
until ye be endued sion of the Holy Spirit upon vou. (Compare
^kh power from on j^eUi. 28 ; and Acts ii. 16, 17.) And as the
Divine Wisdom sees fit to honour this place,
sinful as it is, with the first view of this sur-
prising appearance, I charge you not to go
from hence before you have received those
gifts and graces you shall be furnished with
for the discharge of your ministry ; but do you
continue here in the city of Jerusalem till you
are invested with this power from on high ^
whereby you will be enabled to bear your tes-
timony in so advantageous and convincing a
manner, that no falsehood or sophistry will be
able finally to stand before you.
Mark XVI. 15. And further he said to them^ When vou shall Mark
And he said unto ^j^^g ^g furnished with the extraordinary gifts ^vi.l5
tliem. Go ye into r ,i o • • / t • n r . ° . .
all the world, and o* ^he bpirit, gojorth into all parts of the world^
preach the g-ospel and preach the gospel to every human creature
to every creature, under heaven to whom Providence may lead
16 He that be- you, whether Jew or Gentile : And take care 15
heveth, and is bap- ^-^^^t you deliver it with becoming: seriousness ;
tized, shall be sav- j i ^ ^1 . -^ i ^ ^i. • • . /
ed : but he that be- ^^"'^ *^^ them see to it that they receive it with
lieveth not, shall be proportionable regard ; for it is a matter of
danmed. infinite importance. And accordingly I now
solemnly declare, That he who sincerely believes
your testimony, and^ in token of that cordial
faith, is baptized in my name, and continues to
maintain a temper and conduct suitable to that
engagement, shall certainly be saved with a
complete and everlasting salvation : but he who
helieveth not this my gospel, when opened with
such convincing evidence,^ and finally persists
'^ Continue in the city of Jerusalem till you tain, than that the apostles did quit Jerusa^
are invested, Sec] This passage utterly lem between Christ's resurrection and tlie
overthrows Mr Whiston's assertion, that descent of the Spirit, and went into Galilee by
all this discourse was delivered on the Christ's appointment, which was sig-nified
night Christ rose from the dead ; and that to them by the angel and by himself too.
the ascension related by Luke in the con- ' When opened with such convincing-
elusion of this chapter, is not that at the evidence.] This is by no means a proper
end of forty days, when he quitted this place to inquire into the />ro/>orf/on between
earth, to return to it no more, but a previ- the evidence which was peculiar to the days
ous ascension which was made on the resur- of the apostles, and that which is common
rection day. For nothing can be more cer- to our own. But I hope it will be consid-
626 He g-ives them a commission to preach and baptize ,■
SECT, in wilful impenitence and unbelief, as he rejects
*^^"' the most gracious counsel of God for his
, recovery, shall be condemned^ by his righteous
3jyi 15 judgment, to future and everlasting punish*
ment,^ and shall to his dreadful experience find
that gospel which he has despised to be a
savour of death to him.
Mat. Observe then the extent of your commis- Mat. XXVIIL
^^^'^"- sion; and ^^y^r^^^A^'r^re', not only into Judea, "19. Go ye there-
^^ but into all the rest of the world, and proselyte^^l^^^^^^ t^'^tX^^
all the nations of the earth to the faith and them in the narlfe'cS'
obedience of my gospel,^ baptizing them in the the Father, and of
awful and venerable name of the Father^ and of^^^ S°"' *"^^ ^^ ^^®
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit;^ that by this ""^'^ ^''°'*-
ered, on the one hand, how improbable it proselytcthoX. it may be duly distinguished
is, that a Divine reveiationi introduced as from J'lS'Amovlirf teaching (in the next
the gospel was, should ever be left so des- verse Jy with which our 'version confounds
tituteof proofs in after ages, that an honest it. The former seems to import instruc-
man, after impartial consideration, might tion in the essentials of religion, which it
reject it ; and on the other, how fit it was, was necessary adult persoiis should know
that the danger of neglecting it should be and submit to, before they could regularly
strongly declared, lest it should seem be admitted to baptism ; the latter may
itself to have left men at liberty to trifle relate to those more particular admoni-
with it. tions in regard to Christian faith and prac-
^ Shall be condemned^ Sec] As for the tice, which were to be built on that foun-
objection which has been urged against dation. It is certain, that no argument can
the truth of Christianity, from the damna- be drawn from hence to the prejudice of
tory sentence vAiiQ\\'\\.\\QTe and elsewhere infant baptism : for had Christ sent out
pronounces on those that reject it, I have these tnissionaries to propagate yuf/a/ir7n. in
considered it at large, siu'^e the former the world, he might have used the same
publication of ^A?5 tJo/wme, and attempted language; " Go, and proselyte all nations,
to shew that it is so far from being conclu- circumcising them in the name of the God
sive, that it would rather have been a of Israel, and teaching them to observe all
greater difficulty in the scheme of Christ- that Moses commanded.'*
ianity if it had contained no such sentence. *" Baptizing them in the name of the Fa'
See my second letter to the Author of CAmf- ther^ &c.] Though I dare not assert that
ianity not founded on Argument, p. 28 — 47. the use of these very ixords Is essential to
And I must earnestly entreat any reader. Christian baptism.^ yet surely the expres-
who fancies there is any force in what the sion must intimate the necessity of some
deists urge on this head, attentively to con- disti7ict regard to each of the sacred three,
sider what is there offered, before he pre- which is always to be maintained in the
sume on the contrary sentiment, which may administration of this ordinance ; and con-
perhaps be an error as fatal SiS it is absurd, sequently it must imply, that more was
1 Proselyte all the nations of the earth.] said to those of whose baptism we read in
The whole tenor of the succeeding books the Acts, than is there recorded, before
of the Ne%\3 Testament shews that Christ they were admitted to it. The Christian
designed by this co7n?n,mzon that the ^os/jf/ Church in succeeding ages has acted a
should be preached to all tnankind without wise and safe part in retaining these ivords^
exception, not only to the Jews, but to all and they contain so strong an intimation,
the idolatrous Gentiles : but the preju- that each of these persons is properly God,
dices of the apostles led them at first to and that worship is to be paid, and glory
mistake the sense, and to imagine that it ascribed to each, that I cannot but hope
referred only to their going to preach the they will be a means of maintaining the be-
gospel to the Jews among all nations, or to lief of the one, and the practice of the
those who should be willing to become other, among the generality of Christians
Jjews. I render the v/ord fAA^ttriu^rsClh to the end of the world.
and promises to be xvith them to the end of the world. 627
solemn initiatory ordinance they may profess sect.
their subjection to each of these Divine persons, ^cii.
20 Teaching them and, maintaining suitable regards to each, may
to observe aU things receive from each correspondent blessings : ^^^^^j-j
rommandcdyou:and And see that you instruct the converts whom 20
lo, I am with you you SO baptize, teaching them to keep and ob-
aKvay, even unto the serve all things rvhatsoever I have commanded
end of the world. ^^ remembering that I am the Lord, and
Amen. *^ 1 .i. r -u a j
you only the messengers ot my will. And^
while you act in pursuance of these directions,
though numberless difficulties will appear in
your way, yet be not discouraged at them; for
behold^ I am always xvith you^ to support and
comfort you, and in some measure at least to
succeed your labours ; and I will to such pur-
poses as these be with all my faithful ministers
who shall succeed you in the work, even to the
end of the world,^ Amen ! O blessed Jesus, so
may it indeed be ! And may this important
promise be fulfilled to us and to our successors,
to the remotest ages, in its full extent !°
Mark XVI. 17. Andhe yet farther added. So far as it is nee- Mark
Andthesesigns shall essary and expedient for the confirmation of xvi. 17
follow them that be- ^^ gospel, and the establishment of my cause
and interest in the world, a miraculous power
shall attend you, and others who shall join with
you or succeed you in the first plantation of
my church : and in particular, these signs^ and
others no less v/onderful, shall folloxv them that
believe^ and be performed by those who in a
lively manner exercise their faith in God, when
he is inwardly excitingthem to such operations ;P
n / am, always <{vithyoUy even to the end of certain truth of the things contained in it ;
the ivorld.'] As Christ's presence with his yet I think the turn here given to it in
surviving a/?o.?f/e.f and other w?wz.y?er,? was Matthew very natural, considering its
as necessary after the destruction of Jeru- connection with that promise, which was
salem as before it, nothing seems more un- undoubtedly the greatest strength and joy
reasonable than to limit these words by of that good man's heart. St. John uses
such an interpretation, as torefer them only the like turn in more express language,
to that period ; nor does it indeed appear in the last verse but one of the Revelation.
that f/je enc^ o/"?Ae luorW is ever used in any Surely I come quickly: Amen! Even 5o>
other than the most extensive sense. come Lord yesus !
° Amen.' so may it indeed be !] Though p These signs shall folloiv them that be-
the word Amen, with which each of the lieve, &.C.] It is exceeding evident, that
gospels ends, seems chiefly to have been the word believe, in this place, mus^ sig-
jntended as an intimation of the conclusion nify something different from that faith
pf the booki and as an asseveration of the which had in the preceding verse of Mark
628 A miraculous power should attend them that believe*
SECT, in my name they shall cast out the most obstinate lieve : in my name
<^*^" and mischievous demons^ who may have pos- ^^^l*. ^^^\ ^^^^ ^^{
^^ sessed the bodies of men ; they shall by an ex- spllk' ^th new
xvi. 17 traordinary, and hitherto unknown, effusion of tongues,
my Spirit, be enabled with the greatest fluency
and propriety to speak in various new languages
18 which they have never learnt ; They shall take 18 They shall take
w/?6'6Td£';z^5' without beino: bitten or endanerered "P serpents, and if
i.*uq J -r u ^ ^ they drmk any dead-
by them ;^ and if, by some secret or open at- ly thing, it shall not
tempt made to destroy them, they drink any hurt them; they shall
deadly and malignant poison, it will not hurt ^^y l^^"^^ on the
them;' [and-] when they shall lay [their] hands retoVerf ^^^^ '^^
on the sick and infirm, it shall be attended with
a healing virtue, and they shall immediately
recover without the use of any farther means.
So that in consequence of this extraordinary
confirmation, my gospel shall meet with a very
general reception, and my heavenly Father,
according to his promise, " shall give me the
heathen for mine inheritance, and the utter-
most parts of the earth for my possession.''
(See PsaL ii. 8.)
Such was the purport of our Lord's dis-
course, and in this manner he conversed with
his disciples till his ascension, with the account
of which illustrious fact we shall conclude this
important history of his life.
IMPROVEMENT.
Mat. With how ill a grace could the Jews complain of any de-
sxvm. ficiency in the evidence of our Lord'^s resurrection, when he ap-
^^ peared alive to so great a numbei* 2isfive hundred at once ! How
been required as indispensably necessary ous wounds given by the bite of the most
to salvation; and can have no other ration- noxious animals.
al interpretation than what is here given. ' -(/^ by some secret or open attempt
<3 They shall take up serpents."] yambliciis made to destroy them, they drink. Sec] I
fVit. Pjthag. cap. 28) says that Pythagoras add this clause^ that none may imagine God
could do this ; and very credible writers ever intended that these viiraculous powers
have asserted, that in the eastern nations should be used merely fov ostentation^ or to
there is an art n^ charming snakes and ser- gratify the cttnW(;/ of spectators. Consid-
pents by the force of music, so as for a ering to what degrees of cursed refine-
while to suspend tlieir disposition to hurt, ment the art of poisoning was by this time
("See Bochart. Hierozoic. part 2. lib. iii. cap. brought, as well as how frequently execu-
6; and compare Psalm Iviii. 4, 5 ; and Ec- tion was done, by giving poison iocondenxn-
cles. X. 11.) BwUhis pcmer was undoubtedly ed persons in the age and country in which
exerted without any such artifice, and in- the apostles lived, such a promise as this
eluded (as in the case of Paul, Acts xxviii. will appear more important than the reader
3 — 5) an ability to heal the most danger- might at first apprehend.
Refections on the commission Christ gave his apostles, 629
glad must these disciples be when they sazu the Lord ! and with sect.
what pleasure must they hear him speaking of those things which ^^"*
concerned the kingdom of God !
We have surely perpetual reason for thankfulness, when we i'^
think of that co?nmission which Christ gave to his disciples : nor is
it a circumstance of little importance, that they had it in charge,
when they published this message of grace, to begi?i at ferusa- Luke
lem ; though the religious opportunities that were abused bv '^^^^•
that ungrateful city had already been so great, and their provo- ^'^
cations so many. Amazing condescension of the Prince of
Pe«f^,thathe sent \{\?> ambassadors of peace to them when they had
hardly laid aside the weapons with which they had slain him, and
were scarce rested after the cruel fatigue which their officious
malice had given them in abetting his murder ! Behold, he offers
them all the invaluable blessings purchased by \\\s bloody while it
was yet, as we may say, warm upon mount Calvary 1 and oa
the same principles, even unto this day, where sin hath abounded^
there is grace abounding much more. (Rom. v. 20.)
The coirunission he gave his apostles^ though it began at JerU'
salem^ did not end there ; nor was it confined within the narrow
limits of Judea ; but they were appointed to go into all the
worlds and preach the gospel to every creature. We to this day, Mark
in our remote land, enjoy the benefit of it. Let us remember ^^i- ^5
the important consequences that w ill one way or another attend
the gospel thus brought us. Ifxve believe it, xve shall be saved ; ^^
but ifxve believe it not^ xve shall be damned. Life, or death, O my
sold, is the certain issue of it, with regard to thee in particular.
Be surety to thy servant^ 0 Lord^ for good (Psal. cxix. 122) ;
and let my life be precious in thy sight I
Christ opened the understanding of the apostles^ to apprehend Luke
the sense of scripture. Let us study that sacred book with an ^'^i^-
humble dependence upon the aid of that blessed Spirit by whom '^^
it was dictated. And let these apostles who are thus divinely
taught, be reverently regarded as our surest guides^ when we
are studying the oracles of the Old Testament ; considering the
extraordinary commission with which Christ sent them forth, the
poxverfrom on high with which he invested them, and the ample 49
credentials which he thereby gave them.
These miraculous donatians are now ceased, but that valuable Mat.
promise still continues in force. That he xvill be xvith his minis- xxviii
ters always^ even unto the end of the world. In the strength of ^^
that gracious assurance, O i\io\i faithful and true Witness^ would
thine humble ambassadors still go forth to all the labours and
difficulties before them : remember thy word wito thy servants
(Psal. cxix. 49), and 7nay it be unto us according to it ! Amen !
6oO The disciples are again bid to wait for the Spirit at Jerusalem,
SECT. CCIII.
Christy after his last discourse with his disciples^ ascends to heaven
in their sights from the mount of Olives in the neighbourhood of
Bethany ; and theif joy fully return to Jerusalem^ waiting for the
Spirit, Mark XVI.' 19, to the end, Luke XXIV. 50, to the
.end, John XX. 30, to the end, XXI. ult. Acts I. 4 — 12.
Acts I. 4. ^ Acts I. 4.
SECT. QtUCH was the conversation Jesus had with AND being as-
cciii. Q i^ig disciples at Jerusalem, and such the -^ sembled to.
. . J *V J ^, ^1 ffether with them,
commission he gave them : a^z^ now at length, %^^A commanded
having gathered them together on the fortieth them that they
day after his resurrection, he charged them should not depart
again, as he had done before (Luke xxiv. 49, ^^k /oTIhe pmmis^e
p. 625), not to depart from Jerusalem^ to employ of the Father, which,
themselves in any secular cares at home ; but saith he, ye have
rather to spend some succeeding days in extra- "^^^'^ ^^ "^*^-
ordinary devotion in the temple, or in their
secret retirements ; that they might, with the
most becoming temper, wait for the accom-
plishment of t\i^X promise of the Father^ whichy
[said he] you have again and again heard from
Tne^ both before and since my resurrection.
(Compare John xiv. 26 ; xv. 26 ; xvi. 7 ; and
5 Luke xxiv. 49.) For John indeed baptized 5 For John truly
with zvater, when he was sent to call men to baptized with wa-
repentance ; but you well know, that he declar- taptize^d ^wi1:h^ the
ed at the same time, " there was one coming Holy Ghost, not
after him, who should baptize in a more glori- many days hence,
ous manner with the Holy Spirit." (See Mat.
iii. 11, Vol. I. p. 106.) And in accomplish-
ment of this prediction, as you are now to be
sent forth to preach the gospel, and to bear
witness of me as the true Messiah, that who-
soever shall believe in me may obtain remis-
sion of sins, you shall be plentifully furnished
from above with all those graces that may
enable you to fulfil your ministry, and by my
means shall be baptized xvith an extraordinary
effusion of the Holy Spirit ; and this shall be
done not many days hence,
Luke And he then took them with him out of the Luke XXIV. 50— .
xxiy. ^.j^y^ ^^^ passing over the brook Kedron again, And he led them
in a very different manner from that in which
he had lately crossed it (John xviii. 1, p. 475,
476), he led them out to the mount of Olives,
They discourse with Jesus on the mount of Olives* 631
o\it as far as to Beth- and brought them through that ridge of hills, sect.
any. as far as to the boundaries of Bethany. '^ ^^^^^'
Acts I. 6. When When therefore they rvere come together with ^^^^ .^
they therefore were such peculiar solemnity, and Jesus had thus ^
XaThtrs";;'- ='=^-™"-^d A^-" i" «.1'°<1>' (as they apprehend-
ing, Lord, wilt thou ed, on some extraordmary occasion), ^/zez/ asked
at this time restore him^ sayings Lord^ wilt thou at this ti?ne^ when
tfl's"uen ''^"^'^""' t^ey have just been guilty of such aggravated
wickedness, restore the kingdom to Israel? And
wilt thou now in such a manner shew thy fa-
vour to a nation which so well deserves to be
destroyed, that Israel shall at this time be raised
from its servitude, to that extensive empire
which ancient prophecies have led us to expect
under the government of the Messiah ?
7 And he said unto But^ as Jesus was not willing to enter on a 7
them. It is not for subject, concerning which the Spirit would
tCesorthesLonst^oon rectify their notions, he chose to check
•which the Father their curiosity, arid said to them^ whatever the
hath put in his own schemes of Providence may be, it is not for
P*^^^^^'' you to hiozv, and therefore is not proper for
you to inquire, what are those ti?nes or seasons
which the Father has placed under his ozv?i au^
thority : the Messiah's kingdom shall indeed
be triumphant, and the Israel of God shall reign
with him ; but where, or when, or how this
shall be, it is not your present business to in-
8 But ye shall re- quire : And therefore now let not these se- 8
ceive power after ^^^^^ thincTS en^acre and take up your attention :
tliat the Holv Ghost , ^t ^ ^ .iTu. .-i
is come up6n you : ^^'^ ^^^ ^^ rather exhort you to mmd your pres-
ent duty, and to leave the event of things to
God : and, to prepare you for the important
service you are called to, you shall indeed, as
I before have told you, receive the power of the
Holy Spirit coming upon you ; and by this means
* ^,?yar a^ fo the boundaries of Bethany.] nearer to Jerusalem, and took in part of
This at least must be the import of the the mount of Olives. (See note * on Mat.
word eac i but what is said elsewhere will xxi. 1, p. 280.) It is indeed possible,
not allow us to extend it to the tovin itself: that our Lord might make his last visit on
for the town of Bethany was about fifteen earth to Lazarus and his pious sisters ;
furloii'^s from, Jerusaletn (John xi.'lS), but it is manifest he did not accent/ from
whereas the place from which our Lord the town of Bethany, wliere many others
ascended, on mount Olivet, was but a sab- must have seen him, but from the mount
bathday^s journey f or about half that distance of Olives, where none beheld him but hh
from Jerusalem (Acls i. 12). So that to oim disci/jles ; nor is there any intimation
reconcile what Luke here tells us in his in the words of the e<Da;:5^e//o-f, that he came
gospel with the account he gives us of our from Bethany to the mount of Olives on
Lurd''s ascension in the Acts, we must con- the day of his ascension^ but rather that he
elude, that he conducted his disciples only to went directly from Jerusalem thither.
fhe boundaries of Bethany , which came much
VOL. 2. 81
652 Having blessed them, he ascends to heaven in their sight.
SECT, you shall be qualified to be my witnesses, both and ye shall be wit-
«iii^ in Jerusalem, mid in all Jndea, and inSamaria, Z'^::::ZZi^'^^
. and even to the ends of the earth ; and you shall all Judea, and in Sa-
" ^ ^fi gather in subjects to my kingdom in the re- maria, and unto the
motest regions, and subdue multitudes to the ^^^^^^J^"^^^^ P^^ °^^^^
obedience of faith.
Luke And then, lifting up his hands in a most so- Luke XXIV.—
^xiv. lemn and devout manner, he blessed them, as ^^- A"^ ^^ \\.^i&^
^^ one that had authority, not only to desire, but bLssed thernf*
to command a blessing on them ; and recom-
mended them to the guardianship and care of
his heavenly Father, to whom, after so long an
abode on earth, he was now returning.
51 And it cafne to pass, after the Lord had spoken 51 — And it came-
these things unto them, and had with great af- to pass [after the
fection and solemnity discoursed with his dis- fl^'/^.Jjuletfigrj
ciples of the work they were to do, and of the unto them] while he
power they should have to qualify them for it, blessed them,he was
even xvhile he was blessing them, he w^^ mirac- K'^^^^xvi. m-
Acts i. ulously separated from them. And xvhile they ^c xi 1. 9.—]
9 stedfastly beheld him, and fixed their eyes upon Acts I.— 9. And
him with the strictest observation, he was taken while they beheld,
up from the groimd on which he stood, and ^^^ and carried
gradually carried np into heaven^ as it seemed up into heaven,] and
by the ministry of attending angels (though a cloud received him
he could certainly have ascended merely by his r^^'a^'l'^slt* on Uie
own power) : and while he hovered in the air, right hand of God.}
at some distance from them, a bright c/owd^ [M a r k XVI.—ia
appeared, as a kind of triumphant chariot ^^^^^ XXIV.— 51.3
which God had prepared on this great occa-
sion, and received him out of their sight : and,
passing through crowds of adoring angels, he
ascended to a throne highly exalted above all
theirs, and sat down, even at the right hand of
God, on a seat of the highest dignity and au-
thority, there to reign in the glories of his me-
diatorial kingdom, till all things shall be put
under his feet. (See 1 Cor. xv. 25, 27.) _. ., , .. ...^
, , , ^ ,/> » J 7 • / ^ 7. 10 And while they
10 And as they were stedfastly lookingup to heaven, lo^^ed stedfastly to-
while he went on in his amazing and triumphant -ward heaven, as he
* While they beheldy heiuas taken up, &c.] 373), that it was much more proper our
It will, I hope, he remembered, that it was Lord should ascend to heaven in the sight of
ibr majesty, and not of necessity, that our his apostles, than that he should rise from
Lord used the ministration of angels in car- the dead in their sight : for his resurrection
rying himself to heaven Dr. Jennings was proved, when they saw him alive after
has observed, with his usual sagacity and his passion ; but they could not see him in
propriety (Serm. at Berrystreetf Vol. I. p. heavenj while they continued upon earth.
Two angels tell them^ he shall come again in like manner, 633
wentup, behold,two progress, beholdy txvo angels, in the form of sect.
men stood by them ^^^ ^^ rvhite and shinincr raiment, beincr of the cciii.
m white apparel ; , ,. ^, i. • • . • w^ i
'"^ number ot those whose mmistration God was —
pleasedto make use of in this illustrious event, ^^}^
11 Which also said, came and stood near them ; Who also spake to ^^
Ye men of Galilee, them, and saiJ, Te men of Galilee, why do ye
^p\moTeaven^?^Thif ^^t and gazing up to heaven with such g^eat aston-
same Jesus which is ishment ? Is it not what your Lord himself has
taken up from you often told you, that he was soon to return to the
come rriS tlrr glorv from which he came ? And we are now
as ye have seen him sent hither to assure you, that this Jesus^xvho is
^o into heaven. thus taken up from you into heaven^ shall so come
again, in the very sayne manner as you have now
beheld him go into heaven : for the great day
shall surely come, when he will visibly descend
from heaven in a cloud of glory, attended as
now with a guard of angels, to dispense their
final judgment to all the inhabitants of the
world: but in the mean time, the heavens
must receive him, and you must no more ex-
pect his company on earth. ,
Luke XXIV. 52. And his disciples were so fully satisfied of Luke
And they ^'o^'ship- his Divine power and glory, that they worships ^^^
returned '^o Jem^sa- /'^^ ^^'^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ humblest reverence, though ^^
lem, with great joy, he was now become invisible to them ; and then
[from the mount call- (as he had ordered them) returned to Jerusalem
frL Je'risll^^^^^ '>l'^ ^reat joy, from the mount called Olivet,
sabbathday's journ- where he was parted from them ; which is but
ey :] [Acts I. 'l2.j a sabbath day'^s journey, or about a mile distant
from Jerusalem :^ and it exceedingly rejoiced
their hearts to think that Jesus their Lord was
in this singular manner honoured by his heav-
enly Father, and received up into a state of ever-
lasting felicity and glory, in which he would be
able to protect all his followers, and to provide
^ Which is a sabbathday^s journey from on the sabbathday to the place of God's
Jerusalem.'] A sabbathday'' i journey \s ^en- -pwhWc \\ovsh.ipy a sabbathday's journey was
erally reckoned by the Jews to be tixio more than fvco thousand cubits to those
*Aozi*a/K/a/Z';>j,- which was the distance be- whose station in the camp was more re-
tween the ark and the campy when they mote from the atk : yet when they were
marched (Josh. iii. 4) ; and probably the afterwards settled in toiuns, they allowed
same proportion was observed when they no more than tvio thousand cubits for a sab-
rested This is usually computed at about bathday's journey. (See Selden, de Jur. Nat,
eightfurlongsy or a mile. But as the camp iSt Geiit. lib iii. cap 9, and Lightfooty Hor.
took in a large extent of ground, and this Heb. on Luke xxiv. 50 ; and Acts i. 12.)
was only the distance of those that en- Compare note » in this section^ on Luke
camped nearest to the ari,- so it is evi- xxiv, 50,
dent, that as all the people were to repair
xxiv.
634 They return to Jerusalem^ andprmse God in the temple*
SECT. InthemostefFectualmannerfor their present and 53 And were con-
*^*^"'- eternal happiness. And they tvere alzm^js in the tinually in the tem-
■■ . , 7 .1 • 1 * 1 , 1 1 ^1. pie, praismcr and
Luke ^^^^^P^^f ^hat IS, they constantly attended there {^lessing God. A-
xxiv. at proper times, and were daily present at the men.
53 hours of prayer,^ praising and blessing God^ both
in his house, and in their own retirements.
Amen ! May God always be praised by us, and
by all w^ho receive his gospel, for the discove-
ries and attestations of it given to these his ser-
vants, and by them to us !
Mark And, in a few days after this (as will be Mark XVI. 20.
^'''•^^ shewn more largely in the following history). And they went forth,
, . 1 1 T -I • 1 c \ ' and preached every
their ascended L.ord, m remembrance or his where, the Lord
promise to them, sent down as a royal dona- working with them,
tive the extraordinary influences of his Spirit ^"^^^j^''"iJ|^'^|"^s fof,
upon them, fully to qualify them for that impor- Xo^\^^ Anfe"n.
tant office to which they were designed. And
going forth with this furniture, they preached
the gospel every rvhere throughout the whole
Roman empire, and even among the barbarous
nations, with amazing success; the Lord., accor-
ding to his promise, xvorking xvith them^ and
conjirming the word oi his grace /^t/ the signs
and miracles ivhichfolloxved it ; which were at
once the most solid, as well as the most obvi-
ous and popular demonstrations of those Di-
vine truths which they delivered. Amen! So
may the presence of the Lord be always with his
faithful ministers ! and may his gospel be at-
tended every where with efficacy and success,
as well as with convincing evidences of its
Divine authority !
Tohn And thus we have given a summary account John xxi. 25.—=
:£«.2S of the most remarkable passages of the life of l"„^/';Xr'Thinff°
Christ during the time of his abode on earth : which Jesus did ;
but after all, it must be considered only as a [and many other
specimen, rather than a full narration ; for
there are also many other things that Jesus said
d And they nvere always in the temple.'] by night the ^em/j/e was shut up. (Compare
Some have imagined (bv comparing this L'lke ii. 37, Vol I. p. 76, and John xvui.
with Acts i. 13, 14), that the apostles dwelt 20, Vol. II. p. 503.) They probably joined
for some time afterwards in an upper cham- their voices with the chorus of the Levites,
ber of the temple: but they had no such as no doubt other pious Israelites did; and
interest with the priests, as'to allow us to must surely, from what they had already
suppose they would permit them to lodge seen and known, have learnt to use many
in an apartment of the temple. It is suffic- of the psalms sung by them, in a much
lent that they were always there at the sublimer sense than the generality ot the
proper seasons ; for it is well known, that people could.
These things are written^ that we may believe* 635
signs truly did Jesus and did ^ and indeed many other sigjis and mira- sect.
in the presence of j^^^g^ that 7'£'5Z/.9 ttTOZ/^-A^, both before and after cciii.
^iLtt&Ss his resurrection, in the presence of hlylucipks, —
book ;]ihe which, if Tvhich are not written in this book ot the lour ^r'^,- 25
they should be writ- evangelists, which is here completed; and *
ten every one, I sup- ^^^^^^^^ indeed are so numerous, \\\'\X. if every
CHditsdfcouWnot onelofthem^shciddberecorded'm all its circum-
containthebooksthat stances, lam persiiadedihc work would amount
should be ^written, ^q go vast a bulk, that the xvorld itself would not
£Johnxx.30.3 be able to receive the hooks that should be written;
but the very size of the volumes would neces-
sarily prevent the generaHty of mankind from
John XX 31 Procuring or reading them.*^ But these most John
But these are writ- necessary and important things are written^ in xx. 31
ten, that ye might this plain way, and in this portable volume, not
believe that Jesus IS n^grelv that the reader may be amused bv so
the Clirist the Son . ^ , , i r • v ^u i. " j
of God, and that be- cunous a Story, but that the laith, the hope, and
lieving, we might the pietv of Christians, may be confirmed ; and
have life through especially that you may more firmly and assur-
f Jo"hn XXI.-^5 V ^^^y believe that Jesus is the Messiah^ the So7i
o/'(jO<3',partakingof the same Divine glory with
the Father, and the sure object of his people's
confidence ; and that believing it, you may be
so influenced by his instructive discourses, his
complete example, and his dying love, that you
mav have eternal life through his- name* And
may God grant, that as it is all most certainly
and circumstantially true, so it may have that
happy effect upon all those by whom this his-
tory is perused, from age to age ! Amen.
IMPROVEMENT.
Thus did our victorious Saviour ascend on high^ and lead Luke
captivity captive: the chariots of God which attended him ^^^^•
e The viorld itself ix^iild not be able to fication. But, as John knew the unbeliev-
receive the booh, &c.] There would be ing world would reject even what he had
no great inconvenience in allowing an writ, this could be no reason for his writ-
hyp'erbole here, as most expositors do, of ing no more. Perhaps it may be a most
which we meet with other instances in delightful part of the entertainment of the
scripture. (See Gen. xi. 4 ; Numb. xiii. 33 ; heavenly world, to learn from our blessed
and compare John xii. 19.) But. I think Lord himself, or from those who convers-
the sense given in the paraphrase easier ed with him on earth, a multitude of such
and more suited to the remarkable plain- particulars of his life, as will be well wor-
ness of St. John's style. Eisner explains thy our everlasting admiration. In the
this passage as if the evangelist h^d said, mean time, the pious and attentive study
*' If they were all to be particularly writ- of what is here recorded, may most hap-
ten, the unbelieving world would not ad- pily prepare us for such discoveries, and
mit them, so as to be moved by them to add an unutterable relish to them : Amen!
faith and obedience." And he produces ^o xu2iy\X.he,to\.\\e author oithisExposition,
instances in which ;^a»gs/v has such a signi- and to all those who do, or may peruse it !
636 Reflections on the great design of the gospel,
SECT, were twenty thousand^ even thousands of angels ! (Psal. Ixvlii. IT',
cciii. 13) and being go7ie into heaven^ he is there seated on the right
' hand of God ; angels, and authorities, and powers being made sub'
^^^^^'ject to him, (1 Peter iii. 22.) Let us his humble followers look
after him with holy joy and pleasing expectation ; congratulating
his triumphs, and trusting through his grace to share them.
Luke Like the apostles,\et us boru doxvn andrvorship him; and, while
XXIV. ^,g continue here below, let us make it our daily labour and care
to seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the
right hand of God, (Col. iii. 1.) And, instead of amusing our-
selves with the vain dreams of temporal grandeur and felicity,
.or with curious inquiries after those times and seasons which the
j. 7 Father has reserved in his orvn power, let us apply with vigour
and zeal to that business which he has assigned us ; labouring to
the utmost to promote hisgospeJ, and, by a diligent improvement
11 of our time and opportunities, to prepare for his final appearance,
when the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with more public
splendour than he returned thither, and shall come in the glory of
his Father, and his oxvn glory, with a majestic pomp which every
eye shall see, and with the sound of a trumpet, which even all the
nations of the dead shall hear,
Mark In the mean time, let us thankfully own his gracious presence
SV1.20 ^27/^ his disciples, whom he left behind him ; and vvith admiring
gratitude reflect upon the happy consequences oixh2itpresence, in
the establishment ofthe^'05/?^/in the world, and the transmission
of it even unto us, in so remote an age and country.
John^ Let us especially praise him for these sacred records which
^"^^'^^ contain such an authentic and exact account of those important
facts in which we are all so nearly concerned ; records incom-
parably more valuable than the writings of our private estates,
or the charters of our public liberties. Let us earnestly pray,
that their great design may be answered in us ; and make it our
important request to Him who is the giver of all grace, that
through the operations of that Holy Spirit, without the influence
of which even scripture itself, with all our advantages for under-
standing and improving it, will be but a sealed book, or a dead
letter, our faith may be nourished and confirmed by every por-
tion of it which we read ; and that our hearts may be so deliv-
Tohn ^^^^ ^"^^ ^^"^ mould of his word, that believing on Christ, under
xx. 31 all the characters he bears, we may have lije through his name ;
and may at length receive the end of our faith, in the complete
salvation of our souls, through him, to whom with the Father,
and the eternal Spirit, be undivided honours, and everlasting
praises. Amen, and Amen !
END OF THE SECOND VOLUME.
A TABLE
FOR THE MORE READY FINDING ANY VEBSE OF THE EVANGEL-
ISTS IN THE rOREGOING HARMONY-
N. B. The verses befvoeen those inserted in this table follo'uj each otheiiin
the same section^ and begin at Me page referred to. Thus in Mat.
chap.I. the verses from verse 1 to verse 17, are in sect. ix. and begin at
page 56. And then froin verse 18 to verse 25, vohich ends the chapter,
they are in sect. viii. and begin at page 52.
THE PAGES WITH THIS MARK * BELONG TO THE FIRST VOLUME.
MATTHEW. II
C6ap.
ver.
Sect.
Page
1 Cba/>.
1'er.
Sea.
Fa^e
I.
1—17
ix.
*5Q
Xll.
—15—21
11.
*290
18—25
viii.
*52
22—32
33—37
lli.
Ixii.
*335
*342
II.
1—12
xii.
*79
38—45
Ixiii.
*345
13—23
xiii.
*86
46—50
Ixiv.
*353
III.
1—6
XV.
*99
XIII.
1—17
Ixv.
*355
7—12
xvi.
*103
18—23
Ixvi.
-361
13—17
xviii.
*113
24—30
31—35
Ixvii.
Ixviti.
' 365
'370
IV.
1—11
xix.
*116
36—43
Ixvii,
'367
12
xxxi.
*179
44—53
Ixviii.
•372
13—22
xxxiii.
*190
54—58
Ixxiii.
M03
23—25
xxxvi.
*205
1
XIV.
1, 2
Ixxvii.
*523
V.
1-16
xxxvii.
*207
3—5
xxviii.
•164
17—26
xxxviii.
*214
6—12
Ixxvii.
M26
27—48
xxxix.
*220
13—23
24—36
Ixxviii.
Ixxix.
'430
M39
VI.
1—18
xl.
*228
19—34
xli.
236
XV.
1—9
10—20
Ixxxiii.
Ixxxiv.
M60
*465
VII.
1—20
xlli.
*242
21—29
Ixxxv.
*469
21—29
xliii.
*249
30—39
ixxxvi.
*473
VIII.
1—4
xliv.
252
XVI.
1—12
Ixxxvii.
*477
5—13
Iv.
307
13—20
Ixxxviii.
*483
14, 15
XXXV.
'200
21—28
Ixxxix.
*487 ,
16,17
xxxvi.
*202
18—27
Ixix.
*376
XVII.
1—13
xc.
1
28—34
Ixx.
*382
14—21
22—27
xci.
xcii.
9
14
IX.
1
Ixx.
*387
2—9
xlv.
*258
XVIII.
1—9
iciii
18
10—17
Ixxi.
*389
10—20
xciv.
22
18—34
xxii.
*395
21—35
xcv.
30
35—38
Ixxiii.
*405
XIX.
1—12
cxxxv.
216
X.
1—15
Ixxiv.
*407
13—15
cxxxvi.
223
16—28
Ixxv.
*413
16—30
cxxxvii.
226
29—42
Ixxvi.
*418
[
XX.
1—16
cxxxv iii.
235
XI.
1
Ixxvl.
*421
17—28
cxHi.
256 1
It
2—6
Ivii.
*315
29—34
cxliii.
262
i
7—19
Iviii,
*319
20—30
lix.
*324
XXI.
1—3
4,5
cxlvi.
280
282
XII.
1—8
xlix.
*280
6—8
1
281
9—15—
I-
*285
9 1
285
MATTHEW.
i Chaf>.
■ver.
Sect.
Page
Chap. ijer.
Sect.
Page.
476
2^1.
10—16
cxlvii.
289
XXVI. 31—35
clxxxi.
17
cxlviii.
299
36—46
clxxxii.
479
18, 19
cxiix.
30^
47—56
clxxxiii.
487
20—32
cli.
310
57,58
clxxxiv.
496
33—46
clii.
317
59—68
69—75
clxxxv.
clxxxiv.
504
497
XXII.
1—14
cliii.
323
15—22
cliv.
328
XXVII. I, 2
clxxxvi.
510
23—33
civ.
333
3—10
cxciii.
566
34—46
civi.
338
11
12—14
clxxxvi.
516
514
XXIII.
I — 22
civil.
343
15—18
clxxxvii.
521
23—39
clviii.
350
19
20—23
clxxxviii.
clxxxvii.
527
522
XXIV.
1—14
clx.
358
24—26
clxxxviii.
533
15 28
clxi.
367
374
27—30
31
526
534
29—36
cxlii.
37—51
cxliii.
379
32—34
35—37
clxxxix.
cxc.
537
543
XXV.
1—13
clxiv.
385
38
clxxxix.
540
14—30
clxv.
388
39—44
cxc.
545
31—46
clxvi.
393
45—54
55—61
cxci.
cxcii.
550
558
i XXVI.
1—5
6—13
clxvii.
clxv.
399
274
62—66
cxciii.
570
14—16
clxvii.
400
XXVIII. 1—4
cxciv.
574
17—20
clxviii.
403
5-10
cxcv.
685
21—25
clxx.
416
11—15
cxcvi.
591
26—30
clxxii.
427
16—20
ccii.
621
MAI
^K.
Chap,
njer
Sect.
Page
' Chap. 'ver.
Sect.
Page.
I.
1—4
XV.
*9:
V. ^1—21
Ixx.
*381
5, 6
7, 8
*101
*106
22—43
Ixxii.
*394
xvi.
9—11
xviii.
*1I2
VI. 1—6
Ixxiii.
*403
12, 13
xix.
*116
7—11
Ixxiv.
*408
14, 15
xxxi.
*179
12, 13
Ixxvi.
*422
16—20
xxxiii.
*192
14—16
Ixxvii.
*424
21—31
XXXV.
*198
17—20
xxviii.
*164
32 — 39
xxxvi.
*203
21—29
Ixxvii.
H25
40—45
xliv.
*253
30—46
47—56
Ixxviii,
Ixxix.
*429
*439
11.
1—14
xlv.
*256
15—22
Ixxi.
*389
VII. 1—5
Ixxxiii.
*459
23—28
xlix.
*2oO
6—8
9—13
14—23
*463
*461
*464
III.
1 7
I.
*285
Ixxxiv.
—7—12
li.
*289
24—37
Ixxxv.
*468
13—19—
Hi.
*294
-19—21
ivi.
*311
VIII. 1 — 10
Ixxxvi.
*474
22—30
Ixi.
*336
11—21
Ixxxvii.
*477
31—35
Ixiv.
*353
22—30
31—38
Ixxxviii.
Ixxxix.
*483
*487
IV.
1—12
Ixv.
*355
13—25
Ixvi.
*361
IX. 1
Ixxxix.
*491
26—34
Ixviii.
*369
2—13
xc.
1
35—41
Ixix.
*375
14—29
xci.
8
MARK.
Chap.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
"ver.
Sect.
Page
30—33 —
xcn.
14
—33—37
XClll.
18
38—41
XCVI.
34
42—50
xcni.
20
1,2
cxxxv.
216
3-5
219
6—9
218
10—12
13—16
220
cxxxvi.
222
17 — 31 cxxxviii.
226
32—46— cxlii.
256
— 46—52
cxliii.
262
1—10
cxlvi.
280
11—
cxivii.
290
—11
cxlviii.
299
12—14
cxlix.
303
15—19
cl.
306
20—33
cli.
310
1—
cH.
314
—1—12
clii.
317
13—17
cliv.
329
18—17
civ.
333
28 — 34 —
clvi.
339
—34
35—37
342
341
38 — 40
civii.
344
41—44
clix.
356
1—13
clx.
358
14—23
clxi.
367
24—32
clxii.
375
33—37
clxiii.
381
1,2
clxvii.
399
3—9
cxlv.
275
Chap.
XiV.
XV.
XVI.
ver.
10,11
12—17
18—21
22—26
27—31
32-42
43—52
53, 54
55—65
66—72
1
2
3—5
6—14
15
16—19
20
21—23
24
25
26
27,28
29—32
33—39
40 — 47
1,2—
—2
3
5—8
9
10,11
12,13
14
15—18
19, 20
Sect.
clxvii.
clx\'iii.
clxx.
clxxii.
clxxxi.
clxxxii.
clxxxiii.
clxxxiv.
clxxxv.
clxxxiv.
clxxxvi.
clxxxvii.
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400
403
416
428
476
479
487
496
504
497
510
514
514
521
534
526
535
537
543
539
544
540
545
550
558
573
584
575
575
585
584
589
594
606
625
632
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